Whiplash Injury

Whiplash is a kind of spinal cord injury to the neck that is very common in automobile accidents.  Click the link to read more about whiplash and neck or spinal cord injuries.

Whiplash is a neck injury that can occur during rear-end automobile collisions, when your head suddenly moves backward and then forward — similar to the motion of someone cracking a whip. These extreme motions push your neck muscles and ligaments beyond their normal range of motion.

The symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness. Upper back and shoulder pain can also occur. Whiplash injuries can be mild or severe. Treatment typically begins with over-the-counter pain relievers and ice applied to the painful neck muscles. If pain persists, prescription medications and physical therapy may be helpful.

Most whiplash injuries heal within weeks, but if left untreated they can linger and turn into chronic conditions that last for years and lead to pain and sometimes disability.

Some common causes of whiplash are:

• Auto accidents. Rear-end collisions are the most common cause of whiplash.
• Physical abuse. Whiplash may also result from incidents of being punched or shaken. Whiplash is one of the injuries sustained in shaken baby syndrome.
• Contact sports. Football tackles and other sports-related collisions can sometimes cause whiplash injuries.

The most common symptoms of whiplash occur immediately or within 24 hours of the accident:

• Neck pain and stiffness;
• Headaches;
• Pain in the shoulder or between the shoulder blades;
• Low back pain;
• Pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand;
• Dizziness;
• Ringing in the ears or blurred vision;
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering;
• Irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue.

Some people also experience:

• Difficulty concentrating;
• Memory problems Ringing in the ears;
• Sleep disturbances;
• Irritability.

See a doctor to evaluate the extent of your injuries. Most injuries are similar to those of neck sprains or strains and include soft tissues injuries to the muscles and ligaments; but whiplash can damage the cervical discs as well. A physician will often request a variety of diagnostic tests to confirm the area of injury. Sometimes CT Scans or MRIs are used to determine the extent of the injury.

In the past, whiplash injuries were immobilized in a cervical collar. However, the current trend is to encourage early movement, rather than immobilization. Some people with neck pain after a whiplash car accident injury get relief by experimenting and changing the pillows on their bed.

A big problem can be convincing an insurance company that a whiplash injury is a real injury, especially in a low speed automobile collision.

Low speed impacts are those that take pace at speeds under 10 MPH. There’s often little (if any) visible property damage to the rear of the accident victim’s vehicle. However, those who are struck (especially in the rear) often have injuries, especially neck injuries and whiplash is common – even if you’re wearing a seat and shoulder belt.

Body size plays a role in how severe an individuals injury can be. Tall people are at greater risk for a whiplash accident injury, because they are most likely to have head restraints that are too low to be of any help at impact.

Motor vehicles are built to withstand these impacts; your body is not.

For your serious personal injury, you need legal representation from a qualified personal injury attorney.  Contact us for your free consultation.

Law Offices of Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C.

(718) 520-8787