Brooklyn Whiplash Injury Lawyers
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury affecting the neck muscles and ligaments, which are short bands of tissue connecting bones and controlling movement. It is most commonly associated with car accidents because the impact force causes the neck to whip back and forth rapidly or side to side. Approximately 3 million whiplash injuries are reported each year in the United States, 83 percent of which result from car accidents.
Whiplash injuries cost an estimated $3.9 billion per year, including medical care, disability, and work absences. For over 50 years, our Brooklyn whiplash injury lawyers at Rubenstein & Rynecki have helped injured clients recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses, obtaining hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Whiplash?
Whiplash is generally associated with rear-end collisions, which occur every day in New York City due to impatient drivers, tailgating, distracted drivers, speeding, drunk driving, and other reckless actions. Whiplash can occur in various types of accidents, including but not limited to the following:
- Head-on collisions
- Left-turn accidents
- Multi-vehicle pileups
- Rear-end collisions
- Rollover accidents
- T-Bone accidents
Other traumatic events can also cause whiplash, including sports, physical assaults, or slip and fall accidents.
Who Is at Risk for Whiplash Injuries?
Medical experts believe that women and children are more susceptible to whiplash injuries because their necks are smaller than men’s. Women are five times more likely to sustain a whiplash injury, and children are even more likely to suffer whiplash injuries than adults.
Individuals with pre-existing health conditions or other injuries are also more likely to suffer whiplash injuries in car accidents. The risk is even higher for adults between 30 and 50.
What Are Common Whiplash Symptoms?
The force of impact between vehicles during a collision at any speed can stretch or tear neck muscles and ligaments, causing whiplash. The signs and symptoms of whiplash are often delayed and do not appear for weeks or months after the accident. Common whiplash symptoms include:
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness (vertigo)
- Facial pain
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Headache
- Jaw pain
- Light sensitivity
- Limited mobility in the neck, shoulders, or arms
- Memory loss
- Muscle weakness
- Neck pain
- Stiff neck
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Weakness in the arms
Depending on the severity of the injury, it can take up to 17 weeks for the neck to stabilize and re-strengthen. Symptoms can linger even longer. One study of individuals with severe whiplash injuries causing significant limitations in neck mobility found that 75 percent still experienced symptoms one year after their accident.
After a car accident, you should always seek a medical evaluation, even if you think your injuries are minor. Due to the late onset of whiplash symptoms, it is important to note any unusual health issues, irregular pain, or unexplained symptoms in the months following the accident. If they continue or worsen, return to your physician for another evaluation.
How Is Whiplash From a Car Accident Treated?
Physicians diagnose whiplash through a physical exam and imaging tests and categorize whiplash injuries and associated disorders into one of four grades of damage:
- Grade 1: Patient experiences pain but has no physical signs of injury.
- Grade 2: Severe injury displaying musculoskeletal damage.
- Grade 3: Severe injury displaying neurological problems, such as decreased sensation or lack of reflexes.
- Grade 4: Extreme injury resulting in dislocation or broken neck (vertebral or cervical fracture) in the portion of the spine within the neck.
Treatment for whiplash depends on the severity of the damage and may include one or more of the following:
- Acupuncture
- Cervical facet injections
- Chiropractic care
- Exercise and physical therapy
- Heat or cold neck compresses
- Massage therapy
- Prescription or over-the-counter medication
- Neck collar
- Rest
- Steroid injections
Some whiplash symptoms can be addressed with basic home remedies, such as hot and cold compresses, in less severe cases; however, you should see a doctor as soon as possible if you begin experiencing increased pain, loss of sensation, or worsening existing symptoms. You may have suffered a more serious injury, such as a vertebral fracture, requiring urgent professional care.
Can I Seek Compensation for Whiplash Injuries?
Though whiplash may seem minor, it can significantly impact your life. Many people with whiplash injuries suffer severe and long-lasting symptoms and complications. Compensation is determined through a combination of economic and non-economic damages:
- Medical expenses, current and future
- Lost wages and future earning capacity
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation and therapies
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
How Long Do I Have to File a Whiplash Injury Claim?
Legally, whiplash injuries are considered personal injuries. In New York, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident or death.
How Can a Brooklyn Whiplash Injury Lawyer Help Me?
When you suffer an injury in a car accident, you should be focusing on your recovery, not haggling with insurance companies over your claim. Our Brooklyn whiplash injury lawyers can work on your behalf to ensure proper handling of your claim and negotiate maximum compensation for your expenses and losses. Our legal team can do the following after a car accident:
- Investigate the scene of the car accident.
- Review police and medical reports.
- Gather and file necessary documents per deadlines.
- Collaborate with your medical team regarding your current and future medical needs.
- Interview witnesses to the accident.
- Hire outside experts, if applicable.
- Negotiate with insurance companies for maximum settlement.
- Represent you in court should your car accident case proceed to trial.
Our Brooklyn Whiplash Injury Lawyers at Rubenstein & Rynecki Help Clients Suffering Injuries Due to Negligent Drivers
For over 50 years, our Brooklyn whiplash injury lawyers at Rubenstein & Rynecki have been helping injured clients seek justice. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by someone else, call 718-522-1020 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Brooklyn, we serve clients throughout New York City, including The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
