Whiplash is quite a common injury which often happens as a result of a car accident.

It is an injury to the neck when the head and neck move rapidly backwards and forwards following a collision. The word ‘whiplash’ was first used in 1928 as previously it was called ‘railway spine’ as it used to happen to people involved in railway accidents.

Whiplash is usually caused in motor vehicle accident when the car is stationary and is hit from the rear by another vehicle. The impact causes the head and neck to move backward while the person’s body is pushed forward. Then the head and neck also are thrown forward.

A whiplash injury is damage to both the bones and the soft tissues whereas what is called ‘whiplash associated disorders’ are more severe as well as chronic.

Whiplash is not usually a life threatening condition but it can cause some disability over a long period of time. Most people do recover reasonably quickly but some have symptoms for many years which can lead to prolonged periods of depression and in some instances addiction to pain killers.

To learn more about your rights and how we can help, please call the Columbia accident attorneys of Yonke Law, L.L.C. at (816) 221-6400 or contact us online today.