What does Whiplash mean?

Whiplash is a common car accident injury, frequently caused by rear-end collisions where the impact of another car causes a driver or passenger's head to move forward and back at a high rate of speed. The term whiplash may also be synonymous with cervical sprain or cervical sprain and can include any injury to a person's muscles, ligaments or vertebrae in their neck.

Individuals who suffer from whiplash may need physical therapy, to wear a brace or in more severe cases, traction. Common symptoms of whiplash can include back pain, headaches, loss of balance, tightness or stiffness in the neck and a dull aching pain. Whiplash may not be immediately obvious after a car accident, and drivers who are involved in a car accident should see a doctor immediately following the collision, regardless if they feel like they are injured. Whiplash may last from two weeks up to a decade or longer.