Little Rock Whiplash Injury Lawyers
Strong advocacy when car accidents cause whiplash in Arkansas
Whiplash injuries are nagging, painful neck injuries that never seem to go away. The pain can radiate down the back, the arms, and the hands. The primary cause of whiplash is a rear-end collision. At Greer Injury Lawyers, PLLC, we’ve been fighting for accident victims since 1986. Our Little Rock whiplash injury attorneys hold irresponsible drivers and others who cause whiplash liable for all your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage. Call us today to assert your right to compensation.
Free Case Evaluation
How can we help
- What is whiplash?
- What types of accidents cause whiplash in Little Rock?
- What are the signs and symptoms of whiplash?
- How do doctors diagnose whiplash?
- What are the treatments for whiplash?
- How much is my whiplash injury case worth in Arkansas?
- Do you have a Little Rock whiplash injury lawyer near me?
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is a type of neck sprain called a soft tissue injury. The injury occurs when your “neck and body are suddenly thrust forward, while your head moves back and then snaps forward.” The fast movements can damage your muscles and ligaments. A severe case of whiplash can also damage the bones and nerves in your neck and the discs in your cervical spine.
Generally, first responders use extreme caution until they can confirm the injury and stabilize it.
What types of accidents cause whiplash in Little Rock?
The most common cause of whiplash is a rear-end accident. Although whiplash is most often the result of a vehicle collision, it can also occur when any event causes a forceful impact on your neck, such as a slip and fall accident, a construction accident, or an assault. Sports injuries can also cause whiplash.
While anyone can suffer a whiplash injury, according to the Cleveland Clinic, the elderly and women are more prone to whiplash injuries. Women are more prone to whiplash injuries due to their height, spinal cord structural differences, and muscle differences. The elderly are more prone to whiplash injuries due to the wear and tear of age.
What are the signs and symptoms of whiplash?
How long does it take for symptoms to occur?
Different victims may begin to develop symptoms differently. It’s always best, after any rear-end collision, to go to a local emergency room where doctors can examine your neck and back. For some victims, there may be no symptoms for twelve hours. For others, the symptoms may take a few days to appear. For other victims, symptoms may be immediate.
Generally, your symptoms depend on the severity of the whiplash and the level of compression or hyperextension.
Common whiplash symptoms include pain or stiffness in the neck, dizziness, muscle spasms in the neck, a headache, and pain in the shoulders, arms, or jaw.
How long does whiplash last?
While there is no specific cure, there are treatments for whiplash. For many patients, their injuries do heal. Less severe whiplash can take a few weeks to heal. More severe whiplash can take months to heal. Some victims may live with chronic pain. A lot depends on the severity of the accident and your general overall health before the accident.
How do doctors diagnose whiplash?
The Cleveland Clinic states that doctors normally use a scale, called the Quebec Classification of Whiplash-Associated Disorders, to grade a whiplash injury. The grades for whiplash injuries are as follows:
- Grade 0. The accident victim has no signs of a whiplash injury.
- Grade 1. The victim experiences some pain and stiffness when moving, and some tenderness at the site of the injury when touched.
- Grade 2. The symptoms may include some Grade 1 symptoms, muscle spasms that make neck movement difficult, and pain that “radiates to nearby areas like your head, face, shoulder, and back.” Victims may also have bruises and swelling at the injury location.
- Grade 3. At this stage, the whiplash injury includes neurological symptoms. These symptoms occur “because swelling or inflammation disrupts nerve signals traveling through the injured area on the way to or from your brain.” The symptoms include weak muscles, numbness, a tingling or burning sensation in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, and upper back; difficulty seeing; headaches; difficulty swallowing; hoarseness; and dizziness.
- Grade 4. Generally, victims who have this level of whiplash have all the above symptoms, with more severity. A grade 4 whiplash may indicate a broken neck vertebra or that a vertebra is out of alignment.
Doctors may use X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to rule out other medical disorders.
What are the treatments for whiplash?
At Greer Injury Lawyers, PLLC, we work with your doctors (and our network of doctors when necessary) to understand the treatments you’ll need, how long you’ll need medical care, and what type of pain and agony you’ll experience while you’re receiving treatments.
The treatments, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include:
- Some patients may receive initial treatment that involves immobilization of the neck so their vertebrae don’t put pressure on their spinal cord.
- Doctors may prescribe many different medications, depending on your symptoms. These medications include:
- “Over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen, etc.” Generally, doctors are very cautious when prescribing stronger painkillers, such as opioids, because of their addictive qualities.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs help to reduce swelling.
- Muscle relaxers. These medications help to prevent muscle spasms.
- Nerve blocks. These medications block nerve signals, so victims can cope with chronic or severe whiplash pain.
- Cold and heat treatments. Cold packs can help reduce swelling and inflammation during the first 7-10 days after an accident. Then, warm heat treatments can help improve blood flow to the damaged area.
- Physical therapy. Specific exercises can help accident victims strengthen the injured area, regain function, and help reduce pain.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy. This treatment “delivers a mild electrical current through your skin to surface nerve endings.”
- Radiofrequency (RF) nerve ablation. “This treatment uses RF energy to heat the targeted nerves and intentionally damage them, so they stop sending pain signals. This can reduce pain for weeks or months.”
- Spinal surgery. Some accident victims may need surgery to repair fractured vertebrae or torn ligaments or to stabilize the spine.
How much is my whiplash injury case worth in Arkansas?
Whiplash injuries hurt. You can’t sleep, you can’t sit at a desk, you can’t walk, and you can’t enjoy your family and friends – because every neck movement and neck position hurts. Our Little Rock whiplash injury lawyers demand compensation for all your financial and personal damages, including every jolt of pain and moment you want to cry.
We demand that negligent drivers and other responsible parties pay for all your current and future damages, including the following:
- All your medical bills of every nature. This includes emergency transport, ER care, hospital stays, doctor visits, rehabilitative therapy, chiropractic care, assistive devices, and medications.
- Your income loss. This amount includes your wages, salary, benefits, business income, and long-term disability pay.
- Your physical pain and emotional suffering for every day you suffer.
- The cost to repair or replace your vehicle or any other property damage.
Do you have a Little Rock whiplash injury lawyer near me?
Yes. We meet clients at our Little Rock office located at 15 N McKinley. Suite #250-J, Little Rock, AR. Our office is just a 5-minute walk from the Little Rock Zoo by the Park Plaza Mall.
We can arrange to see you away from the office if your injuries prevent you from travelling. We also consult with clients by phone and through online video platforms.
We’re here to answer all your questions and explain your rights.
Get help from our accomplished Little Rock whiplash injury lawyers today
At Greer Injury Lawyers, PLLC, we’ve earned the respect of former clients, insurance companies, and the legal community for our compassion for our clients and our impressive record of recoveries. We’re prepared to fight for all the compensation you deserve. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.
