Whiplash injuries

Whiplash Injuries

One of the most painful – and most common – injuries that can be sustained in a vehicle accident is whiplash. It can also, in extreme cases, have serious long-term consequences.

Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues, ligaments and spinal joints of the neck caused by the latter being bent forcibly and violently forwards and then backwards, or vice versa. This injury most commonly results from sudden acceleration or deceleration, as in a vehicle collision. However, some form of whiplash to the neck occurs in all forms of head injury – the type of injury in which Macks Solicitors (Freephone 0800 9809387) can offer specialist advice.

Whiplash injury usually involves minor sprain of a neck ligament, or the partial dislocation of a cervical joint. Sometimes, a ligament may rupture or a cervical vertebra may fracture. Often, victims do not realise they have suffered whiplash injury at all, until they experience pain and stiffness in the neck some 24 hours later.

Putting it simply, whiplash injury occurs when a vehicle is subjected to a sudden violent force and the occupant’s body is restrained in the seat but the head is not restrained. Whatever the circumstances, somebody is at fault.

A major contributory factor is the relative position of the victim’s head and the seat head restraint. There should be no gap between the restraint and the head, and the head should not be higher than the restraint itself.

Examples of correctly adjusted head rests to help avoid serious whiplash injuries

In the case of sudden acceleration, for example, there is a sudden force from behind, usually due to an impact from behind. As the body accelerates forwards, the head jerks violently backwards relative to the body, stretching and bending the neck; the head then rebounds forwards.

In a case such as this, you have a clear case for filing a claim for compensation against a third party . Call Macks Solicitors on Freephone 0800 9809387.

The risk of sustained after-effects is very small and the chances for complete recovery are good. However, whiplash is still a strain injury and, as with other strain injuries, it is not unusual for the pain to last for a couple of months. Not only will you have to endure ongoing discomfort, but you may not be fit to work or even to carry out routine duties.

If you experience pain or discomfort associated with whiplash, see your doctor immediately. Any diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the background of the injury and the patient’s description of symptoms, so it is vitally important to make a note of all the circumstances leading to the injury.

Don’t delay in seeking legal advice. If you are a whiplash victim, call Macks Solicitors on Freephone 0800 9809387.

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:07:47 +0100

Whiplash Resources

Conrods evidence based whiplash information site listing the latest research in whiplash information

Definition of whiplash from the National library of medicine Whiplash is when the soft tissues of the neck are injured by a sudden jerking
or "whipping" of the head. This type of motion strains the muscles and ligaments
of the neck beyond their normal range of motion.