Most people associate whiplash injuries with drivers and passengers inside vehicles involved in car accidents. However, traditional vehicle accidents are not the only way the victims can sustain whiplash injuries. This type of injury can also affect pedestrians and bicyclists involved in accidents. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, our Spokane pedestrian accident attorneys want to discuss how whiplash injuries occur, the symptoms of these injuries, and what you can do if you have been injured due to the negligence of another person.
Understanding whiplash injuries
A person can sustain a whiplash injury anytime their body experiences rapid back and forth movements caused by an external force. Often, this back and forth movement forces a person’s head to whip back and forth or side to side (hence the term whiplash). When this occurs, a significant strain can be placed on the bones in the spinal cord, the disc between spinal bones, as well as muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck and upper back.
Often, accident victims do not even know they have sustained whiplash injuries in the immediate aftermath of an incident. Whiplash victims may not begin to feel pain until the adrenaline in their body subsides. The full nature of the injury may not appear for hours or days after the crash.
Pedestrians and bicyclists are especially susceptible to whiplash injuries because they have virtually no protection from the force of a vehicle slamming into them. If a passenger vehicle strikes a pedestrian or bicyclist, it is likely that their heads will be whipped back and forth or side to side.
Some of the most common symptoms a victim will experience if they sustain whiplash injuries includes:
- Significant stiffness or neck pain
- Decreased range of motion in the neck
- Severe headaches that begin at the base of the skull
- Numbness or tingling in the arms
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Tenderness in the upper back, shoulders, or neck
Whiplash injuries can significantly affect a person’s ability to work or carry out daily functions such as chores, grocery shopping, or even driving.
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents are not uncommon
During the latest report year across the state, the Washington Department of Transportation reported the following data concerning pedestrian and bicycle accidents:
- 2,279 total pedestrian crashes
- 2,069 pedestrian crash injuries
- 102 pedestrian crash fatalities
- 1,302 total bicycle crashes
- 1,195 bicycle crash injuries
- 9 bicycle crash fatalities
Contact our attorneys for a free consultation of your case
If you or somebody you care about has sustained a whiplash injury in a pedestrian or bicycle accident, you may need to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, we have extensive experience helping victims in these incidents secure the compensation they are entitled to. This can include coverage of all medical bills related to the crash, lost income if a victim cannot work, household out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering damages, and more. If you need a Spokane bicycle accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 800-529-0842.