Are there different types of whiplash injury?

If you have been unfortunate enough to have been injured in a road traffic accident you may be suffering a variety of symptoms which may indicate a whiplash injury. You may suspect that you are suffering from a whiplash injury and may be wondering exactly what symptoms you should be experiencing and whether there are different types of whiplash injuries. This article looks at how whiplash injuries are caused, the different types of symptoms that can be associated with a whiplash injury and whether there are different types of whiplash injuries.

A whiplash injury is caused when the head and neck are suddenly and forcefully thrown backwards and forwards – beyond their usual range of movement – as a result of a road traffic accident. These sudden and unexpected movements cause the soft-tissue and ligaments in the neck to be stretched beyond what it is ‘normal’ which often results in pain and discomfort. Whiplash is commonly caused when one vehicle collides with the back of another vehicle and often the other vehicle is stationary of moving in a slow queue of traffic.

Immediately following a road traffic accident, if you are suffering from any form of pain and discomfort, it is important that you visit your GP or local Accident & Emergency Department. The reason for this is that the medical staff will need to rule out anything more serious than a whiplash injury and advise you of any treatment or painkillers you should be taking to ease your symptoms.

Whilst there are not different types of whiplash injury there are different severities of the injury and this may cause the injury to present different symptoms. For example, if you have suffered a mild whiplash injury you may be experiencing mild pain in your neck and restricted movement in your neck. You may be advised to take over the counter painkillers and carry out gentle mobility exercises to increase the range of movement in your neck. However, if you have sustained a more serious whiplash injury you may be experiencing pain in your neck and back, headaches, nausea, dizziness, giddiness, pins and needles in your hands and arms, restricted movement in your neck and lethargy.

Whether you have sustained a mild or more severe whiplash injury your compensation will be calculated in the same way. Your solicitor will arrange for you to attend an appointment with an independent medical expert who will assess your injuries and preparing a report containing a medical prognosis. Your solicitor will use the report to compare your injuries with other Claimants in previously settled cases who have suffered similar injuries to your own and have taken a similar amount of time to recover. Your solicitor will also refer to a book called the Judicial Studies Board Guidelines to assess the value of your claim. Your solicitor will provide the third party’s representative with a copy of your medical report and begin settlement negotiations.

In summary, whilst there are not different types of whiplash injury there are different severities of the injury and this will usually depend on the circumstances of the accident. The treatment you will require will depend on how severely you have been injured and will range from painkillers and gentle mobility exercises to physiotherapy and strong medication.

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