Whiplash: Medical and Legal Considerations
Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) is the full medical name for Whiplash – neck injuries from (even low-speed) car accidents. Usually, whiplash happens when another driver rear-ends the accident victim, although it can be caused by any impact, or even from sudden braking to avoid an accident. The victim’s head snaps violently back and forward, damaging their neck. Whiplash is classified as a soft-tissue injury (STI) to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Because there are no broken bones, whiplash injuries can be challenging to identify. This makes them harder to prove in a lawsuit or when the victim needs no-fault accident benefits from their own auto insurance company.
