Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash is a neck injury caused when your head is suddenly jolted back and forth, most often in rear-end crashes, even at low speeds. Its symptoms can be delayed and long-lasting, and when another driver is at fault you can recover for your care and losses. Protection Law Group represents whiplash victims across California on contingency: no upfront fees, and you pay only if we win.
Key Points
- Whiplash can happen in crashes as slow as 5 to 10 mph, so “minor” collisions still cause real injuries.
- Symptoms are often delayed, so get checked and documented even if you feel fine at first.
- California’s comparative negligence rule can reduce, but not bar, recovery if you were partly at fault.
Whiplash after a rear-end crash in El Segundo? Book your free consultation today.
Whiplash is a common injury resulting from car accidents and occurs when a person’s head is rapidly jolted backward and forward, often in rear-end collisions. This sudden movement can stretch and tear the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the neck and cervical spine.
Whiplash can cause persistent physical pain, emotional anguish, and significant medical expenses for weeks, months, or even years. The severity of whiplash can range from mild to severe, depending on the force of impact. Common causes of whiplash include car accidents (especially rear-end collisions), physical assaults, bus accidents, sports collisions, horse riding accidents, amusement park accidents, cycling accidents, falls, and construction zone accidents. Notably, whiplash can occur in accidents with speeds as low as 5 to 10 mph.
Symptoms of whiplash may not appear immediately and can include neck pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, shoulder and upper back tenderness, tingling or numbness in the arms, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and, in severe cases, blurred vision, sleep disturbances, memory loss, and depression. It’s crucial not to ignore these symptoms, as doing so can worsen the injury.
Compensation for whiplash injuries typically depends on economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, mental anguish), and the degree of fault in the accident. California follows comparative negligence rules, which can affect compensation amounts.
Insurers routinely lowball whiplash because it does not show on an X-ray. Protection Law Group can document the full injury and push back.
If you or someone you know suffered a whiplash injury, contact us immediately.
We protect your rights!
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the severity, your treatment and medical costs, lost wages, and how long symptoms last. No lawyer can promise a figure, but consistent medical records strengthen the claim.
Yes. Whiplash can occur in low-speed rear-end crashes at just 5 to 10 mph, so vehicle damage is not a reliable measure of injury.
Soft-tissue neck injuries often have delayed onset. Neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, or tingling can surface hours or days later, which is why prompt evaluation matters.
Insurers often downplay soft-tissue injuries, which is exactly why documentation and legal help matter. Full compensation is still available for a genuine injury.
Generally two years from the date of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1).
Sources
- California Courts Self-Help Guide, Personal Injury, https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/civil-lawsuit/personal-injury
- California Legislative Information, Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=335.1&lawCode=CCP
- California Legislative Information, Civil Code § 1714 (duty of care), https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1714&lawCode=CIV
- Judicial Council of California, California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI), https://courts.ca.gov/
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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