Can You Get a Concussion From Whiplash?

It is possible to get a concussion from a whiplash. The sudden jolt of your head and neck during a car crash can distort muscles and tendons in the neck region, resulting in a whiplash injury. The sudden jostling can also cause the brain to collide with the hard covering of the skull. You can also sustain a concussion injury after a sudden impact after colliding with a hard surface in a dashboard or windscreen.

Both concussion and whiplash injuries result in injury-related losses like medical expenses, which is why car accident victims should pursue the at-fault parties for compensation.

Consult an experienced Dripping Springs car accident attorney for legal support in pursuing compensation.

How & When Can You Get Whiplash?

A whiplash injury is common in motor vehicle crashes but can occur in other incidents. Any incident that quickly throws the head forward, then backward with force, often results in physical harm and pain to the neck region.

Here are a few risk factors for whiplash injuries:

• Victims of rear-end car collisions are at a high risk of developing whiplash injuries
• Physical abuse or assault: A whiplash injury can occur if you’re punched or shaken
• Participants in contact sports like football or rugby often sustain whiplash injuries

Effects of a Concussion from Whiplash?

A key aspect of whiplash symptoms is timing. While some whiplash injuries occur immediately after an accident, some victims experience symptoms after 12 hours. Sometimes, it may take a full day or a few days before the symptoms appear.

Since whiplash injuries have various effects, experts designed a grading system for the severity of whiplash-associated disorders.

The grading matrix is as follows:

• Grade 0: No Injury
• Grade 1: Pain only
• Grade 2: Pain and signs of injury
• Grade 3: Pain plus signs of injury and neurological effects
• Grade 4: Severe pain and signs of severe and substantial neurological effects

For instance, a grade 3 whiplash injury involves neurological effects that can happen because of swelling and inflammation, which disrupts nerve signals traveling through the injured area on the way and from your brain.

Common neurological symptoms include:

• Muscle weakness
• Headaches
• Vision problems
• Burning or tingling in your neck, upper back, shoulders, or upper arms
• Numbness in your neck, upper back, shoulders, or upper arms
• Trouble swallowing, loss of voice, or hoarseness

Most people who sustain whiplash injuries get better within a few weeks. However, some people develop pain that lasts months or years after the injury. Generally, a whiplash victim is likely to endure ongoing pain if the first symptoms are intense and start quickly.

Get in Touch With an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

If you’ve sustained an injury in a car accident caused by someone else’s fault, you deserve compensation for injury-related losses. Working with an experienced attorney gives you an upper hand during negotiation, often resulting in a fair settlement value.

Steven. R York is a highly experienced attorney dedicated to representing injured victims. zContact us online or at (619) 233-1033 to book a free consultation.

This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Steven Ray York who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.