Whiplash Injuries in Columbia, SC
When you’re involved in a car accident in Columbia, whiplash is among the most common yet most misunderstood injuries you might face. This neck injury occurs when your head suddenly jolts forward and backward during a collision, straining the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support your cervical spine. While some people assume whiplash is minor or even fake, the reality is far different. According to research, approximately 869,000 traffic crash-related cervical spine injuries occur in U.S. hospitals annually, with around 841,000 of these being whiplash-type sprain and strain injuries.
If you’ve suffered whiplash in a Columbia car accident, Stewart Law Offices can help. Our experienced Columbia car accident lawyers understand the complexities of whiplash claims and know how to overcome insurance company skepticism about these injuries. With over 30 years of protecting accident victims’ rights and recovering for our clients, we have the resources and determination to fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing.
What Is a Whiplash Injury?
Whiplash occurs when sudden acceleration or deceleration forces the head and neck into violent back‑and‑forth motion, damaging soft tissues, ligaments, muscles, and sometimes nerves in the cervical spine.
Even low‑speed crashes at 5–10 mph can trigger this injury. The neck’s natural curvature and limited muscular support make it especially vulnerable compared to other spinal regions. Whiplash ranges from mild strains to severe ligament tears, herniated discs, and nerve damage. Symptoms often appear hours or days later, including neck pain, stiffness, headaches, reduced motion, dizziness, fatigue, and irritability.
Medical professionals often miss whiplash injuries on initial X-rays because the damage primarily affects soft tissues rather than bones. MRI or CT scans typically provide better diagnostic information, though some whiplash injuries remain difficult to visualize even with advanced imaging technology.
How Common Are Whiplash Injuries?
Whiplash represents one of the most frequent injuries from motor vehicle accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 806,000 people sustain whiplash injuries annually in motor vehicle crashes across the United States, producing economic and quality of life costs exceeding $9 billion yearly.
Many whiplash victims experience symptoms for months or years, with some developing chronic pain conditions requiring ongoing medical treatment.
Columbia sees its share of these injuries, particularly given the heavy traffic on I-26, I-77, and I-20 intersecting in our city. Whether you were rear-ended at a stoplight on Assembly Street or sideswiped on the interstate, whiplash can happen anywhere vehicles travel.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash
One challenging aspect of whiplash is that symptoms often don’t appear immediately after your accident. The adrenaline coursing through your body can mask pain, and inflammation takes time to develop. Research shows that 65% of patients experience neck pain within 6 hours, 93% within 24 hours, and nearly all within 72 hours of injury.
Common whiplash symptoms include:
- Neck pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion
- Shoulder and upper back pain
- Headaches, particularly originating from the base of your skull
- Dizziness and balance problems
- Numbness or tingling in your arms and hands
- Jaw pain and temporomandibular joint dysfunction
- Blurred vision or visual disturbances
- Ringing in your ears
- Difficulty concentrating and memory problems
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue and irritability
The delayed onset of symptoms creates challenges for whiplash claims in South Carolina. Insurance adjusters often question injuries that weren’t immediately apparent at the accident scene. This makes getting prompt medical attention crucial, even if you feel fine initially. If your whiplash resulted from a distracted driver texting while driving, it’s especially important to document everything carefully.
Medical Treatment for Whiplash
Proper medical treatment serves two critical purposes: healing your injury and documenting it for your legal claim. Visit your doctor or an emergency room as soon as possible after your accident, ideally within 24 hours. Initial treatment typically includes:
- Physical examination and range-of-motion assessment
- X-rays to rule out fractures or dislocations
- CT scans or MRI, if needed, to evaluate soft tissue damage
- Pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs
- Muscle relaxants to reduce spasms
- Cervical collar (used sparingly to prevent muscle weakening)
- Ice and heat therapy
- Physical therapy focuses on gentle stretching and strengthening
Research demonstrates that early mobilization and physical therapy produce better long-term outcomes than prolonged immobilization. However, you should always follow your doctor’s specific recommendations for your injury.
Compensation Available for Whiplash Injuries
Victims of whiplash injuries may be entitled to recover damages for:
- Medical bills and ongoing treatment
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Even injuries that seem manageable at first can become costly over time, making it critical to fully assess future medical needs before accepting any settlement.
Why Insurance Companies Challenge Whiplash Claims
Despite clear medical evidence supporting whiplash injuries, insurance companies frequently dispute these claims. They argue that minor vehicle damage means you couldn’t have been seriously hurt, or they claim your delayed treatment proves the injury wasn’t caused by the accident. These tactics are particularly aggressive in South Carolina due to our contributory negligence rule.
Under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence system, you can recover damages only if you’re less than 51% at fault for the accident. While not as harsh as North Carolina’s pure contributory negligence rule, insurance companies still try to blame victims partially to reduce or deny compensation. Our Columbia car accident attorneys know how to counter these tactics and prove your whiplash injury is legitimate and caused by the accident.
Visit Our Auto Injury Lawyers in Columbia
How Stewart Law Offices Can Help
Our Columbia whiplash injury lawyers conduct thorough investigations, work with medical experts to document injury severity and future care needs, calculate full damages, including long-term losses, handle all communications with insurance companies, and fight for maximum compensation through negotiation or trial.
We understand the medical aspects of whiplash injuries and know how to present compelling evidence to insurance companies and juries. Stewart Law Offices operates on a contingency fee basis; you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact Stewart Law Offices in Columbia, SC for Your Whiplash Injury Case
Don’t let insurance companies minimize your whiplash injury or pressure you into an inadequate settlement. Stewart Law Offices has represented Columbia accident victims for over 30 years. We know how to prove whiplash injuries, counter insurance company tactics, and secure fair compensation for our clients.
Call 803-743-4200 or contact us online now for a free, confidential consultation. Time limits apply to injury claims, so contact us promptly to protect your rights and maximize your recovery.