Whiplash Injuries

Posted by Nicole Vincent on July 23, 2011 under Personal Injury | Be the First to Comment

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident then one of the most common injuries that can occur is commonly known as “whiplash”. Whiplash is generally used to cover any injuries that are caused to the neck by a sudden movement or jolt which causes an unusual extension of the neck

and therefore leads to injury.

The neck is caused to extend out of position by the sudden movement and this can cause injury to the neck muscles as well as many of the surrounding tissues. Although car accidents are one of the most common causes of whiplash, falling from a height or off a moving vehicle such as a bicycle or horse can also cause similar injuries.

Currently in the UK around 75% of all car accident claims directly relate to whiplash and it is one of the most common causes of payouts for injuries related to car accidents.

Initial identification of whiplash can be increasingly difficult as combined with the initial shock of the patient, the symptoms of whiplash are not always initially felt. In the event of slight pain in the neck or surrounding area a neck brace is usually administered to ensure that the patient does no further damage to that area or any of the surrounding areas that might be affected. I can often take several days after an accident for whiplash symptoms to show up, or in some cases they can show up straight away. Referred pain in the arms legs and other limbs as well as direct pain in the head, neck and shoulders can all by symptoms of whiplash.

A mild case of whiplash is fairly simple to treat and usually goes away by itself with a few weeks of decent rest. For more complicated cases it is usually treated with physiotherapy and movement exercises. Manipulation and stretching of the neck and surrounding shoulders as well as a whole range of motion exercises are used to help restore functionality to the affected areas. Mild anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken however they shouldn’t be used to mask the pain and should not be taken for a prolonged period of time.

Find out more about whiplash compensation from Legal Request.