What is whiplash?
Whiplash is an injury to the neck area that results from violent back-and-forth movement. It is often a painful condition in which your neck is stiff due to inflammation from the trauma it experienced. In severe cases, a cervical collar may be prescribed. Physical therapy may be necessary to further heal the injury in order to recover:
· Function
· Range of motion
· Strength
Causes of Whiplash
There are many causes of whiplash, but the most frequently cited ones are:
· Amusement park rides
· Car crashes
· Sports accidents such as skiing accidents
· Swimming/diving accidents
· Work accidents
The most common of these are probably automobile accidents.
Symptoms of Whiplash
The following are some possible symptoms of whiplash:
· Blurry vision
· Dizziness
· Ear ringing
· Fatigue
· Headache
· Irritability
· Lower back stiffness
· Nausea
· Neck soreness and/or stiffness
· Swallowing problems
· Tingling or numbness
· Vertigo
Also, pain in any of the following areas could be signs of whiplash:
· Arm
· Face
· Foot
· Hand
· Jaw
· Leg
· Lower back
· Shoulder
· Shoulder blade
If you or a loved one have any of these symptoms, especially after experiencing one of the causes listed above, make sure to visit a doctor or emergency room immediately.
Whiplash Injuries Can Happen Even at Extremely Low Speeds
There are some startling facts that you may not know about automobile accidents:
· In more than half of all low speed rear impact crashes (LoSRIC), injuries take place without motor vehicle damage.
· Most vehicles don"t sustain structural damage with 8-12 mile per hour impacts
· Most whiplash injuries happen at collision speeds of fewer than 12 miles per hour.
· The highest head acceleration reached is much greater than the highest vehicle acceleration reached.
· There is no association between vehicle damage and occupant outcome.
Should you hire a lawyer?
It can"t hurt anything to check with a lawyer to see if you have a case against the person and/or company that caused your whiplash injury. It is better to have the compensation you deserve to help you with the costs associated with a whiplash injury, than to suffer the effects of whiplash with no help.
Now that you are armed with what you need to know about whiplash injuries, you can make an informed decision about the treatment of whiplash and any whiplash claim you may need to make.