Cross-border personal injury lawsuits: Delayed whiplash damage

When victims of British Columbia motor vehicle accidents escape with no broken bones or gushing blood, they typically thank their lucky stars and walk away. However, those accidents may cause injuries with delayed symptoms that could cause chronic pain years later. A medical evaluation after any collision is important for any attempts to recover damages at a later stage. If this in a cross-border personal injury the legal proceedings may be complicated, and having medical reports as evidence will help.

Any car accident — but mostly rear-end collisions — can cause the heads of the vehicle occupants to whip forward and backwards, causing the brain to slam into the walls of the skull. Symptoms can present immediately, or days or weeks later. These types of injuries could affect the head, neck, shoulders, upper back and even one side of the body or the hands and fingers. Muscle strains or ligament sprains, injuries to the joints, nerves, discs and bones can cause severe pain in years to come.

Stiffness and reduced movement or instability of the neck can occur. Muscle tightening or irritated nerves or cervical spine joints can lead to chronic headaches. When whiplash tears or strains soft tissues in the neck, it can affect other areas such as the shoulders and upper back. Furthermore, damage to the nerve roots can cause numbness of one side of the body or tingling that can radiate down the arms and into the hands and fingers.

These are but some of the potential consequences of a seemingly insignificant car accident. Medical expenses can be ongoing and substantial, as well as painful and long-lasting. If the injury occurred across the border, the best strategy to recover damages might be to seek the advice, support and guidance of an experienced British Columbia cross-border personal injury lawyer.

Source: spine-health.com, “Whiplash Symptoms and Associated Disorders“, Zinovy Meyler, Accessed on May 5. 2017