“You look fine to me, and besides, we were hardly moving when the car hit us.” That is the sympathetic response you get from your husband when you suggest that you have whiplash after last week’s car crash. He is right, you do look fine, but you do not feel it. If this is the case, you need to visit a doctor to get their expert diagnosis.
Contrary to popular opinion, you do not need to be traveling fast to get whiplash in a car accident. All you need is enough force to jolt your head forward suddenly. Not all necks are equal, either. Your slim, elegant neck may be more fragile than that of your iron-pumping husband. Older people may be more susceptible to whiplash, too, as their necks muscles grow weaker and less flexible with age.
Whiplash symptoms can present themselves in various parts of your body. If you have any of these after a car crash, consider seeing a doctor:
- Neck: If your neck is sore and stiff, if the movement is restricted or if the pain increases as you turn your neck, you should get checked by a doctor.
- Arms or shoulders or back: You could feel numbness or tingling in these parts of your body.
- Head: A headache that starts at the base of the skull points to whiplash. Feeling tired or dizzy can also occur.
Like your husband, many people dismiss whiplash, because people suffering with it, appear to be okay. It will take the qualified opinion of a doctor to prove them wrong. Once you have a doctor’s advice, seek legal help to fight for your right to compensation for your injury.
