Whiplash Injuries

Whiplash injuries cover a range of injuries to the neck and back caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck. They are frequently incurred after motor vehicle accidents, particularly when one of the vehicles involved in the accident has been hit in the rear.

While whiplash injuries are generally associated with motor vehicle accidents, they can also be sustained when a person falls off of a bicycle or horse. In addition, headbanging can cause whiplash.

Doctors do not know what exactly causes whiplash, nor do they fully understand the mechanism behind the injury. It is believed that an impulsive stretching of the spinal anterior longitudinal ligament may play a significant role. When the ligament is stretched or torn as the head snaps forward and then back again, a person is said to have whiplash.

The injury can be caused by any motion that is similar to a rear-end collision in a motor vehicle. These include sudden stops on roller coasters and various rides frequently found in amusement parks.

Whiplash injuries are usually confined to the spinal column and most frequently affect the neck and middle back.

When a person is suffering from whiplash, he or she may experience pain and aching in the neck and back; pain in the shoulders; sensory disturbance, such as pins and needles, in the arms and legs; or constant headaches. It is possible for symptoms to appear immediately after the injury occurs, but they typically aren’t felt until a few days afterward.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Wausau car accident injury lawyers of Habush, Habush, & Rottier at 1-800-248-0171 to discuss your situation and to determine your legal options.