Whiplash From Rear Impact Collisions

emmadigirank
June 14, 2012

Rear impact collisions are a common cause of whiplash and regularly lead to a successful compensation claim for the injured party. In this article we take a closer look at rear end shunts, explaining how such an accident can damage your health and suggesting you can do about claiming compensation for your injuries.

How does a rear impact collision cause whiplash?

There are a number of situations in which a read impact collision may occur. You may be sat at a set of traffic lights or waiting to pull out of a junction or roundabout. Alternatively, you may be slowing down in anticipation of a queue of traffic. Whatever the set of circumstances, the driver behind you must leave a satisfactory gap between your two vehicles, thereby ensuring there is sufficient breaking space. If he fails to do so, or if he is not paying attention, there will not be enough time and/or room to slow down. Their vehicle will, therefore, collide into the back of yours.

At the moment of impact, your head (and those of your passengers) will be thrown backwards and forwards in a rapid and violent manner. While you head is subject to this whipping motion, your neck hyperextend, meaning it is forced beyond its normal range of movement. This excessive stretching will damage the soft-tissue in your neck and shoulder, injuring the muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Moments after the incident, you will have a large amount of adrenaline running through your body. Ordinarily this will prevent you from recognising an injury you have suffered. Once this adrenaline wears off, you will begin to notice certain symptoms such as a stiff and painful neck, limited mobility of the neck, dizziness, nausea and tingling in the fingers. This is the condition known as whiplash.

Claiming compensation for rear impact collisions

If you have sustained whiplash during a rear impact collision, it is very probable you will be entitled to claim compensation. This is because the person who drove into the back of your vehicle will be to blame for the accident and for your injuries. You are, therefore, within your legal rights to claim for the pain, suffering and loss of finances you have experienced as a direct result of the accident.

To begin your whiplash claim, you should contact a specialist whiplash solicitor today. You only have three years to settle a claim, so you should not hesitate when seeking advice from a legal expert. And remember, you have the right to choose your own solicitor: you do not have to use the firm recommended by your insurance company.