| Whiplash is a common
term used to describe neck pain following an injury to the soft tissues
of your neck (specifically ligaments, tendons, and muscles).
Whiplash happens in motor vehicle accidents. Whiplash
is normally
caused by an
abnormal motion or force applied to your neck that causes movement
beyond the neck's normal range of motion. The term whiplash is a
non-medical term and despite its replacement by synonyms (such as
acceleration flexion-extension neck injury and soft tissue cervical
hyperextension injury), it continues to be used to describe this common
soft tissue neck injury. Your doctor may use the more specific terms of
cervical sprain, cervical strain, or hyperextension injury. Basic whiplash symptoms include neck pain or stiffness, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, fatigue, dizziness, pain between the shoulder blades, pain in the arms or legs, headache, low back pain and/or stiffness, shoulder pain, nausea, ringing in the ears, vertigo, numbness and tingling, pain in the jaw or face. The symptoms of whiplash generally start showing up within 48 hours of the incident. The common symptoms include neck and shoulder stiffness, a feeling of being unsteady or dizzy, fatigue, pain in the face and nausea. If you have a forgiving employer or have some form of insurance in place then you may be able to take paid leave until you are able to return to work. If you don't then you may find yourself counting the cost of your injury. The most frequent cause of whiplash is a car accident where the car is struck from behind. The speed of the cars involved in the accident or the amount of physical damage to the car may not affect to the intensity of neck injury; speeds as low as 15 miles per hour can produce enough energy to cause whiplash in occupants, whether or not they wear seat belts. Repetitive stress injuries or chronic strain involving the neck (such as using your neck to hold the phone) are a common, non-acute causes. Although some believe that whiplash injuries are routinely exaggerated, researchers say they cause real pain, and sometimes enduring problems, for thousands of people every year. A severe whiplash injury can keep you off work for a significant amount of time. Depending on the circumstances of your accident you may be able to claim whiplash compensation. You could claim compensation for your injuries, any loss of earnings, medical care and other out of pocket expenses associated. The third party driver may be liable through their vehicle insurance to cover your claim. If someone you know has suffered a whiplash injury recently or in the last few years then a compensation claim may be valid. You should contact a law firm who can help you get what you rightfully deserve for your whiplash compensation. Back |