Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA) and Whiplash

Whiplash is an injury to the neck caused by the neck bending forcibly forward and then backward, or vice versa. The injury usually involves the muscles and ligaments of the neck. Most whiplash injuries are the result of a collision that includes sudden acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle or when a person is involved in a rear-end automobile collision.

Symptoms of whiplash may include neck pain, neck stiffness, shoulder pain, low back pain, dizziness, pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand, ringing in ears, blurred vision, concentration or memory problems, irritability, sleeplessness, and fatigue.

Additionally, some bruising may occur in the seatbelt area. If rotation or turning of the neck is involved, then other structures in the neck may be affected, such as the nerves which pass between the vertebrae and out to the arm. The symptoms of whiplash may resemble other conditions and medical problems.