Car accidents in Mississippi, even minor ones, can have long-lasting repercussions on the life of everyone involved. This is particularly true for those who are injured during the accident. While some injuries are obvious at the time of the crash, others can crop up months and even years later. Those who have been in an accident that is not their fault may want to seek medical attention even if they feel fine, because things like neck injuries are hard to diagnose immediately.
According to WebMD, neck strains or sprains are known as whiplash. Car accidents that cause whiplash can damage the cervical muscles, nerve roots, ligaments, discs and intervertebral joints. The severity of the injury depends on each individual case, but the long-term effects can be devastating if not treated correctly.
The Mayo Clinic provides several symptoms of a neck injury to watch for after an accident, including the following:
- Loss of range of motion
- Pain that gets worse when the neck moves
- Neck stiffness and pain
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Pain or tenderness in the upper back, arms or shoulders
- Fatigue and dizziness
Neck injuries can sometimes lead to sleep disturbances, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, memory problems, irritability, difficulty with concentration and depression. It is important for the injured to see a medical professional immediately because tissue damage and broken bones can worsen the symptoms over time. Those who have had whiplash before, who have existing neck and low back pain and those who are older in age are more likely to deal with whiplash after an accident, abuse or assault or contact sports.
This is for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
