A lot of us have heard of a whiplash injury, but some of us are not entirely sure what they are and how they are caused. Whiplash injuries are usually caused in accidents; the most common cause of a whiplash injury is a car accident. However they can also be caused in sporting accidents and trips and falls. In fact, anything that causes the neck to jolt sideways, backwards or forwards can cause such an injury.
Whiplash injuries are usually caused in accidents with an impact of speed. Even a minor car accident can cause a whiplash injury. Sporting accidents are a cause of them because when players are running around they may collide with one another. If you have suffered from a whiplash injury in an accident that wasn’t your fault then you may be able to make a whiplash compensation claim.
With most whiplash injuries the symptoms of them don’t become apparent immediately after an accident. It may take 6-12 hours for the symptoms to develop and the pain can get worse over the upcoming days after an accident.
If you become involved in any accident it is important that you seek medical advice as soon as possible. Medics will then be able to assess your injuries and give you the assistance you need in helping you recover from such an injury. If you do choose to make an whiplash claim, your medical records will then act as evidence to show how the injury was caused.
Symptoms of whiplash:
- Headaches
- Reduced movement in the neck or loss of movement
- Tenderness along the back of the neck
- Neck swelling
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Blurred vision
Those are some of the most complained about symptoms by those suffering from a whiplash injury. When you suffer a whiplash injury there are two types of injury you may be diagnosed with. There is acute whiplash which is where any sudden movement in the neck causes pain. This type of whiplash injury normally lasts no longer than six months. Another type of whiplash is chronic whiplash, which is where symptoms normally last longer than six months and are characterised by a number of specific symptoms.
If you suffer a whiplash injury it can prevent you from going about your everyday tasks, such as your house work, or taking the kids to school. Such an injury may also prevent you from going to work which could result in a loss of earnings. If you have suffered a whiplash injury, making an injury compensation claim will help you get back your loss of earnings and an amount of compensation for your injuries.
