Signs that you might have suffered a whiplash injury
Whiplash is a widely known and widely used term to describe the neck pain you might feel after being involved in a low-velocity road accident. However the signs and symptoms that you have suffered a whiplash injury might not be clear in the immediate aftermath of an accident.
Acute whiplash vs. chronic whiplash
There are two main types of whiplash injury that you might suffer in an accident. These are acute whiplash and chronic whiplash. In common with other acute and chronic medical conditions, the difference between the two types lies in the length of time the injured person is affected and also the number of symptoms they suffer.
An acute whiplash injury is caused by the sudden over extension and over-flexing of the tendons and ligaments in the neck (known as hyperextension and hyperflexion). Acute whiplash is the type of whiplash that you suffer from in the days and weeks after your accident. The symptoms of acute whiplash injuries can include neck pain and swelling, tenderness, reduced movement in the neck and headaches. There are also less common symptoms that are reported by some people who have suffered an acute whiplash injury and these include lower back pain, muscle spasms, tiredness, difficulty swallowing, blurred vision as well as vertigo and tinnitus.
After an accident an acute whiplash injury can take time to develop as the damage tissue bruises and swells. This delayed reaction is often why people who have been involved in road traffic accidents will find the pain and stiffness in their neck is worse on the day after their accident.
Chronic whiplash may begin as acute whiplash, but is a much longer lasting injury – typically lasting more than six months from the date of the injury. Alongside the physical symptoms of whiplash such as neck pain, stiffness and headaches, sufferers of chronic whiplash might find that they also suffer from paraesthesia (commonly known as pins and needles) in their arms and hands. People suffering from a chronic whiplash injury might also have psychological and emotional symptoms as a result of their long term pain, such as anxiety and depression.
Whiplash symptoms advice
My whiplash claim is here to provide information about all aspects of whiplash, including the symptoms, to people who may have suffered an injury through no fault of their own and who may want to make a whiplash compensation claim against the person or persons responsible. For more information about making a claim for whiplash compensation you can speak with our expert personal injury solicitors, Camps Solicitors.
