You may sustain a variety of injuries when you are involved in a car accident. Your injuries may range from minor scrapes and bruises to more serious injuries requiring lengthy medical care. One of the most common injuriessustained in a automobile accident is whiplash.

Like a concussion, the symptoms of whiplash may be so common that you ignore them or attribute them to something else. If you have been in a crash and experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Here are some of the common, though minor and often missed symptoms of whiplash:

• Neck pain
• Neck stiffness
• Shoulder, upper back and upper arm pain
• Tingling in the arms
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Irritability
• Depression

And here are some of the symptoms that people tend to pay closer attention to:

• Blurred vision
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Sleep disturbances
• Memory problems

No matter which of these symptoms you experience after a car accident in North Carolina, you should seek medical attention. An accurate diagnosis can rule out other injuries that may be contributing to your symptoms. If you have been in a crash, no amount of pain or change in your general health should be considered minor.

The symptoms of whiplash most often occur within 24 hours following an accident. If you experienced a quick forward and backward motion of your neck and head when you were struck, you could very well have whiplash. A doctor can let you know for sure and offer proper treatment options.

If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation under the law. Call our offices today for a free case evaluation. A member of our team will review the details of your case and advise you of your options. Call now or browse our website for more information about how we can assist you.

Photo Credit

As summer vacation begins in North Carolina, safety and health concerns surround planned trips and activities. Whiplash is often associated with car accidents, but may also be caused by roller coasters and other amusement park rides, sports injuries, or being punched or shaken. Whiplash is defined as an “injury to the soft tissues of the neck from a sudden jerking or ‘whipping’ of the head”. The muscles and ligaments of the neck are over-extended past the normal range of motion. Cars in a collision often cause this type of injury to the driver or passenger because the body is restrained, but the head continues to move with the car’s original direction, which can result in the whiplash injury.

The difficulty with treating whiplash is that pain and stiffness may occur in the first few days after the accident and then the injured person begins to feel better. However, the pain and stiffness can return and these symptoms can last months or years. That fun day at the park can lead to several months or years worth of pain due to negligent care of the park’s land or poorly constructed products or warnings on products you take to the park. It is the park’s duty to maintain safe premises and rides for their customers, and their failure to do so can result in liability for damages caused by negligence.

In North Carolina, the statute of limitations to file a claim for personal injury is three years. That may seem like a long time, but deadlines to file suit rapidly arrive as the determination for who or what caused the injury may require a lengthy investigation. Most statute of limitations begin to run on the date of the accident or injury. The statute outlining when an action must be filed does allow for the limitation period to begin when the physical damage to the body becomes apparent or should have become apparent to the injured person, but it is best to file as soon as possible.

Personal injury claims often require the use of expert witnesses in order for fact finders to understand the evidence. North Carolina Rule of Evidence 702 states that “if scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an opinion.” In North Carolina a three step inquiry is used in determining whether the testimony of an expert should be admitted: 1) Is the method of proof sufficiently reliable?, 2) Is the witness qualified as an expert in that testimony? and 3) is the expert’s testimony relevant?

The North Carolina whiplash injury attorneys at Auger & Auger have worked with several expert witnesses to help maximum the compensation the client deserves. Herbert and Arlene Auger know how to find and use the best witnesses available to testify about complex, scientific matters related to your injury. If you have suffered a whiplash injury from a car accident or amusement park ride, then call one of our experienced attorneys at 888-487-0835.

MORE BLOG POSTS:

Warning! Facebook Can Ruin Your Case, North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, May 2, 2013

North Carolina Industrial Commission Ruling Against Injured Worker Upheld by Court of Appeals, North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, April 22, 2013