WHIPLASH SYMPTOMS

Whiplash symptoms may become obvious immediately after injury or can take days or sometimes weeks to appear and may include;

• neck pain or stiffness
• difficulty swallowing
• blurred vision
• irritability
• dizziness
• fatigue
• pain between the shoulder blades
• headache
• pain in the arms or legs, feet and hands
• low back pain or stiffness
• nausea
• shoulder pain
• ringing in the ears
• numbness and tingling
• vertigo
• pain in the jaw
• facial discomfort

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Accident Claims

Injury to the neck caused by a sudden backward, forward or sideways movement of the head is now the most common injury to give rise to an accident claim. In the past this injury, which does not usually involve broken bones, was hard to document because soft tissue injury is not revealed on x-rays or radiographs. New imaging devices including CAT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultra sound are now capable of showing soft tissue injury. This injury very rarely necessitates surgery and most people do make a full recovery, however there are several groups of vulnerable individuals including the elderly and those with pre existing neck problems who may not recover fully and can be left with long term or chronic pain.

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Mechanism of Injury

The injury occurs when the head is suddenly jerked backwards and then forwards beyond its normal limits resulting in damage to the muscles and ligaments which can be stretched or torn. The injury often occurs when the head rebounds off a car headrest however in the absence of a headrest the injuries sustained are usually much worse as there is nothing to prevent hyperextension of the neck from occurring. Following the initial flexion of the neck muscles there is a reflex action and the muscles contract to bring the occupant’s head forward again which overcompensates causing stretching and tearing more muscles and ligaments. The discs between the vertebrae can bulge, tear, or rupture and can be forced out of their normal position thereby reducing range of motion and the spinal cord and nerve roots may become stretched or irritated all of which may give rise to whiplash symptoms.

SOLICITORS HELPLINE 0845 009 2017

Specialist Personal Injury Solicitors

Our personal injury solicitors have detailed experience in dealing with no win no fee accident claims. You do not have to fund or finance your claim in any respect and you do not have to pay for any expenses as the claim proceeds. Compensation is paid in full with no deductions and win or lose there is no charge. If you submit your details an experienced advocate who is a member of the Solicitors Regulation Authority of personal injury experts will respond and give free advice without obligation on what steps you should take to claim compensation. If after talking to us you decide not to take matters further you are under no obligation to do so and you will not be charged for our advice.