Diagnosing Whiplash

If you are involved in a road traffic collision, it is highly likely you will suffer a whiplash injury. But how exactly is a whiplash injury diagnosed? What tests can be done to confirm the condition? And can a whiplash diagnosis lead to a compensation claim? We will take a look at each of these questions, helping you to understand the facts regarding whiplash diagnosis.

The Difficulty of Whiplash Diagnosis.

In the past, sceptics would dismiss whiplash-associated disorders, stating it was not really an injury as it could not be identified using diagnostic tests. Although this cynical view is no longer upheld in the medical profession, doctors still lack the technology to detect whiplash injuries, and must instead depend upon the presentation of symptoms.

This problem was highlighted by Stuart Matthew, a consultant trauma surgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital. In an interview with Radio 4's Today Programme, he said: "whiplash associated disorder is something rather nebulous…what [whiplash] actually is I don't think we know in the medical profession". He continued to state that rather than using diagnostics tests, doctors were forced to "rely on the veracity of the patient or claimant."

While there is still some uncertainty over what a whiplash injury is, and how it can be diagnosed, we now understand that whiplash is a real injury that can be extremely debilitating. That is why if you have been harmed in a traffic accident (even a low-speed one) you need to seek medical attention.

How Is Whiplash Diagnosed?

When you attend a medical professional with a suspected whiplash injury, a doctor will first ask if you have experience any recent trauma. If you have been involved in something such as a car accident, a clinician should be immediately alerted to the possibility of a whiplash-associated disorder. A physical examination should then follow, during which a doctor should remain aware of the symptoms of whiplash, including a stiff and painful neck, headaches, nausea and dizziness. The presence of these symptoms, along with a history of trauma, will be sufficient to confirm a diagnosis.

Occasionally, a whiplash-associated disorder will involve something such as a fractured vertebrae or nerve compression. In these circumstances, diagnostics tests can be useful to identify the extent of harm. If such damage is suspected, no time should be wasted in sending a patient for further tests.

Have You Got A Whiplash Injury?

If you have been diagnosed with a whiplash-associated disorder, you need to consider who was to blame for you injury. If another party was at fault, you will be entitled to claim compensation for the pain and suffering you have sustained. To find out more, you need to speak to a personal injury lawyer who specialises in whiplash claims.


Copyright (c) 2012 Nicholas Jervis