The neck and surrounding area are critical parts of the human body that support and move the head and protect nerves controlling movement and sensation down the rest of the body. Despite these important functions, the area is unbelievably fragile. No matter how small it may seem, any injury or trauma can result in severe, lifelong harm to the victim. Whiplash can occur at speeds of just a few miles and costs nearly $30 billion a year to treat in the United States. Even though most cases of neck injury and whiplash occur in car accidents, other situations like physical abuse, sports collisions, and falls can all have the same result.
The city of Menifee, with a population of 93,000 and growing, is a heavy commuter town located between two major freeways and near the Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego Metro areas. Given the heavy traffic on the roadways, prevalence of bad behavior behind the wheel like texting and driving, large number of massive commercial trucks on the road, and elevated speed limits, it’s no surprise a large number of wrecks occur daily and contribute to the prevalence of whiplash and neck injuries in the area. Though some collisions and other situations such as falls can result from innocent acts, more likely than not someone’s negligence has caused an otherwise avoidable accident and injury to happen. If you or a loved one’s neck was hurt in an accident, no matter how it occurred, contact an experienced Menifee Whiplash and Neck Injury Attorney today to see if you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Causes and Symptoms of Whiplash and Neck InjuriesWhiplash also known as a neck strain or cervical muscle strain, is an injury caused when the neck moves rapidly and unnaturally in a similar way to cracking a whip. The most common cause of whiplash is a rear-end motor vehicle accident. These accidents in turn are usually due to at least one driver’s negligent behavior. In many people, whiplash sufferers begin to recover and find relief within a few weeks if they receive proper medical, some people suffer chronic pain and other long-term effects because it involves delicate neck structures like the vertebrae, discs, and nerves.
It’s critical to receive an immediate medical evaluation after you’ve been involved in an accident and follow all recommendations for treatment and follow-up appointments; not all cases of whiplash show symptoms in the first few days after the accident and not all cases present the same symptoms. It’s not uncommon for whiplash victims to experience symptoms like:
- Headaches,
- Neck pain and stiffness,
- Range of motion loss in the neck,
- Shoulder, back, or arm pain
- Numbness,
- Fatigue, or
- Dizziness or blurry vision.
In some cases, victims report suffering less common symptoms like tinnitus (ringing in the ears), memory loss, and an inability to concentrate. In some very severe cases, spinal surgery may be needed for victims to address chronic symptoms and effects.
How Can I Recover for My Injuries?It’s common for whiplash and neck injury victims in Menifee to try recovering for their injuries by filing a civil suit against the alleged wrongdoer and arguing they were hurt by the wrongdoer’s negligence. If you were hurt in a car accident or in another situation, if you can establish the defendant was negligent then they will usually be liable for injuries you can prove. To prove negligence, you must show the defendant breached a duty of care they owed to you and their breach caused harm to you.
Victims can also prove someone’s liability for their injuries by showing that the defendant’s actions broke a law, rule, or regulation while causing your injury. Breaking any law enacted the promote or protect the safety of a group of people, such as a traffic law or building code, creates the presumption the defendant acted negligently. Traffic law violations such as speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving, or running a stop sign or red light that results in a crash and whiplash would likely satisfy the requirements for negligence per se.
How Much Can I Recover?If you can prove that a defendant was liable for the accident that caused your injuries, you may be entitled to an award of damages for the harm you can prove to a judge or jury. Nothing will ever fully make up for the trauma you’ve endured and your injuries, but an award of compensatory damages can help to make you whole for physical, financial, mental, and emotional injuries you’ve endured. Victims may receive for economic damages such as medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages you can prove through receipts and paystubs. Courts may also award victims for relationship, psychological, and mental trauma such as loss of consortium or pain and suffering.
In a few situations, a court may award you additional punitive damages to punish a defendant’s particularly egregious behavior. The difficulty of satisfying the high burden of proof to qualify for punitive damages, in addition to the fact courts have complete discretion on whether to award them and in what amount means it’s advisable to consult with a skilled Menifee Whiplash and Neck Injury Attorney to avoid legal pitfalls that could affect your chances of recovery.
Speak to an Attorney TodayWhether they occur from a car accident or some other circumstance, neck injuries like whiplash and soft tissue damage can change your life in an instant and cause unnecessary stress, expense, and pain. If you were hurt in any kind of accident and suffered one of these traumatic injuries, contact the Menifee Whiplash and Neck Injury Attorneys at Walton Law, APC today. Our experienced attorneys have spent years providing aggressive representation for victims just like you and delivering millions in compensation to them for their injuries. Time is not on your side, so don’t delay. Contact us to schedule your no risk, no obligation initial case review today – we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (866)-338-7079 or through our online Contact Page. The confidential evaluation is free, and you don’t pay until we win your case. Our team of attorneys is waiting to review your case and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.