Whiplash - A Guide To Preventing, And Dealing With A Whiplash Injury

By: Justin Arnold | Posted: 18th October 2011

As whiplash compensation in the UK becomes increasingly common it's worth thinking about the causes of whiplash, the symptoms, what you can do to prevent it or guard against it, and what action you should take after an accident.

There are several reasons why whiplash compensation claims are being seen more and more these days. One factor is clearly that there are more cars than ever on the road, and the roads are riskier than they have ever been. Whiplash tends to happen most frequently in fairly minor accidents, where a driver hasn't spotted that the vehicle in front is stationery or moving slowly. As there is more congestion, more queues, and more people trying to get where they're going, rear end shunts are increasingly common, resulting frequently in whiplash.

Another factor is the increased use of GPS satellite navigation systems in cars. These devices with their large, colourful and appealing screens are often responsible for diverting the driver's attention from the road. It only talks a second to fail to spot a sudden change in the conditions ahead, with the result that many accidents occur where drivers were using one of these systems.

Still another factor is the fact that there is a greater awareness and understanding today of people being able to make a claim for compensation for a whiplash injury. Whiplash can be very uncomfortable and painful, and is often quite debilitating. Whiplash can prevent people from working, resulting in loss of income, and cancelled trips. The need for compensation in such cases is very real, and can often make a massive difference to people.

So is there anything you can do to either prevent whiplash or guard against it? Although there's little or nothing you can do to prevent someone behind you failing to stop in time, there are a few things you can do. First of all, if you're stopped at lights, or at a junction, or because of a queue, make sure that you keep your foot on the brake pedal until another vehicle has stopped behind you. Your brake lights will help some people to register the fact that you are stationery. If you simply put your handbrake on and lift your foot from the brake pedal then many people won't necessarily realise you've stopped.

Another tip is to make sure than in addition to having your brake light on, put your handbrake on too. This will help to stop your vehicle from moving as much should someone rear end shunt you. Yet another bit of advice is to make sure that you correctly adjust your headrest. Very few people do this, yet it can make a great deal of difference. When you realise that whiplash is caused by your head being suddenly thrown backward, then bouncing forward very suddenly, it makes sense that if your headrest is adjusted so that it is very close to the back of your head, your head will have much less distance to travel before it hits the head rest. This will in turn mean that it is likely to bounce forward a much shorter distance too, thereby reducing the potential whiplash injury.

But in spite of taking all these precautions, there is still always the chance that you'll be unlucky. So what should you do if you have been involved in an accident which could result in you suffering from whiplash symptoms? The first thing to note is that if you are involved in an accident you may not necessarily experience any symptoms at all straight away. Whiplash symptoms can appear hours, days or even weeks later, and so it's important not to just dismiss the accident at the time.

If you do start to feel any symptoms at all then make sure you seek medical help straight away. The neck is a very sensitive area of the body, and any damage must be treated professionally. Once you have sought medical help it will then be necessary to seek the help of professional whiplash solicitors who will be able to support you with your whiplash compensation claim. In the UK whiplash solicitors are able to make the process simple and easy for you. In fact, contrary to belief, making a whiplash claim for compensation is not actually a pain in the neck!

For further information about making a claim for whiplash compensation UK visit CK Claims Ltd, specialist whiplash solicitors in Manchester.
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Tags: queue, screens, stationery, colourful, cars, congestion, sudden change, compensation claims, queues, rear end, massive difference, whiplash injury, greater awareness, whiplash compensation, minor accidents