We never expect a serious car accident to occur when we’re out enjoying the sunny Florida weather.  However, automobile collisions happen more often than most of us think, and even a minor fender-bender can result in a severe whiplash injury. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), whiplash is “a generic term applied to injuries of the neck caused when the neck is suddenly and/or violently jolted in one direction and then another, creating a whip-like movement.” 

 Whiplash injuries occur most frequently in car crashes, but it’s important to remember that they can also result from a dangerous slip and fall accident or a sports-related injury.  When you’ve sustained a whiplash injury, we can help.  An experienced Florida whiplash injury lawyer can take a look at your case today.

Whiplash Injury Facts and Statistics

Whiplash injuries are common in motor vehicle accidents, and they often occur at lower speeds than most of us would expect.  According to the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, which focuses specifically on whiplash injuries, nearly all whiplash injuries occur at crash speeds below 12 miles per hour.

More often than not, whiplash injuries occur in low-speed rear impact collisions, or those where a vehicle is traveling typically between 8 to 12 miles per hour and strikes a car from behind.  Passengers in a vehicle that sustains a rear impact collision often sustain serious whiplash injuries.

The Spine Research Institute provides some important statistics about whiplash injuries and accidents:

• More than 3 million people in the United States suffer from whiplash injuries every year
• Passengers in low-speed rear impact collisions have a very high chance of sustaining a whiplash injury—anywhere from 35-68 percent likelihood.
• Approximately 10 percent of whiplash injury accident victims suffer permanent disabilities, and a large number of these disabilities are due to severe pain from the injury.
• About half of all chronic neck pain in our country results from whiplash injuries sustained in car accidents.
• Children are at a higher risk of sustaining a whiplash injury than are adults.
• If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it’s important to keep in mind that whiplash injuries can show up hours and sometimes even days after the accident occurs, according to information provided by WebMD.  If you or a loved one has sustained a whiplash injury, an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer can help you.

Whiplash Signs and Symptoms

How can you tell if you’ve sustained a whiplash injury?  According to the ACA, the most common signs of whiplash are “pain and stiffness in the neck.”  WebMD emphasizes that whiplash-related pain is often severe, and specific symptoms can include the following:

• General pain and stiffening in the neck, which can include tightness and a feeling that your muscles are “hard or knotted”
• Decreased range of motion when you try to move your neck
• Headaches that occur at the base of the skull and “radiate towards the forehead”
• Tenderness in the neck, or the area that was “whiplashed”
• Pain when you rock your head from side to side or when you attempt to move your head backwards or forwards

Automobile accidents and dangerous slip and falls can result in serious injuries to the head and neck.  Even low-speed car crashes can lead to devastating pain.  If another driver’s negligence has resulted in your whiplash injuries, we can help. You can call us at (386) 777-7777 or fill out our online contact form below for a free case evaluation.