Recovering from whiplash

The prognosis (predicted outcome) of a whiplash-type injury is good for most people. In many cases of Whiplash-Associated Disorders there will be no complications and the patient will make a full recovery. Read about what a Whiplash-Associated Disorder is.

One to three months after the accident
A straightforward case of a whiplash injury would see the person make a good recovery with minimal pain after a few weeks. People who have a minor neck sprain may well feel well enough to return to work after a week or two and go on to experience very little pain. A study carried out on people with whiplash injuries found that after one month, 62% of participants were without pain, whilst 79% had gone back to work.

However, it is considered usual for people with Whiplash-Associated Disorders to experience discomfort for up to three months and still suffer from residual headaches and neck pain from time to time. A three month check up on the participants in the aforementioned study found that at this point 71% were pain free and 86% had returned to work.

If symptoms persist after 12 weeks, further tests may be carried out to try to identify the cause of the problem. There is a range of investigations that can be conducted, such as MRI scans and CT scans. Read more about the treatment of whiplash injuries.

Over three months
Symptoms such as tingling or numbness in the arms can indicate neurological (nerve) damage. This can often take longer to heal than other Whiplash-Associated Disorders and is an indicator of an extended recovery period. Other indicators of a longer recovery period include psychological symptoms such as insomnia, depression and irritability.

Studies have shown that a year after an accident, between 5 and 10% of whiplash injury patients are still experiencing pain from their injury, whilst 6% have not returned to work. A small number are considered to have permanent pain that can take years to recede. If a patient is still experiencing pain or discomfort six months after the accident, they may be diagnosed with Late Whiplash Syndrome. This is a type of whiplash injury that can take much longer to resolve than a straightforward case.

People who have this condition often experience symptoms of their neck injury for many months or even years after the accident occurred.

Compensation for Whiplash-Associated Disorders
If you have sustained a whiplash injury, you may be entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering you have experienced, as well as the effect it has had on your day-to-day life. We provide a friendly, straightforward compensation service to people who have been injured through not fault of their own.

Our personal injury solicitors are able to maintain an excellent success rate through their extensive experience in handling claims for Whiplash-Associated Disorders. Each year we help thousands of people to get compensation which can really make a difference to their lives.

Our solicitors work on a no win, no fee basis and we protect you from legal costs at all times so no matter what the outcome of your compensation claim, you will not have to pay a penny. We will not take any of the money you are awarded, unlike some companies that can take a cut of up to 40%.

If you wish to find out more about claiming for your injury, please telephone 0800 10 757 95 or fill in an online claim form and we will call you back.