Whiplash Symptoms – A Guide

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries caused by road traffic accidents.

Whiplash has been the subject of much debate over recent years with the Government introducing new laws changing the way whiplash claims will be handled.

However, below we focuses on what symptoms you might have if you’ve suffered a whiplash injury.

Anyone who has suffered whiplash will know how painful and debilitating it can be, and in some cases, there can be permanent damage to muscles and ligaments leading to long term pain and suffering.

We’ve helped thousands of people who have experienced various levels of whiplash injuries to claim financial compensation for their pain. We’ve also helped many of them receive rehabilitation and physiotherapy to help them recover.

If you’ve recently been involved in a car or road traffic accident and think you might have suffered whiplash, speak with our award-winning team, who will help you understand your legal rights to claiming compensation.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck experienced when the tendons and ligaments are extended beyond their normal limit.

This overextension is either a hyperextension or a hyperflexion and can occur even in low-speed collisions depending on the position of the head and neck and direction of impact.

Symptoms can appear immediately after the accident, although it is common for symptoms to develop the day after, or even two days afterwards so you might not realise straight away that you have suffered a whiplash injury.

Mild cases of whiplash can last just from just a few days to a few weeks, but more severe cases can last much longer.

What Are Symptoms Of Whiplash?

There are several whiplash symptoms, and you may experience all or just one or two of them until you fully recover.

While you might be able to self-diagnose a whiplash condition, it is very important to visit your GP or local A&E department to explain your symptoms and to ensure you have no further associated injuries.

There are several typical whiplash symptoms, including:

• Neck pain (including difficulty in moving up, down, and side to side.)
• Upper and lower back pain.
• Discomfort or pain in shoulders and arms.
• Tingling or numbness in the arms.
• Headaches, often at the base of the skull.
• Dizziness, nausea, fatigue, or loss of balance.
• Swelling and inflammation.
• Psychological symptoms.

In addition to the above symptoms, some cases of whiplash can include the following:

• Difficulty sleeping.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Memory problems.
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
• Irritability.
• Depression.

If you have experienced any of the above symptoms following a car accident, then it’s likely you have whiplash.

You should always seek medical advice if you’ve been injured in a road traffic accident. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you have whiplash when you explain to them how the accident occurred along with your pain and symptoms.

Milder cases of whiplash can be treated with painkillers, and you should try to keep the neck moving with gentle exercises so that it doesn’t stiffen up. For more severe cases, then further treatment may be required, such as physiotherapy.

How To Prevent Whiplash

We hope that whiplash can one day be eliminated, many of our legal team have first-hand experience of the pain of whiplash.

There are some things you can do to reduce the likelihood of suffering a whiplash injury by positioning your headrest correctly; it should be as high as the top of your head and tilted to reduce the forward and back ‘whip’ movement that occurs in a collision.

How To Get A Medical Assessment

At Bott and Co, all of our clients who have suffered whiplash injuries undergo an independent medical assessment.

As part of our services, we can provide instant access to private physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Appointments can be set up immediately, which means you could start receiving treatment for your injuries within days. We offer physiotherapy from specialist rehabilitation companies with locations throughout the UK.

Why Use A No Win No Fee Solicitor Such As Bott and Co?

Bott and Co solicitors have nearly 300 years in combined legal experience in all types of road accident claims. We’ve helped thousands of people recover compensation for their pain and suffering, and any out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the accident.

Completely independent of insurers, we act only in your best interests to help you claim the amount of compensation you’re legally entitled.

Our legal team is standing by to talk you through the claims process and explain how much you may be entitled to claim, and how long it may take. Our initial advice usually takes no longer than 5-10 minutes, is offered free and with no obligation to claim.