Neck Injury FAQs

1. What is whiplash?

2. What are the symptoms of a whiplash injury?

3. What are the leading causes of neck injuries?

4. Are there symptoms of a neck injury that I should be aware of?

5. What is the treatment for a whiplash injury?

6. Why is whiplash so common in car accidents?

1. What is whiplash?
Whiplash refers to an injury to the neck, head and shoulders after being subjected to a snapping motion, either forward and back or side to side. These neck injuries are frequently suffered following traffic accidents or collisions.

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2. What are the symptoms of a whiplash injury?
The initial symptom is generally pain or soreness to the neck area. Unfortunately, symptoms may be delayed for hours, or even days, after the injury or trauma is sustained.

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3. What are the leading causes of neck injuries?
Motor vehicle accidents and work-related or industrial accidents are the leading causes of neck injuries.

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4. Are there symptoms of a neck injury that I should be aware of?

If you are experiencing any of the following, you should contact a physician so that your injury can be evaluated: 

• Severe to mild pain in the neck, head or back
• Headaches
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or buzzing in the ear
• Sensitivity to loud noises
• Vertigo (dizziness) or unsteadiness
• Blurred vision or light sensitivity
• Difficulties concentrating, focusing or thinking
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tingling or loss of sensation in the hand, fingers, feet, or toes
• Loss of control over any part of the body
• Urinary or bowel urgency, incontinence, or retention
• Difficulty with balance and walking
• Impaired breathing after injury
• Unusual lumps on the neck

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5. What is the treatment for a whiplash injury?
A physician may want the neck to be immobilized for a period of time because muscles can be torn and stretched, soft disks in the neck (between the vertebrae) may also tear. Many physicians will also recommend a form of traction for more serious injuries. Early movement and therapy is essential for total recovery and is almost always prescribed.

Other presently used treatment options may include muscle relaxants (and other drug treatments), surgery to repair torn muscle insertions or fuse damaged discs, nerve cell transplantation and regeneration.

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6. Why is whiplash so common in car accidents? 
The main reason is that a vehicle headrest on the back of a seat limits the range of extension in your neck.

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For more information, please see our Neck Injury Page

Contact us online through our FREE personal injury evaluation form if you have any questions about your claim.

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