Whiplash Injuries are a Risk Factor for Psychiatric Ailments
Whiplash occurs when your neck suffers a jolt resulting in a sudden snapping that can cause lingering pain, numbness, and difficulty moving. It is a common effect of rear-end collisions. When one vehicle strikes another from behind, the driver in the leading vehicle may experience whiplash. Whiplash may seem like a non-serious injury, but individuals who suffer whiplash have an uncertain prognosis. In this article, the Tampa, FL car accident attorneys at The Matassini Law Firm will discuss whiplash injuries and some of the unknown complications that can arise from them.
Whiplash is a risk factor for depression
According to the Institute for Work and Health, whiplash injuries are associated with an increased risk of developing depression. Depression has been linked to chronic pain in several individuals. In other words, those who deal with chronic pain daily are much more likely to suffer from depression than those who do not.
In one study, researchers performed telephone interviews of all adults in the province of Saskatchewan who were either seeking health care or making an injury claim for a traffic-related whiplash injury. The participants were contacted 6 weeks after the accident occurred and then 5 more times over the year. The subject’s symptoms of depression were assessed in each interview.
5,211 participants engaged in the study. None of the participants had symptoms of depression before their car accident. Of this group, more than 40 percent developed symptoms of depression within 6 weeks following the injury. 18% developed symptoms over the following year. For the majority, the symptoms resolved within a year. Persistent or recurrent symptoms of depression were noted in participants who had reported mental health problems 6 months before the injury.
Other psychiatric problems following a whiplash injury
Another study noted that anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sleep disturbances were also reported following whiplash injuries. The study doesn’t note the prevalence of psychiatric outcomes when it comes to whiplash injuries, but it does indicate that there is an increased risk of developing psychiatric symptoms following a car accident. Whiplash especially can leave an individual in chronic pain making it difficult to sleep. This can result in cognitive decline, difficulty concentrating, difficulty maintaining focus on tasks, and related cognitive disturbances. It can make it difficult to do your job.
Whiplash injuries and your personal injury lawsuit
If you are involved in a personal injury lawsuit related to a car accident, it’s important to understand that you will only have one chance to settle your case. You want to be sure that the attorney who is filing the case on your behalf has experience handling clients with a wide variety of injuries. If you are suffering from lingering pain related to a whiplash injury, this could negatively impact your mental health making it more difficult for you to do your job, concentrate at work, interact with close friends and relatives, and enjoy your life. You need an attorney who will ensure that you are compensated for all your injuries—not just medical expenses.
Contact a Tampa, FL Car Accident Attorney Today
Have you recently suffered whiplash from a car accident? If so, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver and recover damages related to your injuries. This includes psychiatric injuries that result from dealing with serious pain. Call the Tampa personal injury lawyers at The Matassini Law Firm today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your case right away.
Sources:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9072624/
iwh.on.ca/plain-language-summaries/whiplash-after-traffic-accidents-can-lead-to-depression#:~:text=Symptoms%20of%20depression%20appear%20to,a%20history%20of%20depressive%20symptoms.
