Whiplash Injury: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Warning: Zend OPcache API is restricted by "restrict_api" configuration directive in /srv/users/serverpilot/apps/lawslookup/public/wp-content/plugins/tubepress/vendor/tedivm/stash/src/Stash/Driver/FileSystem.php on line 253

Whiplash Injury Injury Law

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that happens when the neck and head are thrown forward and back again due to sudden impact (which is almost always a car accident). The impact flexes the head and neck beyond their normal range of movement. In addition to the tissue in the neck area, whiplash may also damage joints, discs, ligaments, muscles and nerve roots.
Common causes
The most common cause of whiplash is car accidents, but whiplash can also occur in sports accidents or when a child under age 5 is violently shaken (“shaken baby syndrome”).
Symptoms
Physical symptoms include:
Headaches
Neck pain or stiffness
Loss of motion in the neck
Injured muscles and ligaments
Dizziness
Psychological symptoms include:
Memory loss
Poor concentration and/or memory
Nervousness/irritability
Fatigue
Depression
Whiplash Treatment
You should always see a doctor immediately if you have been in a car accident, even if you don’t have a lot of pain, because you may still be injured.
The treatment may include pain medication, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, a cervical collar and perhaps antidepressants. Your doctor may also prescribe range-of-motion exercises and physical therapy.
In general, the prognosis for people suffering from whiplash injuries is good. Usually, the neck and head pain clears within a few days or weeks. Most patients recover within three months after the injury. However, some people may continue to feel some pain after that.
The violent shaking of young children may cause severe injuries to the child, including permanent brain damage or even death.
FreeAdvice offers Neck Injury/Whiplash FAQs that provide further information, but if you think you have whiplash due to someone else’s negligence, you should contact a personal injury attorney. It is important to pursue your case immediately, because all states have a statute of limitations, which is a law limiting how long you have to file a case. If you’d like your case to be evaluated by an experienced lawyer at no cost or further obligation, fill out FreeAdvice’s case evaluation form.