Whiplash: What To Document

If you have been in rear end collision or similar high speed crash you may have suffered a whiplash injury.  Whiplash is a hyperextension injury to the soft tissue in the upper spine or neck area.  An individual body is pushed suddenly forward by an impact but his head remains momentarily stationary which causes a rocking up and back motion stretching or tearing muscles and ligaments in the neck area.  Neck muscles reflex and contract suddenly to bring the head forward with the rest of the body causing a sort of over acceleration of muscle action because at that same point in time the vehicle motion is decelerating.  The injury is often associated with a car accident impact but a whiplash injury can happen in a fall, a bicycle accident and even a fall from a horse. 

Soft Tissue Injury Hard to Document

A soft tissue injury to the neck and upper spine area while painful may be hard to document.  The condition is often diagnosed almost exclusively upon a physical examination and related patient complaints.  Treatment includes the use of pain medication, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, muscle relaxants and a cervical collar.  Physical therapy and the application of heat to the affected areas may also be prescribed.  Common symptoms are headache, pain in the back and neck area and a “pins and needles” sensation in the arms and legs. 

Documenting Whiplash

In order to evidence a whiplash injury a person would need to be able to provide medical records dated immediately or soon after an accident incident relating to a physical examination by a medical doctor or orthopedic surgeon concerning patient complaints of  neck pain, stiffness and tenderness.  Physician notes concerning the existence of decreased range of motion and neck tenderness and decreased deep tendon reflexes with weakness and sensory deficits.  In severe whiplash instances a physician may order x-rays to determine if there has been a spinal cord fracture or dislocation.  A whiplash injury can also severely affect pre-existing back or spinal injuries.  A physician’s medical record would include notes concerning medical history of a pre-existing neck and spinal injuries or chronic condition and note complaints of those conditions suddenly worsening with his treatment addressing those conditions.

Getting Legal Help

If you or a member of your family has suffered a whiplash injury from an accident with or without adverse effects on pre-existing spinal injuries and conditions it would be helpful to contact a personal injury attorney to discuss the circumstances of the accident and the injury in order to obtain experienced guidance handling a claim concerning the incident.