Whiplash injuries are usually caused in situations where the body suffers a sudden impact. An adult’s head weighs around 17 pounds and it rests on a relatively small area of the spine. When the body is involved in a sudden impact or collision, it can cause the head to continue travelling at the same speed as prior to the impact, while the main part of the body is held, for example, by a seat belt. This in turn causes a severe strain of the neck which can result in an injury. Whiplash type impacts tend to cause injuries to soft tissues in the neck. Tendons, muscles and ligaments are forced by the collision to move out with their normal range of motion causing stretch and strain. Injuries resulting from whiplash vary in severity, as does treatment and recovery time.
The symptoms of a whiplash injury will vary greatly with the severity of the injury. There will often be stiffness and pain in the area of the cervical spine/neck, but whiplash can also cause pins and needles and/or numbness in the extremities, as well as headaches. There may also be swelling and tenderness in the back of the neck, pain radiating from the neck and into the area of the shoulders and/or arms, and you may suffer from muscle spasms.
When the word “whiplash” is spoken, it is often synonymous with road accidents. However, a whiplash injury can be caused in a number of different circumstances, including falls or trips, as a result of a sporting injury or as a result of an attack or assault. If you have been the victim of an attack, you may recover compensation from the person who attacked you, either by suing them as part of a personal injury claim, or as part of criminal proceedings. If there is difficulty with collecting money from a convicted criminal, or if there are issues with his ability to pay, an application may be made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, another area in which your Youclaim4free.com solicitor will be able to help.
Whiplash injuries, like any potential injury to the neck, can be extremely serious, and the effects of such an injury are not always apparent immediately after an accident. If you have suffered a neck injury, or you suspect your neck might have been injured, see a doctor immediately. To help with any accident claim for compensation, you should get the details of anyone involved in the accident.
Obviously, this would include the other driver involved in a car accident, but would also include any witnesses. Take the other driver’s insurance details if they are available. If he has no insurance, you should tell the police, and a criminal charge may be the result. Even if a negligent driver does not have any insurance, compensation can be recovered from him directly. In the event that the other driver cannot pay, a claim may be made to the Motor Insurers Bureau, set up to cover just such an eventuality.
If at all possible, take pictures at the scene, particularly if they help explain how the accident came about, or any aftermath. Also, if you have to spend money in order to receive medical treatment, make sure you keep the receipts as proof of your expenditure.
Youclaim4free.com can assist you in making a claim involving a whiplash injury. A Youclaim4free.com lawyer will explain the process to you, and guide you through a claim from beginning to end. They will act in your best interests and will do everything they can to recover any and all compensation you are entitled to.
