There is always a lot of talk in the media about whiplash and road traffic accidents. But what exactly is whiplash? What causes it? What are the main symptoms? And how can you get help if you are suffering from it?
How Does it Happen?
Whiplash usually occurs if a car collides into another vehicle. This often forces the seats to jerk forward quickly, and passengers can in turn find that their spines are pushed forwards. This can then compress the cervical spine upward against the head, causing painful symptoms. In addition to this, if the head bounces forward from the headrest forcefully, the individual in question can also experience painful symptoms.
It can also occur if the torso is forced forward at the moment of impact, but the head is not forced forwards at the same time. This can cause the body to move into an awkward ‘S’ shape, that can also bring about painful symptoms. Finally, if the head is forcefully pushed back into the headrest, the soft tissues in the neck are also likely to be damaged, which can bring on painful symptoms.
The Main Symptoms
Everyone reacts differently to whiplash injuries. However, there are a few key symptoms that most people seem to suffer from when they have been diagnosed with the condition. These symptoms can often include:
- Shooting pains in the neck
- Severe headaches
- Tenderness in the neck muscles
- Pain in the shoulders
- Stiffness in the neck
- Muscle spasms
- Discomfort in the arms
- An inability to move the head and neck freely
However, some lesser known symptoms can also occur when people suffer from whiplash. Such symptoms can often include:
- Pins and needles in the limbs
- Memory loss
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- An inability to concentrate
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after being in a road traffic accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as you possibly can. This is because these kinds of symptoms can often worsen over time, even though you may not expect them to.
How to Get Help
After you have sought medical help as soon as you possibly can, it is important to do a few, key things after you have been involved in a road traffic accident. If you can, take photos of the damage that has been done to your car, ask your doctor for any medical notes they can give you, and jot down what you can remember from the accident, so no details go uncovered.
Once you have done these things (if you are able to), you should look into seeking compensation for your injuries. Suffering from injuries after a road traffic accident can often be painful, uncomfortable and debilitating. So if you are suffering from painful injuries, make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Do you think that you may have suffered from whiplash recently? After you have sought immediate medical attention, it is always important to contact a specialist lawyer, who will let you know if you can make a claim for your injuries.
