Whiplash is the common name given to an injury caused by a sudden jolt or movement to the body or head, causing damage to the ligaments, tendons and muscles in the neck. It causes pain, stiffness and loss of movement initially, but can lead to other symptoms as the swelling increases. Whiplash is common after motor vehicle accidents, when an impact between two vehicles (usually from a rear end collision) causes the head to jolt violently. However, it can also be the result of a range of other causes including prolonged, long term damage to the neck from contact sports, or a slip or fall that results in the same jolting action of the head and neck.



Specifically, whiplash is caused when the neck is moved beyond its normal range of movement, so that the ligaments, tendons and muscles stretch and strain. This usually happens when the body is suddenly accelerated and then just as violently decelerated, such as in a collision. The torso accelerates rapidly to the same speed as the colliding car. Because of the neck's natural flexibility, the head arcs backwards, injuring the soft tissue structure around the spinal column in the neck and the upper shoulders. Once the force of the collision is dissipated (usually within a second of initial impact), the torso suddenly stops but the head accelerates forward causing the neck to bend sharply in the opposite direction and again straining the soft tissue.

Immediately afterwards, the tissue begins to swell slowly. The injured tissues release a range of inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream, which irritate the nerve endings and lead to pain in the upper body, neck and shoulders. As the swelling increases, it puts pressure on the surrounding tissue and joints, causing them to stiffen. Swelling following a whiplash injury usually peaks around 72 hours after the initial accident.

Symptoms of whiplash do not often appear in the immediate aftermath of a collision. It may take between six to 12 hours for the symptoms to manifest and they may continue to get worse over the following days with nausea, headaches, tenderness along the back of the neck and a lack of mobility in the neck and shoulders being the most common effects on the body. Other symptoms can include pain in the lower back, pain or numbness in the arms and hands, dizziness, blurred vision and tinnitus.

If you have been involved in a traffic accident and think that you may have suffered whiplash injuries, it is important to consult your GP as soon as possible to get an accurate diagnosis of any damage that may have been caused to the soft tissue. It is also important to rule out any other, more serious injuries to the neck, which can be a vulnerable area in the event of impact injuries such as vehicle collisions. A GP can also provide you with a full report of your injuries should you wish to consider making a claim.

Specially trained injury lawyers have experience of dealing with whiplash cases and can advise you on your best course of action should you wish to make a claim. With years of experience in dealing with personal injury claims and a comprehensive knowledge of the legislation surrounding accident claims, a good quality injury specialist solicitor will deal with each individual case, usually on a 'no win, no fee' basis. As whiplash injuries are rarely the fault of the individual and can have a debilitating effect over quite a long period of time, you may want to consider the question of legal action seriously. Talk to a qualified and experienced injury lawyer to discuss your options.