Whiplash Injury is a sudden moderate to severe strain affecting the bones, discs, muscles, nerves, or tendons of the neck, which is composed of seven small bones known as the cervical spine.
Symptoms may appear straight away or develop gradually over hours, days, or weeks after the injury. Symptoms of whiplash may include
? Pain or stiffness of the neck, jaw, shoulders, or arm ? Dizziness ? Headache ? Loss of feeling in an arm or hand ? Nausea or vomiting
Diagnosis Whiplash Injury can be difficult to diagnose because X rays and scans do not always reveal the injury and diagnosis is usually based on observation of symptoms, medical history, and physical examination
Treatment is usually by way of medication, physical therapy, and supportive treatments. Severe whiplash may be treated with a surgical collar.
Compensation The amount of compensation payable following a whiplash injury depends on the severity of the injury, the recovery period, and whether or not there are any permanent residual symptoms
Medical History If you believe that you have suffered a whiplash injury in an accident it is important that you seek medical advice as soon as possible from either your General Practitioner or in more serious cases the Accident and Emergency department of your local Hospital. The medical record of your injury will used in part for the assessment of the value of your claim, and it is therefore important that the injury is documented as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms.
