Whiplash can be caused by various events such as car accidents, sport injuries, bicycling accidents, or any other accident that causes your head to jerk suddenly. Accidents causing whiplash occur unexpectedly. You should be aware of the symptoms of whiplash and what steps you should take following the sudden blow.

What is whiplash?

Whiplash is caused by a sudden blow to causes your head to move backward then forward suddenly. Whiplash is a very common injury resulting from rear-end car crashes. The sudden force causes the tendons, muscles and ligaments in the neck to stretch beyond their normal range of motion, resulting in neck strains or a “soft tissue injury” know as whiplash. Whiplash can occur from low speed and high-speed car crashes. Whiplash symptoms may appear immediately or days after the accident, so it is important to be mindful of any changes in soreness.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain and stiffness in the upper back, shoulders, and neck
• Worsening pain with neck movement
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Tingling in the arms

Less common symptoms include:

• Problems with concentration and memory
• Chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, or head
• Ringing in the ears
• Difficulty sleeping
• Blurred vision

Your Next Steps

Proving whiplash in your personal injury case can be a difficult task because soft tissue injuries do not show up on X-rays or MRIs. However, seeking medical attention immediately when symptoms occur is important for your health and for your personal injury case. Documentation of hospital visits and your physician’s opinion will help establish your injuries and losses which were caused by the car accident. It is also very important to document all treatment you received after the car accident and ensure you follow all treatment your doctor orders.

Finally, low settlement offers from insurance companies are not rare with this type of injury due to the lack of diagnostic tests able to prove the extent of your injury. Thus, producing your health documentation to the insurance adjuster can identify those points of your claim which show you are entitled to more compensation. Though, if the insurance company refuses to budge and you believe you deserve more compensation, retaining a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer to argue your case may be your best option.