It can be difficult differentiating whiplash and brain injury symptoms after a terrifying accident. Being knowledgeable of some of the signs of whiplash and brain injury can be extremely helpful–especially if a loved one is injured.
Signs of Whiplash
In our vehicles, seatbelts hold our bodies back in the event of a crash, but our heads and necks remain unrestrained. As a result, whiplash can impact the head and neck of the people in the accident.
It’s also very common for whiplash to have hidden symptoms–that is to say, symptoms that do not appear until later. Below are twelve of the most common whiplash symptoms to look for after an accident:
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Headache
- Decreased range of motion in your neck
- Exacerbation of pain when you turn your neck
- Fatigue
- Dizzy spells
- Back, shoulder, and/or upper arm pain
- Numbness or tingling in your arms
- Blurred vision
- Irritability
- Ringing in your ears (also known as tinnitus)
Signs of a Brain Injury
Have you been told your brain was injured in an accident? If so, you may already have some idea of how serious a brain injury can be. Injuries to the brain can have long-lasting consequences and some brain injury symptoms may not be immediately noticeable.
Some of the most common causes of this type of head injury are motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and falls, bicycle accidents, and issues caused by dangerous products. Below are some of the more common brain injury symptoms that may appear after an accident occurs:
- Concussion
- Seizures
- Skull fracture
- Ongoing headaches
- Hematoma
- Memory loss
- Loss of Concentration