There continues to be criticisms in the media about an ever increasing claims culture that is allegedly sweeping the nation. Most recently there have been warnings over a "whiplash epidemic" of fraudulent claims that is supposedly spreading across the UK. Statistics published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) claim that approximately 1,200 whiplash claims are made each day, amounting to costs of £2 billion each year.
In spite of these critiques, whiplash is scientifically recognised and sufferers of the condition are often in a considerable amount of pain and discomfort following the injury, therefore, they should not be discouraged in pursuing a genuine personal injury claim.
A whiplash injury occurs when the soft tissue and/or ligaments in the neck and/or back are strained after a sudden movement or forceful jolt. Although the injury can occur in many circumstances they most commonly occur when people are involved in road traffic accidents.
Symptoms of whiplash often include: pain and stiffness of the neck and shoulders, lower back pain, headaches, dizziness, numbness or tingling in the arms/ hands, tiredness, ringing in the ears and blurred vision. Signs of the injury usually become apparent within a few hours of the accident; however, some people begin to develop symptoms after a few days.
Soft tissue injuries can often take several weeks to fully settle, however only a very small number of incidents, between 5-10% have been known to take longer than 1 year to fully recover.
When whiplash is suspected, it is important to get medical advice from either an Accident & Emergency department or a G.P. Treatment of the injury often takes the form of rest, painkillers and the use of an ice pack to reduce any swelling. After a 24 hour period, injured parties are encouraged to move their neck and stay active, to allow the body to adjust and recover as quickly a possible. However, some people may also benefit from complementary therapies such as physiotherapy and osteopathy.
Research has shown that the severity of a whiplash injury is governed by the position of the car's headrest and the president of the AA has stated that drivers could prevent potential injuries by adjusting the headrest on their seat, as
In an attempt to reduce the number of whiplash claims, ABI has requested the government to put into place frameworks to emphasise safe following distances to learner drivers and encourage car retailers to show buyers how to adjust the head rest on the vehicle.
If you or someone you know has suffered an injury as a result of a road traffic accident, you may have grounds to pursue a claim to recover whiplash injury compensation for the injury or loss suffered
