Whiplash symptoms can last a few days, many months, or even longer, depending on the severity of the injury and the damage to soft tissue in the back and upper neck. These injuries can have a substantial impact on your day-to-day activities and your overall quality of life. Whiplash can also affect your ability to work and earn a living.
If someone else’s negligence caused your whiplash, you deserve justice. You shouldn’t have to bear the burden of your pain, medical bills, and time away from work alone.
The Kingston car accident attorneys at O’Connor & Partners, PLLC have built a reputation for excellence in a range of personal injury cases, including whiplash. We understand the challenges of handling these complex cases and we are committed to helping our clients recover the maximum compensation to which they are entitled under the law.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Whiplash?
In the realm of personal injury claims, perhaps no injury is as widely misunderstood as whiplash. Even though whiplash is one of the most common personal injury claims, misconceptions about these injuries have led to undue stigmas and stereotypes.
Whiplash has garnered a reputation by some that it is an exaggerated injury and only used by plaintiffs who want to cash in on their accidents. Others may understand that whiplash is a legitimate injury, but consider it relatively mild and fleeting.
However, whiplash is a very real and serious injury that can impact several areas of an accident victim’s life. While some whiplash sufferers are able to recover in a matter of weeks or months, others endure serious, long-term effects that continue for years.
What Are the Long-Term Symptoms of Whiplash?
The chances of recovering quickly from whiplash are improved if an injury victim seeks prompt medical attention after an accident. Unfortunately for many, even for some who seek immediate care, the pain and restrictions of whiplash can linger for years, or even a lifetime.
The long-term symptoms of whiplash can include:
- Persistent stiffness in the shoulders and neck
- Chronic pain
- Permanent personality changes
- Ongoing concentration problems
- Memory problems
- Difficulty sleeping
- Blurred vision
- Weakness, numbness, or sensory problems in the legs, arms, or hands
- Jaw pain
- Severe, chronic headaches
- Chronic lower or upper back pain
- Persistent or intermittent ringing in the ears
- Ongoing bouts of dizziness
Who Is More Likely to Suffer Long-Term Whiplash Symptoms?
Suffering long-term whiplash symptoms is not uncommon. According to one study, 71% of people who suffered whiplash reported at least one significant symptom seven years after the initial injury.
Whiplash victims are more likely to suffer long-term symptoms of their injuries if they:
- Already suffer from preexisting neck conditions
- Re-injure the neck during the initial healing process
- Suffer spinal fractures or other severe injuries near the neck
- Suffer serious injury to the joints, discs, or ligaments of the neck
- Do not receive adequate medical treatment soon after the injury
Pursuing Compensation for Whiplash
Every whiplash accident is different and every whiplash victim is unique. Therefore, the injuries and losses of one person will differ from another, as will the value of their damages.
The accomplished car accident lawyers at O’Connor & Partners, PLLC understand the hardships faced by accident victims. We are committed to helping you pursue the justice and compensation you need to move forward. Depending on the details of your case, we may aggressively pursue compensation for your:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
We know how serious whiplash injuries can be, and we are prepared to fight aggressively to protect your rights. We know the tactics used by insurance companies to try to devalue or deny valid claims, and we understand how to build successful cases on behalf of our clients.
It is important to note that there are strict time limits governing how long you can wait to begin legal action after a personal injury. If you were hurt in a Kingston car wreck, it is crucial to contact an attorney as soon as possible to begin working on your case. By waiting too long, you could jeopardize your recovery, as evidence fades, witness memories diminish, and it becomes more difficult to connect your injuries to the accident.
Call a Kingston Car Accident Lawyer Today
The experienced car accident attorneys at O’Connor & Partners, PLLC, are passionate about helping our clients recover the full compensation they deserve. With 150 years of combined legal experience and millions of dollars recovered, our seasoned legal team can help you achieve the justice you deserve.
See what our clients say about us.
Don’t face your injuries alone. Contact O’Connor & Partners, PLLC online or at (845) 303-8777 today for a free case evaluation. Our car accident lawyers serve clients in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and other areas of New York.