Virginia Beach Whiplash Injury Lawyers Make Your Case
Determined Virginia attorneys seek compensation for your neck injuries
Most accident injuries are readily apparent and measurable with medical diagnostics. However, this is usually not the case with whiplash, a painful syndrome that many injured parties find difficult to overcome. At Ernest Law Group, PLC, we understand how important it is for you to receive fair and adequate compensation, so you can focus on your physical recovery and get on with your life. A Virginia Beach whiplash injury lawyer at our firm can assemble the necessary evidence to build a compelling case for the money damages you deserve.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is a syndrome encompassing a variety of painful symptoms. It arises from a sudden, violent torqueing of the neck or lower back. In an auto accident, an individual’s head can snap forcefully forward and back, thereby straining and even tearing soft tissue and harming muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and nerves Whiplash victims can lose mobility in the afflicted area and suffer chronic pain. Whiplash injuries are often slow to heal and the length of time a victim can suffer is often impossible to determine.
How whiplash injuries happen
Car and truck accidents are the leading cause of whiplash in adults. Rear-end collisions cause abrupt back and forth, injury-inducing head movements. T-bone crashes often cause side-to-side whiplash. Multi-car accidents inflict whiplash by impacting the vehicle first in one direction and then another. Because whiplash is so prevalent in auto accidents, cars today are equipped with safety features, such as headrests, front airbags and side-curtain airbags, to minimize the effects of an impact.
Symptoms of a whiplash injury
Whiplash can comprise a multitude of injuries, including:
- Muscle strain
- Torn cartilage and ligaments
- Nerve damage
- Painful inflammation
- Concussion
- Peripheral nerve injury
- Chronic fatigue
- Loss of mobility
Some diagnostic testing, such as an MRI, can detect damage, but such tests cannot measure pain, which can vary greatly from one patient to another even when they have similar test results.
Medical treatment for whiplash after an accident
Victims of whiplash often have to immobilize the afflicted area with a brace. The long healing process may include any of the following:
- Physical therapy
- Massage
- Application of heat and cold compresses
- Acupuncture
Many patients also seek pain relief with prescription medications that have potential side effects.
How a Virginia Beach injury attorney proves liability for whiplash injury
An auto accident attorney in a whiplash case must prove that a defendant is at fault for having caused the crash. This requires a thorough investigation into the events of the accident. An attorney will interview witnesses and consult an accident reconstruction expert. The attorney must also defend the plaintiff from allegations of negligence. Under Virginia’s strict contributory negligence law, if an injured party is found even minimally at fault for an accident, they cannot recover any damages.
In addition to establishing liability, an attorney must build the client’s case for compensation. This means presenting evidence about the full extent of the victim’s injuries and their prognosis for recovery. In a whiplash case, it can be difficult to convey the gravity of injury, the depth of the victim’s suffering and the uncertain timeline for recovery.
Much of the evidence the attorney presents is aimed at conveying the victim’s sense of loss by demonstrating how much their life has changed since the accident. This can include testimony from friends, family, work colleagues and other associates about the physical challenges the victim has endured since the accident.
Contact a skilled Virginia attorney for a whiplash injury consultation
Ernest Law Group, PLC in Virginia Beach represents clients throughout the Hampton Roads area in whiplash injury cases. Please call 757-289-2499 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
