Answering the question – How can I prove I have whiplash? – is very difficult, because in reality, actually proving you have whiplash is very difficult. There are no blood tests it will show up in and it is a soft tissue injury so will not show on X-rays. In fact, there are no medical tests for whiplash, just like there is not a medical term ‘whiplash’. So medically you cannot prove you have whiplash.
The doctors opinion
Really, the diagnosis given by the doctor or hospital, that you have a whiplash injury, is an opinion rather than a concrete diagnosis. Just like when you visit them with a pain in your wrist, or leg perhaps – they may tell you it’s a sprain, but really have no way of knowing. They will give their opinion based on the symptoms you are suffering, and knowing that you have recently had an accident involving your head being suddenly jolted. Normally, the only time the medical practitioner would order X rays or scans is if they suspect the may be broken bones as well.
Law firms, like Accident Advice Helpline, know they will have no more than an opinion, but it is the same for everyone, so no problem. &8% of road traffic accident claims are for whiplash injuries, so they are very experienced in dealing with this.
How can I prove I have whiplash? – the symptoms are probably the best answer
The symptoms of whiplash will become very apparent once they start to show themselves, which is not usually until a few hours after the incident happened.
How many of the symptoms you suffer, depend on the severity of the injury but may well include:
· Pain and stiffness in the neck area
· Neck muscles having spasms
· Back pain
· Headaches
· Pins and needles or numbness in the arms and legs
· Nausea
· Tiredness
· Vertigo
· Dizziness
· Blurred vision
· Anxiety, stress or depression
If you have recently been involved in some sort of accident where your head received a sudden jolt, forcing it out of its normal movement zone, and you are suffering any of the above symptoms, it is unlikely anyone would argue the point that you have whiplash. In fact, try using a whiplash claims calculator, you will see it appears on them all.
Now you can prove you have whiplash – how will it be treated?
Mild whiplash – Plenty of rest with just a little gentle exercise each day will mend a mild case of whiplash in no more than a few weeks. You can use painkillers and icepacks to relieve the pain if you want to.
Moderate whiplash – Moderate whiplash will take a while longer to heal, and may be helped by some use of a neck brace. Doctors do not recommend wearing a neck brace all the time, because they can affect the mobility of the neck.
Severe Whiplash – Severe whiplash can be totally disabling and last foryears and cause other complications. Some victims never recover fully from the effects and it is not unusual to be left with a weakness in the neck or back.
