Whiplash injuries often heal quickly but can lead to chronic pain

Whiplash is an injury commonly associated with car crashes, especially rear-end collisions. Although many consider whiplash a minor injury, it can have debilitating symptoms that affect your daily life.

With treatment, most people with whiplash recover in just a few weeks. However, sometimes complications of whiplash can last much longer. When this happens, those debilitating symptoms don't just reduce your ability to enjoy your life. They can also negatively impact your financial situation due to added medical bills and possibly a loss of income.

What are some of the signs of whiplash?

It is important to receive a medical examination as soon as possible after any accident. However, it is especially important to do so if you were rear ended or experienced another event that forcefully whipped your neck back and forth.

Symptoms of whiplash usually appear within 24 hours of an injury, but can take longer. Symptoms can include:

• Neck pain
• Neck stiffness
• Reduced range of motion in the neck
• Headaches, typically starting at the base of the skull
• Pain in the shoulder or upper back
• Pain, tingling or numbness in the arms
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty concentrating

How long does a whiplash injury take to heal?

Because each person is different and each situation that causes injury is slightly different, it can be difficult to predict exactly how long recovery should take. Most people require a few weeks to heal when they get the proper treatment, but some people continue experiencing symptoms months or years after their accident.

Often, there is a greater chance that someone might have chronic pain associated with whiplash if his or her symptoms were intense and started quickly. Chronic pain may also be more likely if the initial symptoms included severe neck pain, headaches or pain that spread to the arms.

If you experienced whiplash because of someone else’s negligent actions, you may benefit from seeking justice. You may be able to receive compensation for your medical expenses and other costs associated with your injury.