If you've been involved in a car accident, there's a possibility that you've experienced a whiplash injury. Generally, any type of impact or blow that causes the head to jerk forward and backward can lead to whiplash.

When the head is thrusted back and forth suddenly, it stretches and tears the tendons and muscles in the neck. This commonly occurs in motor vehicle accidents.

Symptoms of a Whiplash Injury

The pain of whiplash can occur immediately following an accident, or the symptoms can develop over a couple of days. In either case, it can be painful and impossible to ignore. Common symptoms of whiplash, include:

• Pain
• Concussion
• Tenderness
• Headache that radiates from the base of the skull
• Numbness or tingling in the arms
• Stiffness or a decreased range of motion

In addition to the above, some people experience blurred vision, irritability, concentration problems, memory problems, depression, sleep disturbances, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

The sudden blow can sometimes lead to a concussion. Since concussions can be a sign of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it's important to see your doctor right away. If you become confused, dizzy, nauseous, excessively sleepy or unconscious after a whiplash injury, you need to seek medical treatment right away.

To properly diagnose neck strain, your doctor may want to order X-rays, a CT scan, and other tests to rule out more serious problems. While most people will recover from whiplash within a few months after a course of treatment, including exercise, pain medication, chiropractic, and other treatments, some people experience chronic pain and other complications.

Though it can be difficult to predict the outcome of a whiplash injury, generally there's a higher chance of chronic pain when the initial symptoms include the rapid onset of a headache, severe neck pain, and pain that radiates down the arms.

If you have a whiplash injury, use our directory to find a car accident lawyer near you!