A - ‘Whiplash’ is an umbrella term for nerve and/or muscle damage to a person’s neck. The proper medical definition of the condition is the ‘hyperextension of the neck’. As you can imagine, whiplash is often an extremely painful type of injury.
Q - How is whiplash actually caused?
A - Most cases of whiplash occur in car accidents, but you can get the same injuries in a variety of different ways.
Car crashes are the most common cause for one simple reason; they will often result in the victim’s head and body being jolted forwards at two different speeds. However, similar injuries can also be sustained when someone is thrown to the ground.
Any pastime where nasty falls are a possibility can result in whiplash injuries; horse riding, martial arts or even surfing are all simple ways of causing damage to the neck.
Q – How long does whiplash take to heal?
A - This can vary tremendously. Much of it will depend upon the severity of the initial injury and whether the proper medical treatment is received. The symptoms themselves may not even become apparent straight away. Some people will fully recover within a matter of weeks, whilst others can suffer ill effects for years.
Q – How severe can it be?
A – Again, much of this will be dependent on the accident itself. If it was a relatively minor incident, then there will normally be only a small amount of stretching to the muscles in the neck.
However, in a serious car crash, neck injuries can be far more severe and even permanent damage to the spine can occur.
Q - Can you claim compensation for whiplash?
A - Yes! If you have sustained genuine injuries in an accident that was clearly caused by someone else, then you can (and should!) make a proper whiplash claim.
The first thing you need to do is to seek medical treatment for your injuries (make sure you keep any evidence of this). After this, your next stop should be a proper personal injury solicitor.
Q – Can whiplash be ‘faked’ or ‘put on’ for financial gain?
A – Even if you have the combined acting skills of Sir Lawrence Olivier, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Nicolas Cage then you will not be able to fool a doctor into thinking you have whiplash.
You may manage a thoroughly convincing performance until you are sent for tests. And at this point any shirkers, spongers or fakers will rapidly be seen for exactly what they are.
If you are thinking about ‘laying it on thick’ after a minor collision, then forget it! Not only will you make yourself look stupid, but you could easily land yourself in a whole lot of trouble.
Q – Is it really important to see a doctor?
A – Yes, it is!!! Anyone who suspects they may have whiplash injuries should seek medical advice immediately. Failure to do so can result in a great deal of pain and even more complications in the years to come!
If you have suffered whiplash why not seek advice about a whiplash claim by Staveley Head.
Author Resource:-
Quality insurance products, market leading premiums and excellent service - see how much you could save on your insurance policies with Staveley Head Ltd. http://www.staveleyhead.co.uk/
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