 |
| There are lots of ways to you can suffer a whiplash injury, but car accident is the most common |
Whiplash is suffered by hundreds of road accident victims every single day. If it happens to you, the law says you are entitled compensation
Many of us don't realise the severity of whiplash and the impact leave on a person's life.
There really are quite a few different ways to suffer from this elusive injury. Some can leave you feeling the pain for days, others months, and some never really go away.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is often referred to as a neck sprain or neck strain. It is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck and back and is defined as an injury caused by a severe jerk to the head, typically in a car accident. It's common in urban traffic accidents, and while symptoms can take 6-12 hours to develop, they could keep getting worse for several days.
What is the most common cause of whiplash?
The most common cause of whiplash is a rear shunt car accident where one vehicle runs into the back of another. Whiplash can occur at an accident of any speed, and even happen at speeds as low as 5 to 8.
Greater injury can occur if a person’s head is turned at the time of impact or if they are surprised and unprepared for the collision. A history of neck injury may also contribute to increased whiplash pain. The amount of pain a person suffers after an accident is complicated by that individual’s susceptibility to injury-which can be difficult to predict.
What are the symptoms?
Stiffness in the neck- soreness and difficulty moving the neck, especially when trying to turn the head to the side.
Blurred vision- a lack of sharpness of vision resulting in the inability to see fine detail.
Headaches- a tightening around the head and neck, followed by aches.
Lower back pain- any pain between the bottom of your ribcage down to the top of your legs.
Dizziness- a sensation of spinning and losing one's balance.
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Sleep disturbances
Irritability
Tingling or numbness in the arms
Difficulty concentrating
How to treat whiplash?
If you’ve been injured, you should seek the advice of a medical professional. Most whiplash symptoms of the back and neck can be treated with ‘over the counter’ painkillers and ice to reduce pain, swelling, and muscle spasms.
In some cases a short course of spinal mobilization can help in restoring normal positioning of the muscles and joints to allow for an active therapy program. Physical therapy helps to increase circulation, restore range of motion, and promote healing.
How long does whiplash last?
Whiplash generally only lasts a few days, but can last more than a year in severe cases.
Can whiplash come back?
Like any injury, whiplash pain can reoccur. However, with the right treatment and care you should expect to make a full and permanent recovery.
What is the average whiplash payout?
There are many factors which are taken into account when whiplash compensation is being calculated.
The severity of the injury dictates the level of general damages paid, but financial losses and how the injury has impacted your way of life can also make up a significant part of the claim.
The majority of whiplash injuries are classified as minor, with an average recovery time of around 4-5 weeks. 90% of people fully recover within three months. For these cases, the approximate range of compensation payouts is between £1,000 and £5,000. For most of the other 10% or so, where there is neck pain that lasts for a few years, the range is around £5,000 to £8,700, escalating to around £16,000 where there is permanent or recurring pain.
At the other end of the scale, a small minority of patients suffer permanent cervical spine damage, resulting in chronic pain or headaches and a variety of other symptoms, which are frequently exacerbated by long-term depression. For these people, compensation up to £95,000 can be paid.
Looking to claim?
If this is sounding all too familiar to you because you’ve been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, Accident Advice Helpline can assess your case and see if you can make a personal injury claim by calling:
Freephone: 0800 740 8782
0 comments: