Is Whiplash a Real Medical Condition?

Many Insurance companies and their so-called independent medical evaluators consider whiplash to be a fake or made up condition that is used by accident victims to obtain financial compensation. However, medical literature supports that this condition exists and can be caused by forces like the ones exerted in rear end automobile accidents. Whiplash is an acceleration-deceleration trauma. This type of injury can result in permanent or long term pain and disability. Associated damage to ligaments, nerves, vertebrae, muscles, joints and nerves can occur. Whiplash injuries should be properly diagnosed and treated by proper experts. The types of experts to be consulted may include:

• Orthopedists
• Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine (Chiropractors)
• Neurologists
• Neurosurgeons
• Dentists and Oral Surgeons
• Neuropsychologists

Medical and Chiropractic literature holds that over a third of patients who suffer whiplash will suffer long term symptoms, and that for patients who are still symptomatic 3 months or more following the accident, there is more than an 80% chance that they will remain symptomatic.