Whiplash Injuries Following a Tennessee Car Accident: Signs, Symptoms, and Causes

A rear-end crash can leave your car with a dented bumper and leave you feeling fine at the scene. Then a day later your neck is stiff, your head is pounding and turning to check traffic hurts. That is often whiplash.

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in a Tennessee motor vehicle accident. Because it is a soft tissue injury, it is also one of the easiest to overlook. This guide covers how whiplash happens, the symptoms to watch for, and when to get checked by a doctor.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck caused by a sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement of the head. In a typical rear-end collision, the impact pushes your torso forward while your head lags behind for a split second. Your neck bends backward (hyperextension), then snaps forward (hyperflexion).

That motion can stretch or tear the muscles, tendons and ligaments that support the cervical spine. In more serious cases it can injure the discs between the vertebrae, irritate nerve roots or damage the small joints of the neck.

What Causes Whiplash?

Rear-end collisions are the most common cause, but they are not the only one. Whiplash can happen any time the head is thrown suddenly in one direction and then the other, including:

• Rear-end crashes, including those at low speeds
• Side-impact (T-bone) collisions
• Head-on collisions
• Being struck while stopped at a light or in traffic
• Rideshare, truck and motorcycle crashes

Little visible damage to the car does not mean little force on your neck. Modern bumpers are built to absorb impact without denting, while the people inside still move. Factors like seat and headrest position, whether you saw the crash coming, and prior neck problems can all affect how badly you are hurt.

Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash

Whiplash symptoms range from mild soreness to pain that lasts months. Common symptoms include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Reduced range of motion in the neck
• Headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
• Shoulder and upper back pain
• Muscle spasms
• Tingling, numbness or weakness in the arms or hands
• Jaw pain
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Blurred vision or other visual disturbances
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering things

Why Whiplash Symptoms Can Be Delayed

Many people feel fine right after a crash and notice symptoms hours or even a few days later. Adrenaline can mask pain at the scene, and inflammation in the injured tissue builds over the following 24 to 72 hours.

That delay is normal. It is also why getting checked soon after an accident matters, even if you feel okay. A doctor can document the injury early and catch problems that are not obvious yet.

How Doctors Grade Whiplash

Many physicians use the Quebec Task Force classification of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), which grades injuries from 0 to 4:

• Grade 0: no neck complaints and no physical signs
• Grade 1: neck pain, stiffness or tenderness, with no physical signs on exam
• Grade 2: neck pain plus reduced range of motion or point tenderness
• Grade 3: neck pain plus neurological signs, such as weakness, numbness or reduced reflexes
• Grade 4: neck pain with a fracture or dislocation

How Whiplash Is Diagnosed

Whiplash is usually diagnosed through a physical exam: your range of motion, tenderness, reflexes, strength and sensation. X-rays are used to rule out fractures. A CT scan or MRI may be ordered if your doctor suspects disc, ligament or nerve involvement, or if symptoms do not improve.

A normal X-ray does not mean you are not injured. Soft tissue damage often does not show on plain films, which is why a doctor’s exam and notes are so important.

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor within a day or two of any car accident, even if your symptoms seem minor. Get emergency care right away if you have:

• Severe neck pain
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms or legs
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Severe headache, confusion or loss of consciousness
• Pain that is getting worse instead of better

When you see a provider, tell them you were in a car accident so the cause of your symptoms is part of your medical record. Follow the treatment plan and keep your follow-up appointments.

Hurt in a Memphis Car Accident?

If whiplash is affecting your work, sleep or daily life, you may have a claim against the at-fault driver. Learn what affects the value of a whiplash claim in Tennessee.

Greer Injury Lawyers represents people injured in car accidents across Memphis and West Tennessee. Call 901-680-9777 for a free consultation, or contact us online.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. If you have symptoms after an accident, see a licensed medical provider.