Some common injuries caused by car accidents are immediately obvious. You, or an EMT, can tell almost immediately if you have suffered a broken bone or concussion. But it’s also possible to feel well and unhurt for hours, even days after being hit by a car before you realize you are hurt.
Whiplash is a good example of a delayed-onset injury. It is not unusual for a whiplash victim in Dallas not to start feeling the effects until several days after getting into a crash. While it can take time to announce itself, whiplash can be highly painful and debilitating. Symptoms often include:
- Neck stiffness
- Neck pain that worsens when you try to move your head
- Reduced range of motion
- Pain in the shoulders, back and/or arms
- Headaches
With treatment, most whiplash cases fad after a few weeks. But in severe cases, the pain and limited motion become chronic and last for years. People who were caught in a high-speed auto accident, as well as those who have had whiplash before and seniors, are especially vulnerable. Chronic, severe whiplash can greatly limit your ability to work, your independence and your quality of life.
Dangerous drivers should be held responsible for their negligence
While not every car accident can be avoided, often, it would not have happened if one of the drivers involved had been acting properly behind the wheel. Drivers who choose to speed, run red lights, follow too closely, cut off other vehicles, drive drunk or drive distracted by their phones put us all in danger of whiplash and other serious bodily harm. That is why state law in Texas recognizes victims’ right to seek compensation in court from the responsible parties.