Whiplash and Personal Injury News:

Whiplash and Cervical Spine Injury

"Whiplash" is a term used to describe traumatic injury to the neck typically resulting from rear-impact motor vehicle accidents. It is one of the most common causes of chronic pain in developed countries with a prevalence of 1% in the general population. Typically, the prognosis after common whiplash is good. Three-quarters of those injured recover completely within six months. Unfortunately, for the remaining 25% persistent neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, and a variety of other symptoms can become a permanent fixture in their lives. In 10% the symptoms are severe; 4% are unable to return to their previous occupation.

The usual diagnostic tests x-rays, CT, MRI, and EMG are typically normal, giving little insight into what is responsible for the ongoing pain. This can prove to be quite frustrating for both the patient and his physicians who are searching for a diagnosis. -
Even so, once identified the treatment options remain quite limited. Medications such as non-steroidals, and muscle relaxants only treat the symptoms; most of the time inadequately. Physical therapy and chiropractic may provide a considerable degree of symptom relief, but many times these benefits are temporary, prompting frequent return visits.

Whiplash injuries may occur at relatively low vehicle velocity impacts. One study showed the cervical muscle injury threshold to be about 8.0 km/hour. Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) can be classified by the severity of signs and symptoms:

Grade 0: no complaints or physical sign
Grade 1: indicates neck complaints but no physical signs
Grade 2: indicates neck complaints and musculoskeletal signs
Grade 3: neck complaints and neurological signs
Grade 4: neck complaints and fracture/dislocation

Claiming compensation for whiplash injury

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained in road traffic accidents and collisions. In fact, being rammed from behind in a car is the classic cause of a whiplash injury, although it can also occur during strenuous sports.

Research suggests that about one in five people involved in such a collision ends up with problems of the neck and surrounding area.

Why do people suffer whiplash in accidents?

The sudden impact pushes the car forwards and, after a brief delay, the body of the driver follows. The driver's shoulders move forwards until they're under their head and then, while the head tilts slightly down towards the steering wheel, the neck extends forwards. When the driver brakes hard, the car stops suddenly, throwing their extending neck back until they hit the headrest. The same is true for passengers in the vehicle.

This action stretches and tears the soft tissues of the neck, including the tendons, ligaments and muscles and may damage the nerves and other structures in the area.

This soft tissue damage is known as a whiplash injury, or cervical sprain or hyperextension injury.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of whiplash usually develop within hours, but they can very significantly from person to person. Common symptoms of whiplash include:
" Pain and stiffness of the neck, extending up to the head and down to the shoulders
" Headache
" Numbness or tingling in the arms going down into the hands
" Low back pain
" Dizziness
" Mental problems, such as poor concentration, memory or mental performance
" Tiredness
" Ringing in the ears or tinnitus
" Blurred vision

In most cases of whiplash injury, recovery takes a matter of a few weeks, but for a few it can lead to years of related medical problems. As with many other medical conditions, it is advisable to visit a doctor as soon as possible after an accident, or as soon as you experience symptoms.

Can I claim compensation for whiplash?

Depending on the severity, it may be possible to claim compensation for whiplash if you are the driver of a car involved in an accident or a passenger in the vehicle. However it is important to seek professional legal advice from a whiplash claims specialist.

The amount you may receive will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of the whiplash injury and the circumstances surrounding the accident. Factors such as time off work and lost earnings due to whiplash may also be taken into account.

Once again, the best advice is to speak to a personal injury solicitor that specialises in whiplash injuries.

A typical claim for whiplash injury is;
Ambulance driver wins whiplash compensation claim