Can Whiplash Be Attributed to a Traumatic Brain Injury?

When car accidents occur, even at slow speeds, they can cause soft tissue injuries to drivers and passengers, like whiplash. We hear about whiplash so much that it maybe makes it seem as though it’s a minor injury, but that isn’t the case. Whiplash can be very painful, and, as it turns out, a sign of more serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries.

Suffering from whiplash or a brain injury can change your life. If somebody else’s negligent or reckless driving is what caused your injury, you could use help from a car accident lawyer from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC. You deserve to be compensated for the damages and suffering you have endured, and a lawyer will enable you to recover those so you can focus on healing.

Whiplash Symptoms That Could Be Signs of a Brain Injury

First, you should know the difference between whiplash and a brain injury. Whiplash is when the soft tissues of your neck are stretched or torn from the rapid whipping of your head from one side to another after a collision. There are many different kinds of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), but in general, the CDC describes a TBI as a head injury that “disrupts normal function of the brain.”

Though whiplash and brain injuries are not interchangeable, they can share signs since they occur in parts of the body that work together. While you might think you only have whiplash based on your symptoms after a collision with another car, you could also be experiencing the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury.

In a study conducted in 2010, researchers found that 23 percent of people with whiplash and severe neck pain had changes to the brain, including a Chiari malformation, which is when part of the brain sinks into the spinal column and creates serious pain and brain function complications. This means that whiplash can either cause brain injuries or is a side effect of a brain injury in a way.

Here are some warning signs that are the same for both whiplash and brain injuries:

• Severe headaches
• Dizziness
• Neck pain
• Fatigue
• Numbness or tingling in arms and hands

If you have these symptoms, you could have more than just whiplash. Some further symptoms that point to a brain injury are brain dysfunction, slowed reaction time, or sensitivity to light or sound, but these might not appear right away. You’ll want to see your doctor to evaluate the extent of your injuries from the auto wreck that caused your whiplash as soon as you start to notice symptoms since both injuries can have delayed presentations.

Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC Will Protect Your Rights

If you’ve suffered from whiplash or a TBI, your life could be drastically altered from your injuries, and the medical bills could make it even harder to return to your normal life. When the car accident that caused these injuries wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to deal with the financial burdens of the crash since another driver was responsible for everything. Though filing a claim against that driver might feel like just one more difficulty in your life, it won’t be with the right lawyer.

That’s where Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC in Jackson, Mississippi, comes in. With the help of our car accident or brain injury lawyer, you will be able to focus on healing while we take care of the legal side of things in your case. Although compensation for your bills and other costs won’t change your injury, it can hopefully grant you peace of mind that the negligent party was held responsible for their actions.

Let us help you and your family. Reach out to our office today so that we can discuss your potential claim and start on your road to recovery.