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Whiplash - Car Accident Lawyer

The following information on whiplash (also referred to as a soft tissue injury) is provided by Pritzker | Ruohonen, a Minnesota personal injury law firm with a national reputation. Attorneys at the firm have been named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine, and attorney Fred Pritzker is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is when the soft tissues of the neck are injured by a sudden jerking or "whipping" of the head, usually as a result of a car accident. This type of motion strains the muscles and ligaments of the neck beyond their normal range of motion.  Whiplash is sometimes referred to as neck sprain or neck strain. 

Whiplash Symptoms
Whiplash may include injury to intervertebral joints, discs, and ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots. Symptoms can include:

• Neck pain that may be present directly after the injury or may be delayed for several days or weeks
  
• Neck stiffness
  
• Myofascial injuries (injuries to the muscles and ligaments)
  
• Headache
  
• Dizziness
  
• Abnormal sensations such as burning or prickling (paresthesias)
  
• Shoulder pain
  
• Back pain
  
• Cognitive, somatic, or psychological conditions such as memory loss, concentration impairment, nervousness/irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue, or depression.

Whiplash Treatment
Treatment for individuals with whiplash may include pain medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and a cervical collar (usually worn for 2 to 3 weeks). Range of motion exercises, physical therapy, and cervical traction may also be prescribed. Supplemental heat application may relieve muscle tension.

Most patients recover within 3 months after the injury, however, some may continue to have residual neck pain and headaches.  Due to the uncertain nature of a whiplash injury, a car accident lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen should be consulted as soon as possible after the accident.  The firm’s attorneys know what medical professionals should be seen to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment of the injury.

To contact a Minnesota car accident lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online-consultation form. 

References :

1. Ferri, FF. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2005: 896-897.
2. Goetz CG, Pappert EJ. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 2nd Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2003.
3. Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th Ed. St. Louis, MO: London: Mosby; 2002:125,606.
4. MedlinePlus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A.
Plaza VII, Suite 2950
45 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1652

Telephone: 612-338-0202
Toll-Free: 1-888-377-8900
Fax: 612-338-0104
Email:info@pritzkerlaw.com

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A.: Minnesota personal injury lawyers with a national
reputation for excellence in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death.

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