Suffered a Whiplash Injury? What You Should Do Next!

A whiplash injury is caused when there is a sudden movement of the head / neck, causing it to jerk or jolt violently away from your body. Anything that causes your neck to jolt sideways, backwards or forwards may cause the injury. It often results in the ligaments, tendons and muscles in the neck being overstretched.

The most common cause of a whiplash injury is a car or a motorcycle accident; this is because when they become involved in a collision there is a sudden stopping force, which is the cause of your head moving violently away from your body. Even collisions that occur at a low speed can cause a whiplash injury.

Other causes of whiplash

• Being struck on the head by a heavy object
• A sudden blow to the head-for example in sporting accidents
• A slip or fall

There are a number of common symptoms of whiplash; however it may take between 6-12 hours (or even more) for the symptoms to become apparent. Doctors say that pain and stiffness can often worsen in the day after the accident and may continue to do so for several days.

Symptoms of whiplash:

• Headaches
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Neck swelling
• Reduced movement around the neck
• Tenderness along the back of the neck
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Blurred vision
• Lower back pain

There are two types of whiplash:

• Acute: this is the kind that requires minimal treatment and will heal itself in time. It is usually short lived, and lasts no longer than six months.
• Chronic: This can cause a wide range of symptoms, some which are severe and may last for a long time. This kind of whiplash injury lasts for six months or more.

If you have suffered a whiplash injury in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to make an injury compensation claim.