Whiplash is an injury that affects the head, neck, back and shoulders. After a car accident, you may need to identify the symptoms of whiplash before contacting an attorney.

Whiplash Symptoms You Might Experience After an Accident

In the minutes after someone rear-ends you at a stop sign or a red light, you might worry about how you will pay for the repairs that your car needs. You also need to think about the safety of everyone involved in that accident. Whiplash is a condition that can cause pain in the upper part of the body. It can take up to a full day for symptoms to appear, but if those symptoms do present, you need to speak with a doctor and an attorney.

Upper Body Pain

Many of the symptoms that you or a loved one may experience include some form of pain in the upper part of the body. This pain can center around the neck, shoulders, upper back or head, but you may also experience a shooting or radiating type of pain that moves throughout your body. The pain often becomes worse when you attempt to move your body. Some accident victims may also experience a headache that spreads from the base of the head into the neck and shoulders.

Other Whiplash Symptoms

Other whiplash symptoms include a tingling sensation that some describe as feeling like pins and needles in the neck and shoulders and a ringing sound in their ears. You may also find yourself dealing with concentration and memory problems. As the symptoms of whiplash can linger for months and even years, it’s important that you know when to consult with an attorney. Injury attorneys have experience filing claims after car accidents and helping victims seek compensation for injuries like whiplash and broken bones.

Recovering from Whiplash

Recovering from whiplash can take quite a bit of time and keep you from working. It may even lead to depression and change the way you feel about your family. Accident attorneys may be able to help you seek compensation from the responsible driver for the wages you lost when you couldn’t work and for your emotional pain.