Whiplash is a soft tissue injury which occurs most commonly in the neck, usually after the head has been jolted forwards (hyperflexion) or backwards (hyperextension) causing a sudden extension of the neck muscles. The whole motion happens in a very short space of time causing resulting in the injury occurring.
The speed of impact does not necessarily determine the severity of the whiplash or the duration of the injury. The pain from a whiplash may be instant or it may take a few days for the symptoms to show.
What causes Whiplash
The most common way to sustain a whiplash injury is during a car accident and often when the vehicle in which you are travelling in has been hit from the rear. The reason for this is that when a car is hit in the rear, your body is restrained by the seatbelt but your head is not restrained by anything. This means that your neck bears the brunt of the violent movement of your head, resulting in a neck soft tissue injury.
A whiplash injury does not just occur when you have been involved in a rear-end shunt, you can also sustain a whiplash if you are involved in a side impact incident or even as a passenger in the car behind which causes the accident.
A painful whiplash injury can occur even at relatively low speeds. You can also sustain whiplash type injuries in other types of accidents, including a trip and fall or being hit on the head.
Recovering from Whiplash
There is no magic formula to how long it takes for a whiplash victim to recover and some people do this very quickly, whilst others suffer a lot of pain that can be long lasting or even permanent.
If you think you have suffered a whiplash injury, you should always seek medical advice. By doing so, a medical professional can also establish whether any more serious damage has been caused. They may also recommend physiotherapy or other types of treatment to assist with the recovery.
Symptoms of Whiplash
There may be many different signs of a whiplash injury such as headaches, neck and shoulder paid or dizziness and in more serious cases depression. Again, your GP will be able to determine what the problem is and recommend the best way to treat your symptoms.
If you have suffered a whiplash injury as a result of a car accident or other type of accident, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. Contact Accident Line and we will put you in touch with a local specialist solicitor who will advise you. Alternatively, you can use our find my local 'Injury Solicitors' section and contact your local Accident Line solicitor directly.