The term "whiplash" is usually associated with cervical spine (neck) injuries sustained after motor vehicle accidents. Controversy often surrounds the diagnosis and treatment of whiplash injuries. The very nature of the injury and its immense complexity mean that making a meaningful diagnosis is extremely difficult, and as such one consultant's findings can be very different when compared against another.

The impact throws your body forward, but because you are restrained by the seatbelt your cervical spine goes into hyper flexion then followed by hyperextension when it recoils violently jerking back into the headrest. Often the result of this is that muscle, ligaments and connective tissue are damaged and the end result is excruciating pain

Whiplash injuries are most commonly, but not exclusively due to low-velocity rear-end collisions. It can occur though when there is rapid movement of the head and neck in sporting activities when large forces are at work.

The symptoms of whiplash can include:

• Neck pain or stiffness
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Headache
• Low back pain
• Nausea
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Feet and hands
• Headache
• Low back pain
• Nausea
• Ringing in ears
• Numbness and tingling
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Pain around the face and jaw
• Difficulty swallowing
• Blurred vision.
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Pain in arms or legs

If you think that you have sustained a whiplash injury it is important that you gather as much evidence as possible straight away, so as not to be reliant on secondary testimony and conjecture.

•  If you have a mobile phone take a picture of the incident and its aftermath (providing you are in a condition to do so)

•  Gather eye witness testimonies from those that were present.

•  Seek medical advice sooner rather than later, as this determine the likelihood of the successfulness of your claim.

Call us today on  08081 686970  speak to one of our advisors or alternatively fill in our online form and one of our advisors with get in touch with you as soon as possible