Whiplash is most widely associated with car accidents, especially accidents in which you are rear-ended. You may be familiar with the sight of someone in a neck brace at your office or at the store who has sustained a whiplash injury in a car accident.

A whiplash injury can also occur in several sports, including:
 

  • boxing;
  • snowboarding;
  • gymnastics; and
  • football. 


Whether your whiplash injury was sustained in a traffic accident or on a football field, if someone else's negligent actions led to your injury, speak with an Atlanta personal injury attorney about the possibility for compensation with a Georgia personal injury claim.

Anatomy of a Whiplash Injury

A whiplash injury occurs when your neck is forced beyond its normal range of motion. In most cases, the neck is forced backward and then forward. Even though the neck is one of the most flexible parts of your spine, the extreme movement can cause ligaments in the neck to stretch or tear, which can lead discs in your vertebrae to tear, bulge and rupture. 

Symptoms of a Whiplash Injury

Some people experience symptoms of a whiplash injury within a few hours after an accident; others may not notice symptoms until weeks or months afterward. While most people only suffer from a whiplash injury for 2 to 4 weeks, some injuries may be more severe and have long-term ramifications.

Some common whiplash injury symptoms include:
 

  • stiffness in the neck;
  • headache;
  • dizziness;
  • difficulty swallowing;
  • shoulder and back pain;
  • numbness; and
  • nausea. 


If you have recently been involved in an accident and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you'll want to seek immediate medical attention. Then you'll want to talk with an Atlanta personal injury attorney about the circumstances surrounding your whiplash injury to determine if you are eligible to file a Georgia personal injury claim.

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