- If You're Injured
- What to Do
- - Automobile Accident
- - Injured on the Job
- - Major Personal Injuries
- - Whiplash Injuries
- - Wrongful Death
- What an Attorney Can Mean to Your Case
- When & How to Choose a Personal Injury Attorney
- Are Your Injuries Covered?
- Working with an Attorney
- What is the Claim Process Like?
- How to Handle Your Medical Needs
- What to Expect If There Is a Lawsuit
Auto Accident and Personal Injury Law Washington
What to do…if you suffer whiplash or soft tissue injuries
Whiplash is a unique injury that happens most often to drivers or passengers during rear-end collision automobile accidents, when the force from the impact causes the head to snap violently back and forward. You don’t need to be involved in a high speed crash for a whiplash injury to result. Even at low speeds the unexpected impact can cause injury to your vertebrae, muscles and neck. And while whiplash injuries most often result from car accidents, they can occur in any situation where a sudden back and forth "whipping" movement occurs, including slips, falls, and blows to the head from an assault.
How do I know if it is whiplash?
Whiplash injuries are not always immediately recognized. If you are involved in an accident, your natural responses and the adrenalin rush may not allow you to relax. But over the course of the next few days, you might experience:
- Tightness in the neck and/or serious neck pain that is dull and aching
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Problems with balance and equilibrium
- Back pain
- Memory problems and difficulty concentrating
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, you should see a medical specialist, such as a back and neck expert, chiropractor, orthopedic specialist or neurologist, for treatment. Whiplash injuries may seem minor at first, but if left undiagnosed and untreated, whiplash injuries can lead to chronic pain. Untreated whiplash injuries can also make you more susceptible to future back and neck injuries.
What about soft tissue injury?
Soft tissue injury refers to damage to your muscles, ligaments, tendons or nerves, usually caused by direct or indirect trauma. Direct trauma can happen in an accident, from being struck by an object or by falling. Indirect trauma happens when you overuse certain muscles or other tissue through repetitive movements you do as part of your everyday work tasks. Some examples of soft tissue injuries include sprained ankles, pulled tendons and repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
When you are injured
When you have a whiplash or soft tissue injury, you should:
- Have the injury evaluated by a specialist, such as neck expert, chiropractor or neurologist.
- Document the injury treatment and recommended future treatments.
If you are diagnosed with whiplash or a soft tissue injury, consult with a personal injury attorney who can guide you through the claims process. The highly qualified personal injury attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast will provide you with a FREE consultation, at no obligation to you. Simply contact us about your injury or call toll free at 1-888-228-3860.
After the injury
When you choose a personal injury attorney, you will need to gather information that will support your claim during the next few months, including:
- Medical Expenses: Document all office visits, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, laboratory services, physical therapy, hospital visits, treatments, medical documents and x-rays, including the dates, providers, amounts charged and reasons for your visits.
- Lost Work Time: Keep track of all time taken off from work as a result of the accident, including time off for medical treatments and/or the inability to function properly at work because of your injuries. You may also want to get a letter from your employer verifying pay and lost time.
- Lost School Time: If you are in school or taking work-related courses, document all lost school time and/or your inability to continue school work as you did before the accident.
- Photographs: Continue to take photographs of your injuries at different times after the accident. write the date on the back of each photo to verify when it was taken.
- Emotional Distress and Personal Inconvenience: Keep in mind what you are going through during the process and how the injuries have interfered with your daily life.
- Car Repair Estimates and Bills: Keep copies of all repair bills and/or estimates, as well as rental car and taxi receipts.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Keep receipts for everything that you’ve paid for out-of-pocket relating to or as a result of injuries suffered in the accident.
| Call if you have been injured in Washington state, including in these cities: | |||||
| Arlington | Auburn | Bellevue | Bellingham | Bothell | Bremerton |
| Edmonds | Everett | Federal Way | Issaquah | Kent | Kirkland |
| Lacey | Longview | Lynnwood | Marysville | Medina | Oak Harbor |
| Olympia | Port Orchard | Redmond | Renton | Seattle | Shelton |
| Snohomish | Sumner | Tacoma | Tukwila | Vancouver | Woodinville |