Whiplash describes cervical strain or sprain caused by sudden head and neck movement, typically in rear-impact collisions. Symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, headache, and occasionally radiating pain.
Most cases resolve within weeks to months, though a minority report persistent symptoms.
Alternative Names:
Cervical Strain, Cervical Acceleration-Deceleration Injury
Why it Matters?
Whiplash generates enormous claim volume with modest individual values, so the defense contest is usually about duration and treatment reasonableness rather than whether an injury occurred. The recurring issues are extended chiropractic or therapy courses disproportionate to the mechanism, treatment financed by letters of protection, and biomechanical evidence about the forces involved in a low-speed impact. Property damage photographs are routinely central.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How long does whiplash typically last?
Is biomechanical testimony admissible in low-impact cases?
