San Diego Whiplash Injury Lawyer

Whiplash injuries, while not always immediately evident, can profoundly impact an individual’s well-being in the short term and long term. 

These injuries, typically resulting from rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, primarily affect soft tissues, including muscles, spinal cord, nerve roots, vertebrae, ligaments, and tendons. However, their seemingly inconspicuous nature should not mislead one into underestimating their severity. When inflicted due to another party’s negligence, the consequences are not only painful but also life-altering.

In fact, “whiplash” itself is not a medical diagnosis. It is a term for the manner or mechanism or injury. The accurate injury diagnosis depends on what particular structures of the spine are injured. These can range from muscles, ligaments, tendons, vertebrae, nerve roots, and spinal cord. 

Such injuries, usually associated with rear-end car accidents (but certainly can occur with all types of accidents), lead to chronic pain, headaches, surgery, injections, therapy, and even cognitive disturbances. Studies have shown that many whiplash injury victims grapple with mounting medical bills, the necessity for extensive therapy, and the looming potential of long-term physical discomfort.

In our view, “whiplash” is a term that actually minimizes and diminishes the true full extent of the injuries victims of vehicle accidents suffer. In reality, the injuries can be much more severe than the term implies. 

With over two decades of representing San Diego’s injury victims, Attorney Pajman Jassim and Attorney Parisima Jassim are committed to helping those affected by whiplash injuries and spinal injuries. As legal advocates, we ensure that those responsible for causing whiplash injuries are held accountable, and we guide victims through the intricate legal process, ensuring they obtain the compensation they rightly deserve.

What Is a Whiplash Injury? 

Whiplash is commonly associated with car accidents or other personal injury accidents, but what exactly is it? Whiplash is an injury resulting from sudden and forceful back-and-forth motions of the head and neck. This type of movement puts immense strain on the neck’s soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, nerves, vertebrae, and tendons, including all the spine’s delicate structures.  

Think about it – human beings were not designed to travel at freeway speeds and get into motor vehicle accidents! Cars and motorcycles (and other vehicles) are a very new phenomenon considering the history of human existence. That means impacts and collisions at even 5, 10, 15 miles per hour can seriously hurt someone. The human spine anatomy consists of a rather small area where even a few millimeters of structure damage can have serious consequences requiring surgery, causing severe pain and neurological disturbances. 

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of whiplash is essential for both your recovery and any potential legal claims against a negligent party, which may include the following: 

• Neck pain: A persistent, often sharp or aching pain in the neck is a common symptom of whiplash. 
• Stiffness: Difficulty moving or turning the neck due to muscle and ligament damage. 
• Headaches: Frequent and severe headaches, often originating from tension in the neck. 
• Shoulder and back pain: Discomfort can radiate to the shoulders and the upper back, affecting your quality of life by reducing your range of motion. 
• Tingling, numbness, shooting pain down arms/legs: Some individuals may experience signs of nerve injury, these include tingling, numbness, shooting pain and other neurological deficits felt down the arms and even legs. 
• Fatigue and dizziness: Whiplash injuries can lead to fatigue, making everyday activities challenging.

Symptoms may not appear instantly after an accident, sometimes taking hours or days to manifest, which is why it is imperative to seek medical care immediately, even if you do not think you suffered this type of injury. Sometimes a more painful immediate injury, such as a broken bone, may mask the other spinal symptoms you experience in a situation where more than one body part is injured. 

Types of Accidents That Lead to Whiplash 

Whiplash injuries frequently result from various types of accidents, primarily those involving sudden deceleration or impact, including the following: 

• Rear – End Accidents: These types of accidents are among the most prevalent causes of whiplash injuries, occurring when a vehicle is struck from behind by another vehicle. The force of the impact abruptly propels the occupant’s head and neck forward and backward, resulting in injury.  
• Front-end Accidents: Although less common, head-on collisions can also lead to whiplash due to the abrupt braking, stopping motion, or impact that leads to head and neck trauma. 
• Side impact or T-bone Accidents: In T-bone accidents, where a vehicle is struck from the side, occupants can suffer whiplash due to the sudden jolt and lateral movement that strains the neck’s soft tissues. 
• Roll Over Accidents: Considering the various forces and multiple impacts involved in rollover collisions, “whiplash” and spinal injuries are extremely common. 
• Slip-and-fall Accidents: Whiplash injuries are not limited to vehicle accidents. Falls, especially when the head is rapidly jerked forward and backward, can lead to whiplash. 

It is essential to note that not all whiplash injuries result from accidents occurring at high speeds. In fact, they can happen at speeds as low as five to ten miles per hour. If you sustained a whiplash injury in any of these scenarios due to the negligence of another party, you may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim. 

The experienced San Diego whiplash injury lawyers at Jassim Law have helped countless whiplash injury victims recover compensation for the damages they suffered by investigating the accident, gathering necessary evidence, communicating with insurance companies, and building a strong claim while enabling you to focus on recovery. 

In our view, one of the most important skills an experienced San Diego whiplash injury attorney must have is knowledge of the “medicine” involved in your case. As personal “injury” lawyers, we must know the medicine, anatomy, and consequences of the injuries you’ve sustained. We know spinal injuries, and we do not minimize or diminish the seriousness of your “whiplash” injury. 

Recoverable Damages in a Successful Whiplash Injury Claim 

Recovering compensation for your whiplash injuries is vital for your long-term recovery. Insurance companies will attempt to devalue your accident claim or diminish the severity of your injuries. 

We often see insurance companies refer to such claims as “Minor Impact Soft Tissue” or “MIST” cases. This unfair mischaracterization makes it seem like your injury is minor, and the impact was nothing more than a “mist”! 

At Jassim Law, we stand up to their unfair tactics by advocating on your behalf. 

We help you recover the following types of economic and non-economic damage: 

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Rehabilitation expenses
• In-home assistance or care 
• Lost wages 
• Diminished earning capacity 
• Property damage
• Permanent or temporary disability
• Disfigurement
• Property damages 
• Pain and suffering 
• Physical Impairment damages
• Anxiety/Grief damages
• Disfigurement damages
• Mental Anguish and Emotional Distress
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life Damages

A whiplash injury attorney will calculate your present and future losses, as well as connect you with the care and resources you need to recover. We are experienced in handling complex whiplash injury cases and aim to make our communities safer by seeking the justice you deserve. 

Speak With the Experienced Whiplash Injury Lawyers at Jassim Law 

After sustaining a whiplash spinal injury, your priority should be healing, which is why you must contact Jassim Law to navigate your accident claim on your behalf. Attorney Pajman Jassim provides dedicated, personal attention to the details of your claim, so your rights are protected every step of the way.  He was recognized as San Diego’s Best Attorney in 2015 by San Diego Metro magazine and strives to make our community safer by holding negligent parties accountable for their wrongdoings. 

Schedule a free consultation with a whiplash injury lawyer by calling (619) 630-2680 or completing our contact form today. We understand that you are injured, so we come to you. We also offer video, Zoom, or telephone consultations.