Whiplash. No 'trivial' affair.

Considering the widespread incidence of whiplash and its sometimes acute complications, whiplash gains relatively little press.

While there is increasing evidence of sporting injury whiplash, it is still car accidents which claim the most whiplash injury sufferers. In 1995 the Quebec Taskforce on whiplash stated, "Whiplash is to the automobile, what lower back pain is to the workplace."

In a recent informal survey, one Glasgow banker spoke illuminatingly of his whiplash ordeal, "I was in a car accident, while holidaying in England during the summer. I thought I'd be fine to return to work after my holiday leave. But I was still in a lot of pain. The dizziness was terrible too. I called my boss to say I'd been in car crash, at first she sounded worried, but the second I said whiplash, she reacted like it was trivial or something and practically accused me of malingering."

Fortunately the 32-year-old city banker did eventually go on to pursue a successful compensation claim with a group of UK no win, no fee solicitors, yet his story highlights much of the confusion and ignorance surrounding whiplash injuries.

Whereas many personal injuries suffered in car accidents, such as brain injuries, spinal injuries, and breaks and fractures, receive popular levels of sympathy and understanding, whiplash injuries are often perceived as being minor. However, whiplash injuries can be surprisingly serious, endure for longer than many of the injuries listed above, and in some circumstances lead to a troubling number of medical complications.

Whiplash complications or secondary disorders
There are a number of secondary conditions associated with whiplash, including:

• Spinal arthritis - a degenerative condition causing pain and loss of mobility
• Chronic pain - is persistent and acute in nature. Its underlying cause is often damage to the nervous system. It can be difficult to quantify and diagnose but is sometimes a truly debilitating condition.
• Spinal cord damage - this can manifest itself in a variety of ways, and is usually associated with nerve damage, vertebra damage, or muscular factors.
• Permanent neck pain - within this category is an extensive list of conditions such as Cervical Spondylosis. Most are associated with chronic pain and impaired mobility. Effective treatments are often limited.
• Opthalmic problems - a high number of whiplash sufferers experience partial loss of eyesight. In the majority of cases this will resolve it self after several weeks. However, this can be a disturbing phenomenon for sufferers, forcing many to take time off work.

Surgery is required in a minority of whiplash cases in order to cure or, at least, alleviate symptoms.

Recently there has also been some medical literature emerging to support a possible link between whiplash and Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency, a condition which can result in perpetual dizziness and periodic fainting episodes.

What is clear, is that whiplash is not only associated with neck injuries, but also a surprising number of brain stem injuries.

With this in mind, a no win, no fee claim for whiplash compensation can be seen as even more of an imperative.

How to make a whiplash compensation claim
If, like the 32-year-old Glaswegian sufferer of whiplash, you have temporarily been forced out of employment or need to cover the cost of an expensive rehabilitation and treatment process, you may wish to engage the services of a no win, no fee solicitor.

At Car Accident Advice line we have an excellent success rate in dealing with no win, no fee claims. So if you've sustained a whiplash injury in a car accident through no fault of your own, we have the expertise to offer you your best chance of winning justice.

We can be contacted 24hrs a day for free legal advice. And that's it, win or lose, you are at no risk of incurring any costs right through the process. You will keep 100% of any whiplash compensation you are awarded.

So if you've suffered a whiplash injury, and wish to take that first step in getting your life back on track, submit an online claim form, request a call back, or call us on 0808 143 42 42.