If you've recently been in a car accident and don't have any symptoms of a whiplash injury, you should still seek medical attention, preferably from a spine specialist. You may have delayed symptoms, which a doctor can detect before pain sets in.

Diagnosing a Whiplash Injury

A doctor can determine if you have a whiplash injury and the severity of your injury through a variety of tests.

Tests to detect a whiplash injury include: 

  • X-rays - This is done to identify delayed symptoms, bone fractures and other spinal injuries caused by a whiplash injury.
  • CAT scans - This is done to identify herniated discs or severe ligament injuries.
  • MRIs - This is also done to identify herniated discs and other injuries to soft tissues in the neck. 


After the doctor has determined the extent of your whiplash injury, you'll be given a treatment plan. Be sure to follow every bit of your doctor's advice. If you plan to file a Georgia personal injury claim to account for your medical expenses and other losses, your Atlanta personal injury attorney will be able to use your medical records to demonstrate the severity of your whiplash injury.

Treating a Whiplash Injury

One of the first treatments for a whiplash injury is the use of a cervical collar. Most patients only need the collar for a few weeks.

Some other forms of treatment for a whiplash injury include: 

  • muscle relaxants;
  • physical therapy (to regain range of motion);
  • pain medication and steroids; and
  • heat treatments.  


For patients who continue to experience pain, other tests may be needed to determine a more severe whiplash injury. In the worst-case scenarios, surgery may be necessary.

Seeking Compensation for a Whiplash Injury

Even though the majority of people who sustain a whiplash injury make a complete recovery in weeks, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills and lost time at work if you sustained a severe whiplash injury. 

If another party is responsible for your whiplash injury, an Atlanta personal injury attorney can work with you to file a Georgia personal injury claim. When building your case and handling possible settlement negotiations, your Atlanta personal injury attorney will take into consideration how your injuries have specifically affected you and those dependent on you to help determine what damages to seek. 

Contacting an Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney

If you are the victim of someone else's negligence or carelessness, whether in a traffic accident or some other type of accident, you have certain rights guaranteed by law. To help you understand these rights and seek the compensation you may be eligible for to help get your life back in order, contact the Atlanta Law Offices of Sheryl L. Burke for a no-cost consultation on your injury case.