• 20
  • September
    2011

It can happen in just a second. One minute you're driving along enjoying the summer's day. The next you're staring at an air bag with your car wrecked and your neck and back aching. Although it has been a staple for comedians for years, whiplash injuries are very real and cost American workers and businesses millions of dollars annually.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a non-medical term used to describe a variety of injuries causes by a sudden jolt to the head during such things as a sports accident or an auto accident. Such an impact can send your head and neck in directions that the body is not designed to move, causing damage to the muscles, ligaments and tendons that support the neck and upper back. It doesn't take a major impact. Speeds of just 15 mph are enough to cause whiplash injuries, and wearing seat belts does not always protect passengers from injury.

Whiplash injuries range from mild, lasting just a couple of days, to disabling injuries. Symptoms can appear immediately after an accident or appear days after the crash. Those suffering from whiplash injuries often have a limited range of motion in their neck, shoulders and back. Left untreated, whiplash injuries can result in migraines, neck pain and back pain as well as the feeling of pins and needles along your arms and shoulders.

Why You Should Visit a Doctor in Case of an Auto Accident

Often symptoms of a neck or back injury don't appear immediately. Sometimes it takes days or even weeks for the full scope of the injury to manifest itself. Many times people who have just been in an accident refuse medical care at the scene because they feel okay. Visiting a doctor immediately after a car accident is important for several reasons. First, you'll get the medical care you need. Secondly, you'll have a record of your injuries should you ever need such a document in court.

Many people don't take whiplash injuries seriously until it's too late, and they don't receive the compensation they deserve for their medical expenses and their pain. If you've suffered a neck or back injury as a result of a car crash, you owe it to yourself and your family to contact a personal injury lawyer. Don't let the other party's insurance company tell you what you deserve.

Source: www.webmd.com, "Whiplash-Topic Overview", 2 August 2010