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WINNING IS NOT AN ACCIDENT
How A Split-Second Incident Can Leave You Searching For Whiplash Compensation
Apparently, the term “whiplash” dates back to 1928 when it was first used to describe a neck injury to soft tissue, in other words, a strain or a sprain. It has become synonymous with automobile accidents over the years and a common result whenever you have been involved in a car accident where you were rear-ended. It’s important to be able to identify these injuries, even though they may not be readily apparent.
You have to be aware of any neck pain and maybe spells of dizziness that may occur days or even weeks after the accident. You could experience what is known as referred pain, i.e. pain in the back as well. Other associated issues could involve short-term memory loss, problems sleeping and general malaise. More on this website
Where am I likely to sustain a Whiplash Injury?
Whilst it’s certainly possible for you to sustain a whiplash injury elsewhere, most of these incidents seem to occur during relatively low-speed accidents on the road. You may be stopped at a red light for example and the driver behind is busy texting or paying attention to something else. He or she brakes too late and runs into the back of your car. What happens next may occur in the blink of an eye. Still, it will invariably lead to some kind of discomfort or injury and start a chain reaction of events for you which could lead to inconvenience, discomfort, and specialized medical bills and lead to out-of-pocket expenses.
How does Whiplash Injury actually Occur?
If you imagine yourself sitting in the car with your seatbelt on, the first thing that happens when you are rear-ended in this way is that your body, not connected to the seat, will move backward slightly and then forwards. Remember that your head weighs quite a lot and is not restrained like your torso may be to the seat. Consequently, it will move forward and backward quite sharply and it’s this motion that causes the whiplash injury. Basically the muscles and ligaments in your neck are being stretched and strained as they work to ensure that your head returns to its original position. More here
As we said, it all happens in the blink of an eye, in the amount of time it takes to realize that you’ve been hit by somebody else in the first place.
The initial reaction is one of shock, of course, and then possibly anger. You will likely want to jump out of the car to look at the damage and talk with the driver involved. You must be aware of how you feel at that point and if you have considerable pain in your neck, then you should call for medical assistance right away. Many people don’t become instantly aware of these injuries until sometime later, but you do need to be aware of what you need to do right at that moment. For you to claim whiplash compensation for the injury and potential future costs, specialized medical expenses, loss of wages, or whatever you may incur, you need evidence.
