If you have recently been in a low impact collision, or if you’ve ever experienced ligament damage or facet joint injuries from a low impact car accident, you know how much pain it can cause. Frequently, people who have normal MRI’s, CT Scans, or X-rays after a low impact car accident can’t understand why they remain in so much pain. But, make no mistake, the pain from damaged ligaments and whiplash is real.
Insurance companies are usually suspect of whiplash insurance claims, making it difficult for the injured to make their case for appropriate compensation. As experienced Pasco County, Florida car accident attorneys, we have handled many low impact cases. We understand that there is a reason for your pain and we will fight to help you get the proper treatment and compensation.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash as defined by the Mayo Clinic – Whiplash typically occurs when a person’s head is forcefully and quickly thrown backward and then forward. This motion can injure bones in the spine, disks between the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and other tissues of the neck. This type of injury may result from Auto accidents. Rear-end collisions are the most common cause of whiplash. (Source, Mayo Clinic)
Diagnosing Whiplash after a Low Impact or Read End Car Accident
Do you know that ligament damage cannot be detected with a regular MRI or x-ray? Ligament damage and a herniated disk can be equally painful. Unlike a herniated disk, ligament damage is permanent damage and it cannot be “cured” or corrected with surgery. The good news is, is that there are specific diagnostic tests that can properly identify your injuries. These tests can prove to be beneficial because without proof of injury, obtaining the appropriate settlement from insurance companies will prove to be difficult. Low impact car accident claims are sometimes fraudulently made. However, we know this is not always the case and the statistics on low impact car accidents and whiplash show that women and the elderly are at greater risk of permanent neck and back injuries that are caused by low impact car crashes. Thus, you need a Hudson personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable and determined to fight for your rights.
Facts about Whiplash and Other Injuries in Low Impact Motor Vehicle Accidents
A. Injuries from low impact motor vehicle accidents very often turn into chronic or long term conditions that cause pain and suffering.
B. Injuries from low impact car accidents are worse for women and the elderly. The elderly are at risk because their spines are less “flexible” and often arthritic. Thus, if you are in a low impact car crash, such as a rear-end collision, the elderly are at much more risk to develop chronic conditions. Women tend to be smaller than men thus the lack of weight causes more instability.
C. Bracing for impact reduces whiplash by 25%. The body meets force with force, thus retraction of the neck or “whiplash” is less likely, although men too can suffer ligament damage and whiplash.
D. Low property damage amounts are often used against the car accident victims and insurance companies will attempt to deny pain, suffering, disability, or loss of wage claims.
E. The position you are in upon impact plays an important role. If you are looking to the left or right upon impact, your ligament damage injuries could be more severe.
F. A digital-motion x-ray can assist in diagnosing ligament damage or whiplash.
G. MRI called, the proton-density weighted sequence with fat suppression MRI can also help with diagnosing low impact ligament damage and can differentiate between new injuries from old.
I. If you are hit at a speed of six miles per hour or less, it can result in ligament damage and whiplash.
Seeking Medical Attention Immediately After a Low Impact Car Crash
Many people don’t feel pain directly after lower impact car crashes. As you can see by the facts above, it only takes being hit at 6 MPH or less to suffer ligament damage. Because of the Florida Statutes regarding medical treatment and insurance claims, it’s crucial that you see a doctor as soon as possible even after a low impact car accident. If you feel a lack of range of motion in your neck, if you feel nauseated, have a headache, or feel “stiff” in your neck or back, you should contact a Pasco personal injury attorney after seeing a physician. We can assist you in finding the proper diagnostic testing, which is crucial to your personal injury case and insurance claim. Don’t let low property damage “claim” sway you into thinking your pain is “all in your head” when in fact, it’s literally a “pain in your neck.” Contact Doyle, McCabe, Uccello Personal Injury Attorneys of Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus County, FL.
For a free consultation with Pasco County Personal Injury and Whiplash Attorneys, please call 727-824-5727 or use the convenient form below to contact us. Our personal injury law firm is located in Hudson, FL, and serves car accident victims in New Port Richey, Spring Hill, Brooksville, and surrounding locales.