Whiplash as a concept was introduced just 80 years ago (by Harold Crowe in a 1928 paper). It has since become recognised scientifically, and today accounts for around 70% of all road accident compensation claims in the UK.
Whiplash is a medical condition described as damage to the soft tissue of the neck. It occurs under conditions of rapid extension and flexion (bending), perhaps after a sudden movement or a forceful jolt to the head or body. Often, such movement causes stretches and tears of muscles, tendons and ligaments - this is whiplash.
Anyone involved in a vehicle collision - even at low speeds - runs the risk of a whiplash injury. The risk is present regardless of the angle at which the vehicle was struck.
They are: neck or shoulder pain; neck or shoulder stiffness; headache; dizziness; prickling or burning feelings; and perhaps less common signs including memory loss, difficulty concentrating, irritability, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, fatigue and even depression.
If whiplash is suspected, the first step is to apply an ice pack. A victim should visit Accident and Emergency (if the injury is serious enough) or make an appointment with his or her doctor. You may find the advice is to take painkillers and to rest the neck for the first day or so. Thereafter, it is important to keep the neck moving as normal and to return to a typical routine. However, there are a number of treatments, ranging from anti-inflammatory drugs to neck braces, which may be appropriate, and medical advice should be sought.
Many whiplash sufferers benefit from complementary therapies such as physiotherapy and osteopathy. If you live in the UK, your doctor can advise whether or not a complementary therapy is appropriate and whether it is available on the NHS.
In the majority of cases whiplash passes after a few days, or at most within a few weeks. However, in some cases it may last a few months, and has been known (in around 5 - 10% of cases in the UK) to continue for a year or more, preventing sufferers from returning to work during this time.
If you have been in a vehicle collision and suspect you may have suffered an injury, it is important to notify the police immediately. This is, in fact, a legal obligation, regardless of whether the car is blocking traffic (although the police may not attend the scene if traffic is not adversely affected).
Once the police have been notified, it is vital to obtain the following details from the other driver or drivers involved: name; address; vehicle registration and insurance details. You may also want to ask witnesses for their details in case the other driver(s) fail to admit liability.
A whiplash claim with the aid of a solicitor is a typical next step. Compensation of £1,500 to £2,500 is quite common, but higher figures may be possible if, for example, you have suffered a serious whiplash injury which has prevented you from returning to work.
If you have suffered whiplash, it is prudent to contact a specialist solicitor quickly to find out whether you might have a claim. The most usual and advisable option is to proceed on a "no win, no fee" basis. Check with the solicitor that you will receive 100% of any compensation.
