Common causes

The most common cause of whiplash is car accidents, but whiplash can also occur in sports accidents or when a child under age 5 is violently shaken (“shaken baby syndrome”).

Symptoms

Physical symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Loss of motion in the neck
• Injured muscles and ligaments
• Dizziness

Psychological symptoms include:

• Memory loss
• Poor concentration and/or memory
• Nervousness/irritability
• Fatigue
• Depression

Whiplash Treatment

You should always see a doctor immediately if you have been in a car accident, even if you don’t have a lot of pain, because you may still be injured.

The treatment may include pain medication, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, a cervical collar and perhaps antidepressants. Your doctor may also prescribe range-of-motion exercises and physical therapy.

In general, the prognosis for people suffering from whiplash injuries is good. Usually, the neck and head pain clears within a few days or weeks. Most patients recover within three months after the injury. However, some people may continue to feel some pain after that.

The violent shaking of young children may cause severe injuries to the child, including permanent brain damage or even death.

FreeAdvice offers Neck Injury/Whiplash FAQs that provide further information, but if you think you have whiplash due to someone else's negligence, you should contact a personal injury attorney. It is important to pursue your case immediately, because all states have a statute of limitations, which is a law limiting how long you have to file a case. If you'd like your case to be evaluated by an experienced lawyer at no cost or further obligation, fill out FreeAdvice's case evaluation form.