Whiplash is a condition which can become chronic and deep-seated in nature and thus have a hugely negative effect upon the life of the person suffering. It is a condition which affects the soft tissue of the neck, such as tendons, ligaments and muscles, and usually arises as the result of a sudden jolting movement which stretches and strains these tissues, resulting in long term damage and discomfort.
Put simply, whiplash is usually the result of the head being jerked backwards and forwards or side to side quickly and violently and, as such, can arise from a multitude of different situations. The most common cause of whiplash, as confirmed by the NHS on their page dealing with the condition, its causes and treatments road traffic accident. In most cases, this accident will involve sudden deceleration and may therefore be either a collision, a shunt from behind or emergency braking. The actual accident can take place at a fairly low speed and still cause violent enough jolting to cause whiplash. If the accident in question was caused by someone else’s negligence, then the whiplash suffered is their fault, and so a claim for compensation for suffering, distress and loss of earnings is only fair and reasonable.
Whilst motor accidents are the most common cause of whiplash, they are by no means the only incidents liable to bring about the condition. Any sudden blow to the head can cause whiplash, and so it is something which can occur during contact sports such as rugby, football or boxing, or indeed as the result of a slip or fall which causes the head to be violently jerked and jolted. Similarly, a mishap on a fairground ride such as a big dipper might bring about whiplash, particularly if the head and neck are not sufficiently supported.
