Whiplash is an injury we see too often here in our clinic in Savannah, GA.
But honestly, we should probably be seeing more whiplash patients.
Whiplash is a strain or sprain to the neck caused by a sudden, abrupt movement during a motor vehicle collision or other kinds of accidents.
It doesn't show immediate symptoms, so many accident victims are unaware of their injuries, and many whiplash cases are left untreated.
Untreated whiplash can have long-term effects if it isn't treated right away, so always see a doctor after a vehicular accident, no matter how you feel.
Knowing what NOT to do after a whiplash accident is just as important as knowing what to do.
Doing the right things and avoiding the wrong things after a whiplash accident in Savannah will help protect your physical and financial well-being.
In the article below, we will discuss several things you shouldn't do after a whiplash accident in Savannah, GA.
Table Of Contents
- Don't Neglect Whiplash Injuries
- Don't Down Play At-Home Treatments
- Don't Forget To Document The Accident
- Don't Fall Victim To The Insurance Company
- Don't Do It All On Your Own
- Don't Skip Chiropractic Care
- The Arrowhead Clinic Of Savannah
Don't Neglect Whiplash Injuries
Everyone should always seek medical attention after an accident, no matter how they feel, so they can receive a proper diagnosis.
Soft tissue injuries like whiplash often have delayed symptoms, so seeking medical treatments right away will help you avoid any long-term effects.
If you don't need emergency care at the scene, visit an urgent care center or schedule an appointment with an accident chiropractor.
It could take hours, days, or even weeks to notice the symptoms of a soft tissue injury, but the damage can worsen each day it isn't treated.
When you visit an accident chiropractor, tell them you were just involved in an accident so they'll know to check for signs of whiplash and other common injuries associated with minor car accidents.
After an initial consultation, your chiropractor will perform a physical exam to diagnose your whiplash symptoms and any other injuries and then design a proper treatment plan to help you recover and avoid any long-term complications.
Although there are a wide range of symptoms, the most common symptoms your doctor will ask about are:
- Neck pain
- Shoulder or arm pain
- Stiff neck
- Headaches
- Tinnitus
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbances
- Limited, or reduced range of motion in the neck
- Back Pain
- Psychological issues
- Fatigue
- Jaw pain
- Dizziness
Don't Down Play At-Home Treatments
If you're unable to see a chiropractor right away, you should utilize at-home treatments until you can.
Ice and heat therapy should hold you over until you can make it in.
Before applying ice, wrap it in a thin towel or cloth to avoid getting an ice burn.
Ice your neck muscles for about 15 minutes every three to four hours.
Do this for the first three or so days after your injury until you can use heat.
Then you can alternate between ice and warm, wet towels or a heating pad to start applying heat.
Don't Forget To Document The Accident
Before leaving the accident scene, take some pictures and jot down some notes about what happened.
Get pictures of the damage to the vehicles, your injuries, road conditions, and anything else that could have contributed to the accident.
You should also keep a log of your whiplash injury symptoms as they appear, since you don't have any medical records of the accident yet.
The log will help prove the severity of your injury, which will be essential to establishing the value of your injury claim.
This will all help you and your lawyer win your whiplash injury claim, if you decide to proceed with legal proceedings.
Don't Fall Victim To The Insurance Company
If you only seek legal consultation for one reason, it should be so you can stand up against the insurance companies.
Report your accident to your insurance company, but don't tell them anything else.
The insurance companies will stop at nothing to deny or diminish your claim.
Always speak to a personal injury lawyer before talking to your insurance company so you don't do or say anything that could hurt your claim.
Before speaking to your insurance company, your legal representation will advise you to:
- Avoid admitting fault
- Avoid giving an official statement without legal advice from your attorney.
- Avoid signing anything without discussing it with your lawyer.
- Tell them you've been injured and you're seeking medical treatment
After the initial conversation with your insurance company, you can refer them to your lawyer for anything else they need.
You may receive a settlement offer right away, but you should never accept it.
You won't know what your future medical expenses will be you until you've been medically cleared.
Whiplash will sometimes heal within six months, but this type of neck injury could involve chronic pain or permanent complications.
Your lawyer will help get you the financial compensation you deserve once your doctor has cleared you medically.
Don't Do It All On Your Own
Personal injury claims involving neck injuries like whiplash and other common car accident injuries can be complicated.
After seeking medical care and filing a personal injury claim, many accident victims will face resistance from the at-fault party and the insurance company.
As you're nursing your injury, the insurance companies will use several tactics to diminish your injury claim.
These tactics won't work against an injury lawyer.
A personal injury attorney experienced in personal injury law will help you handle these complex injury cases.
Don't Skip Chiropractic Care
Many accident victims will completely recover from whiplash if they receive treatment right away.
But if it's left untreated, whiplash can cause:
- Disc herniations
- Nerve damage
- Sleep disorders
- Joint dysfunction
- Chronic pain
Not only can chiropractors treat these conditions effectively, but they can prevent them from occurring in the first place.
Chiropractic treatments like massage therapy, spinal manipulation, trigger point therapy, and electronic nerve stimulation will help your neck and spine recover after vehicular accidents.
And your chiropractor will never prescribe addictive pain medications, muscle relaxers, or have you relying on over-the-counter pain medications.
The Arrowhead Clinic of Savannah
Chiropractors are well equipped to treat whiplash injuries, and our whiplash injury chiropractors in Savannah have been doing it for years.
If you fear you've suffered a whiplash injury, you need to seek medical treatment right away and schedule an appointment with our chiropractic clinic in Savannah as soon as possible.
Our chiropractors will diagnose any injuries you may have and design a chiropractic treatment plan to help you recover.
All of our clinics offer a free consultation to see how they can best assist your recovery.
Click the button below to schedule your free consultation in Savannah to have your whiplash injury treated right away.
References:
https://www.johnfoy.com/faqs/what-should-i-do-for-whiplash-after-a-car-accident/
https://www.anidjarlevine.com/faqs/what-to-do-for-whiplash-after-a-car-accident/
https://ajtherapycenter.com/3-ways-to-avoid-long-term-effects-of-whiplash-after-a-car-accident/
https://www.michiganautolaw.com/personal-injury-lawyer/whiplash-after-car-accident/
https://www.rxwellness.net/what-should-i-do-for-whiplash-after-a-car-accident/
https://mirmanlawyers.com/blog/what-should-i-do-if-i-notice-symptoms-of-whiplash-after-a-car-accident/
