Whiplash Accident

Arguably the most common form of injury following a car accident is whiplash. Even a relatively low speed car collision can cause it and, whilst the symptoms can take several hours to appear, the consequences can be devastating.

Whiplash occurs when an abrupt movement to the body or head - i.e. stopping a car suddenly, or being crashed into by another vehicle - damages the ligaments, tendons and muscles in one’s neck. According to the severity of the incident, symptoms vary, but can include: loss of mobility in the neck; headaches; pins and needles and numbness in the hands; dizziness and blurred vision; and pain in the shoulders, arms or lower back.

If whiplash has resulted because of a car accident, and the accident was the fault of a third party, the key questions many ask is, ‘can I, or should I, claim compensation?’

Some believe that people are cashing in on what has been coined ‘compensation culture’. However, the Citizens Advice Bureau states that seeking legal compensation is both a civil and legal right, and in doing so, people are able to fully recover from an accident, as well as make up for any financial losses.

In the case of whiplash - a sometimes contested subject, due to the fact it can be hard to prove - many legal and medical experts believe that, yes, because one could potentially lose earnings, incur medical costs, or in the more severe cases, become physically disabled, a claim should be made.

Additionally, researchers into the effects of whiplash believe that a delay in symptoms appearing tends to be the norm rather than the exception and that 45 percent of victims can feel the repercussions of whiplash up to 12 weeks after the accident occurred. Furthermore as many as 10 percent of whiplash victims may suffer from severe physical disability.

Therefore, if one has suffered from whiplash as a result of a car accident that was not their fault, it may be pertinent to submit a claim. There are a few things that must be done first, however, to ensure the claim is both appropriate and successful.

Vitally, if an individual suffers whiplash as a consequence of an accident, it is advisable that they visit the hospital or their doctor for diagnosis and treatment. However, it is not a necessary action when it comes to making a claim, and injury claims can be made without having seen a doctor beforehand. While most car insurance policies provide cover for injuries sustained in a car accident, it is also a point of law injured parties notify their insurance company and police of any injury incurred.

Even if one isn’t covered by a car insurance policy, whiplash sufferers can still potentially seek compensation, and a consultation with a personal injury lawyer is a viable option to discover if a claim can be made.

If a claim can be made, a solicitor should fight for compensation to cover such things as loss of earnings if the person is unable to work, medical care and/or treatment, damage sustained to a vehicle and for any pain incurred. For more articles like this, bookmark www.whiplashaccident.net

Author: Adam Singleton

A whiplash accident can be incredibly painful and yet complex and complicated to properly diagnose and treat.  Sometimes symptoms are almost immediate, sometimes symptoms may not appear for a week or two following the accident.  If you have been in a car accident and suspect that you may have whiplash, your best bet is to seek immediate care.  You can also contact a whiplash attorney to discuss potential legal represensation should a compensation claim be warranted. 

Whiplash is a sudden movement/jolt to the body or head. Whiplash is notoriously known as being the most common injury that you can sustain after suffering from a road traffic accident.

Although road traffic accidents are the most common cause of whiplash there are several other ways that whiplash can be caused such as a blow to the head or through repetitive movements of the neck.

Whiplash causes pain and stiffness as well as a loss of movement. This is due to the fact that whiplash causes damage to the ligaments and tendons in your neck and head. Other symptoms associated with whiplash include headaches, muscle spasms and pain in your shoulders and arms. These symptoms usually appear within the first couple of days after, for example, a road traffic accident.

So how is whiplash diagnosed? The diagnosis of whiplash relies mainly on the information that is provided to a GP from the patient, such as the events leading up to the symptoms appearing and the patient’s description of the symptoms. Whiplash is the type of injury that doesn’t appear on MRI scans, CT scans or x-rays, however an x-ray is likely to be taken for nothing else but to remove any suspicion of a fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine. So the diagnosis of the condition is one that is made by your GP based on their knowledge of the condition and the symptoms that you are experiencing.

If you are suffering the symptoms of whiplash then in the first 24 hours of it appearing you should apply an ice pack to your neck as a way of relieving inflammation. This ice pack should be wrapped in a towel, never apply it directly to the skin, and it should be placed on the affected area in 20 minute intervals. As well as this you should be taking regular painkillers. If these painkillers however fail to have any affect it is important that you visit your doctor in order to get stronger painkillers or to find a better way of dealing with the problem.

It has been estimated that about two in three people who are involved in car crash will develop neck pain. This neck pain could appear as the only symptom that you are suffering from or you may be suffering neck pain along with an array of other symptoms. One thing that many people don’t realise is that you can be suffering from whiplash even if your road traffic accident was minor. Even slow car bumps may cause enough of a jolt to the neck to cause symptoms.

Even though the symptoms of whiplash usually clear up within a few days there are a select few people who may still experience the symptoms of whiplash for as long as 15 years after the injury. It is unknown why some people get more problems with whiplash than others but in certain cases it does happen.

If you have suffered whiplash in the last three years then you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation if the accident that caused your whiplash wasn’t your fault. For more information about claiming compensation after an accident that has left you suffering the effects of whiplash then get in touch with a legal firm today and they will do everything possible to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve after an accident that wasn’t your fault.

Author: Carolyn Clayton

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Clayton