Toronto Whiplash Lawyer
Whiplash, sometimes referred to as Whiplash-Associated Disorders or WAD, is a term used to describe a range of neck injuries. Whiplash is a general classification that refers to damage to the soft tissues of the neck resulting from a sudden jerking movement:
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
The condition occurs when there is a sudden force that thrusts an individual’s head one direction and then rapidly into another direction. Although it’s a soft tissue injury, whiplash can have serious and long-term effects. Whiplash can be very painful and immobilizing, but also frustrating because it can be a hard claim to prove. For help with a personal injury claim in Toronto, contact a Toronto whiplash injury lawyer.
Symptoms
Whiplash occurs when your head is jolted around and the movement stretches and tears the neck and upper spine muscle and tendon fibers. Whiplash symptoms include:
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Inflammation
- Numbness
- Neck stiffness
- Decreased range of motion
- Burning or tingling the arms
- Headache, dizziness, and blurred vision
- Shoulder or back pain
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep disturbances
The general perception regarding whiplash injuries is that it is not a serious injury. Unfortunately, the condition has gotten a bad rap; many people assume victims fabricate or exaggerate their condition after a car accident.
Granted, there are people who consciously exaggerate their symptoms in order to garner attention or make false injury claims. However, this is not always the case. There are thousands of Canadians who do sustain genuine, serious cases of whiplash who should consult with a whiplash injury lawyer in Toronto.
Causes of Whiplash
While rear-end car accidents are the most common way whiplash occurs, there are numerous other possible causes, including:
- Motorcycle and bicycle accidents
- Snowboarding and skiing accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Assaults
- Child abuse
- Repetitive use injuries
Proving Claims
Proving whiplash claims can be quite difficult, firstly because of the social stigma attached to it, and secondly because there aren’t any medical tests that can definitively diagnose the condition. Whiplash doesn’t show up on medical imaging tests such as MRIs or x-rays. Doctors essentially diagnose the condition based on the patient’s symptoms.
Because of this lack of medical proof, insurance companies might dispute the viability of your claim. Plus, according to the Whiplash Prevention Campaign, whiplash injuries account for over 2,000,000 insurance claims in Canada each year. Insurance companies try to cut corners where they can. If you’re suffering from whiplash as a result of an accident, our Toronto whiplash injury lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve and prove your case. Also, document all your:
- Symptoms
- Treatments
- Medical appointments
- Treatment progress in an injury journal
Medical documentation will be a key part of your case.
Consult a Lawyer
Proving a whiplash claim may be difficult, but it can be done with enough evidence and the right legal skills. For assistance with your claim, contact a skilled Toronto whiplash lawyer. They will look over your case and determine how to move forward in order to obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.
