Whiplash is a common injury which is caused when the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the neck are overstretched, often as a result of impact experienced in a road traffic accident. This overstretching actually sprains the muscles which can lead the sufferer to experience a lot of pain. If you’ve been injured in a car accident then below are three reasons why you should make a whiplash injury claim.
1. Whiplash can be serious
Many people think whiplash is not a serious injury as it’s a very common injury in road accidents. Although in many cases whiplash can just result in a sore neck for a few days, in some cases the sufferer can experience prolonged pain including headaches and muscle spasms which can last for months or even years. It’s important not to underestimate the effects that whiplash can have so see your doctor after the accident and then make a log of your symptoms and any hospital or doctors visit so you have a clear idea of how the injury is impacting on your life.
2. You could be affected by long term symptoms
As whiplash can become chronic it’s important to consider making a whiplash injury claim as you could potentially suffer from long term symptoms which could affect your lifestyle and even your mental health. As the NHS website states “if you have prolonged pain, you may find it difficult to carry out daily activities and enjoy leisure time. It may also cause problems at work and could lead to anxiety and depression.”
3. Financial help when you need it
Whether you have to take a few days off work or if whiplash impacts on your ability to work long term, you have a right to cover the costs of an accident that you weren’t to blame for by claiming whiplash injury compensation. If the injury does have a major impact on your life then money from a whiplash accident claim will help to cover costs of hospital visits, time away from work and other expenses.
