How to Diagnose and Treat Whiplash After an Accident in Kansas City

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries suffered in Kansas City personal injury accidents. Rear-end collisions often result in whiplash, but it can occur anywhere, and is not limited to just driving a car.  Motorcycle riders and pedestrians crossing the street are just as susceptible to incurring this type of injury.  

A neck or spine injury is not as obvious as broken bones, so it can be difficult to diagnose and treat. The accident victim sometimes does not feel pain until days or even weeks later.  In extreme cases, whiplash can take years to recover and heal.

If you or a loved one are dealing with the pain of whiplash or other spine-related injuries due to an accident, contact our Kansas City whiplash and catastrophic injury lawyer for a free consultation at 816-203-0143. If your injury was due to someone else's negligence or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to compensation under Missouri or Kansas law.

What Are the Common Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash?

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by forceful movement of the neck, which often takes place after car accidents.  It should be noted that the signs and symptoms of whiplash usually develop after a few days of the injury. The common symptoms may include the following:

• Occasional headaches that usually begin at the base of your skull
• Tingling and numbness of the arms
• Extreme fatigue
• Dizziness
• Extreme pain and stiffness in the neck
• The pain tends to worsen with neck movement
• Loss of range of motion in the neck
• Blurred vision
• Irritability
• Lower back pain
• Sleep disturbances

How is Whiplash Diagnosed After an Accident in Kansas City?

Numerous experts agree that injuries that damage soft tissues such as the muscles and ligaments cannot be seen using standard X- rays. Therefore, in order to diagnose whiplash, doctors usually carry out specialized imaging tests, which include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans. With the help of these tests, medical practitioners can identify the type of soft tissue damage that may be causing the whiplash symptoms.

What to Do for Whiplash a Injury Resulting from an Accident?

The first step you should take if you suffered a whiplash injury due to another person’s negligence is to report it.  For injuries caused by motor vehicle  accidents, it is best to call 911 and request the police to create a report of the incident.  If the accident involves a slip and fall accident, often referred to as premises liability, you should file a report with the property owner.

After reporting or documenting the scene, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. The symptoms of whiplash usually vary from minor to severe. Doctors may prescribe over-the-counter pain relief medications such as naproxen and ibuprofen to address stiffness or pain.  In particular, the doctor may suggest icing during the first few days after the incident to help reduce the blood flow to the injured area.

Other effective treatment options your doctor may recommend for whiplash are chiropractic therapy, physical therapy, massage, and ultrasound.  For persistent whiplash symptoms, professional medical care is essential to aid in reducing the neck’s inflammation and possible further tissue damage.

When Should You Hire an Injury Lawyer for Your Whiplash Claim in Missouri or Kansas?

The answer is as soon as possible.  Our knowledgeable personal injury attorney will help you navigate the process of deciding to file a personal injury claim and the steps to do so.  The process of filing a claim can be complicated.  The expertise of our Kansas City personal injury attorney is crucial toward maximizing your claim and getting you the best possible outcome.

Gathering the appropriate evidence to support your whiplash injury is critical to the success of your claim.  With the help of our personal injury attorney, you will be guided to keep the necessary records of your medical visits, which is vital for proving your case.

Our attorney will advise you to keep records of various documents that prove the financial losses you've incurred due to the accident, such as medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses on medication. This will help to prove your eligibility for compensation.

Damages for Whiplash Under Missouri and Kansas Law

Damages are the compensation a claimant receives due to injury or the loss of property.  By asserting your whiplash claim, our attorney will seek damages for your injury as well as other losses you’ve experienced due to the injury.  Some examples of damages and losses that may be recoverable under Missouri and Kansas law include the following:

• Medical bills incurred during treatment of your injury
• Lost wages due to missing days at work, either due to treatment or the pain itself
• Pain, suffering, and emotional and psychological trauma and distress caused by the accident and your recovery
• Property damage as a result of the accident

In addition to the above, it’s also helpful to provide copies of accident documentation, such as police reports and photographs of the accident scene showing the damage to your vehicle. With these documents, our Kansas City personal injury attorney will be able to protect your rights and ensure you obtain the amount of compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer Today for More Information

Consulting with our experienced personal injury lawyer will put you in a strong position to get properly diagnosed and recover damages from your whiplash injury claim.  At the Law office of Kevin J. McManus, we believe accident victims deserve fair compensation. Our personal injury attorney works in Missouri and Kansas to help our clients get the compensation they deserve. 

We’re here for you.  If you or a loved one are experiencing a whiplash injury due to an accident, contact our office today at 816-203-0143, and schedule a free consultation.  You can also download our free guide for injury victims right now!