The emergence of the term "whiplash" and compensation claims for the injury

Despite the prevalence of the condition, perhaps best demonstrated by the phenomenon of whiplash compensation, the emergence and definition of the term "whiplash" is a complex one.

Historical consensus holds that term was first used by the orthopaedist Crowe in 1928 at a symposium of the Western Orthopaedic Association in San Francisco. Crowe devised the term after likening the injury to the lash and crack effect of a whip.

In 1945, Davis confirmed the place of the word in the legal and medical lexicons of twentieth century USA by publishing an article in which he wrote, "Starting with the fact that the great majority of injuries of the cervical spine are in the nature of a whiplash, and accepting the meaning of the term whiplash as hyperflexion followed by spontaneous extensor recoil, the nature of a great variety of injuries of this section of the spinal column becomes understandable."

In the two hundred years of so preceding 1928 the injury had popularly been referred to as "railway spine", on account of its symptoms frequently being observed in people involved in train accidents. It is interesting to note that the diagnosis of "railway spine" was not without controversy, as, even then, much as with the whiplash compensation claims of today, the intangible nature of its symptoms led to some dismissing the condition as a "psychosomatic disorder".

Fortunately though, since a landmark 1953 study into the neck injury by Gay and Abbot, all but the most sceptical of commentators agree that the condition presents a very real set of symptoms, and the term has achieved popular usage in all English speaking countries.

Make a cost free whiplash compensation claim with our solicitors
Even in the days when it was known as "railway spine" people who had suffered the injury in train accidents in the UK used to make claims for whiplash compensation.

YouClaim's panel of personal injury lawyers contains many members who specialise in representing the cases of people who have suffered this kind of injury, usually in car accidents.

We can do this at absolutely no cost to you - not charging you ourselves, while protecting you from the costs of the opposing side.

We also deliver 100% compensation to all winning claimants, as we never take any cuts.

If you wish to discuss your case with a legal advisor, call 0800 10 757 95, fill out a claim form, log into internet chat, or ask for us to call you back.

We look forward to giving your claim the very best chance of a successful outcome.