A neck injury due to a sudden and a forceful jolt resulting from a jolt or a collision.is called a whiplash injury. It results from a sudden back and forth movement of the neck due to some accident. The injury can be claimed Whiplash injury claims due to whiplash are a common occurrence these days – with car accidents accounting for the majority of these.

Whiplash may be called a neck sprain or strain, but these terms also incorporate other types of neck wounds and fractures. Mostly, the recovery period is weeks long whereby treatment is done through pain medications and exercise. However, some injuries result in chronic neck pain and other long-term complications.

Common Causes of Whiplash Injury

Whiplash results whenever the body undergoes a sudden jerking motion of the head. Most people associate whiplash injuries with automobile accidents, especially rear-end car accidents are considered one of the common causes of it. But there are some other uncommon causes too.

Additional causes of whiplash injury may include:

Fall accidents

Contact sports injuries (for instance, tackling quarterback from behind)

Physical abuse, like shaking an infant

Battery or other violent incidents

Horse riding accidents

Bicycle or motorcycle crashes

Amusement park ride injuries

Sudden strokes and blows to the neck or body with a heavy object

But there is one important aspect to be realized and that is it’s not always a blow that becomes the cause of concussions, traumatic brain injury, and whiplash. Traumatic brain injury can result from any situation where the head moves suddenly in any direction. This can include backward or sideways motions, not just forward movements.

Signs And Effects of Whiplash Injury

The injured usually develop signs and symptoms of whiplash within days of the injury. The effects and signs may include:

Neck pain and stiffness

Worsening of pain with neck movement

Reduced or zero range of motion in the neck

Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull

Sensitivity and tenderness, or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms

Tingling or numbness in the arms

Fatigue

Dizziness

Rare Effects

In a few cases, brain dysfunction and lower extremity weakness have been observed and reported in people. Those who have their cognitive thinking affected may have trouble with attention spans, especially in terms of multitasking and dividing their focus. They may also experience an impaired ability to process information. Some of the uncommon long-term effects are:

Blurred vision

Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

Sleep disturbances

Irritability

Difficulty concentrating

Memory problems

Depression

Whiplash injuries And Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Studies are currently examining the relationship between whiplash and traumatic brain injury. In particular, one found that after reviewing the MRI scans of 1,200 neck pain patients, brain injury occurred in 23% of the cases studied. Brain injuries are actually more common than you think.

Many neurologic issues are the result of many automobile and vehicle accidents. Traffic accidents involving a car, truck, or motorcycle are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries among people aging between 15 to 64 years old. Car accidents account for more than 40 percent of mild traumatic brain injuries. However, there is a broad range of severity when diagnosing a traumatic brain injury. Symptoms range from mild to quite severe. Whiplash concussion can occur in even minor accidents and can result in more serious long-term medical conditions.

Neurological Problems With Whiplash Injury

Whiplash can cause neurological problems. There are two main types of neurological problems that occur due to whiplash. The first is called a type IV and V injuries. This is a direct nerve root encroachment or nerve root irritation from direct pressure like herniated discs. Referred pain is another kind of neurological symptom. It is the most common one. Referred pain comes from damaged structures in the neck like disc injuries, ligament damage, and most commonly facet joint damage in rear-end crashes.

The whiplash could be acute and chronic. Chronic whiplash lasts for six months and more. It causes hyperextension and hyperflexion of the tendons and ligaments. The head is affected badly by the forceful forward and backward movement of the neck which causes the brain to be subject to trauma.

Fortunately, in most cases, this is a little or less risk to life. But it may have other severe long term effects including poor concentration, irritability, and even memory loss (rather like an episode of concussion). Sometimes, the cause is not even directly linked to physical injury. The psychological trauma of being in a car accident can also manifest itself through periods of memory loss – causing some sufferers to become quite distressed.

TYPES OF BRAIN INJURIES

Concussion: A concussion is a mild brain injury that may involve a brief loss of consciousness.

Contusion: A bruise to brain tissue caused by trauma is described as a contusion.

Diffuse axonal injury: Diffuse axonal brain injury causes tearing and shearing of nerve fibers. The damage occurs due to violent movement of the brain inside the skull. A common type of TBI that may result in a coma.

Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage: This type of brain injury occurs when there is bleeding inside the brain. It could be fatal if not treated.

Consult A Neurologist After A Whiplash Injury

It is important to seek medical treatment after a traffic accident, especially if you undergo an impactful hit to your head. The severe impacts of the accident or a hit may not be apparent to you but you should see a doctor anyway. Because sometimes there are obvious outward signs of the injury as in closed head injuries that lead to hemorrhage.

A medical specialist, a neurologist after conducting a physical examination may order diagnostic tests to try to determine what is causing your symptoms. He may also order imaging tests to look for problems with bones, nerves, disks, or the spine. After suspecting a brain injury, the doctor may order an electroencephalograph to record electrical activity in your brain to assess brain function.

He, then, develops a plan to treat the injury after developing a diagnosis. The effective treatment of these injuries can save you from permanent complications.

Claiming Damages For Neurological Effects of Whiplash

There may occur complex legal issues with the neurological effects of whiplash when you file for a whiplash injury claim. You may need legal assistance from a competent claim management company to compensate for injuries caused by the heedlessness or recklessness of another.

Depending on the exact circumstances of the accident, damages can cover:

Hospital bills

Therapy and rehabilitation expenses

Medication and pharmaceutical expenses

Lost wages or lost earning capacity

Claim manager’s fees and other related payments

If you or your loved one has sustained a brain injury as a result of a road accident, you may have a legal right to hold the one at fault accountable and seek compensation through a Whiplash injury claims. The at-fault driver should be held liable for your neurologic injuries and should provide compensation to cover your injuries, pain and suffering, and other losses.

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