The most common car accident injury is whiplash. 

Whiplash can happen when rapid acceleration and deceleration occur to your neck and down the length of your spine in a motion that’s similar to the cracking of a whip. 

This can happen in a rear-end collision or any other time the speed or direction you’re traveling suddenly and forcefully changes.

The symptoms of whiplash can include: 

• Neck stiffness and pain 
• Pain that gets worse with neck movement
• Loss of range of motion in the neck
• Headaches, most often beginning at the base of the skull
• Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, arms, or upper back
• Numbness or tingling in the arms
• Dizziness
• Tiredness

More severe symptoms may include:

• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Difficulty sleeping
• Grumpiness
• Trouble focusing
• Memory problems
• Depression

Whiplash from a car accident can be diagnosed by a healthcare professional through: 

• Verbal evaluation – Your healthcare provider may ask about the accident and your symptoms. They’ll ask questions to help understand the severity of your symptoms, how often they occur, and your ability to do everyday tasks.
• Physical examination – Your physician will examine the affected area and ask you to move your head, neck, and arms. You likely be asked to perform simple tasks to assess the:
  • Range of motion of your neck, back, and shoulders
  • Amount of tenderness in your neck, shoulders, or back
  • Degree of motion that causes pain or an increase in pain
  • Strength, reflexes, and feeling in your limbs
• Imaging tests – While whiplash injuries don’t necessarily show up on imaging tests, they can help rule out other conditions that could be making your neck pain worse. Imaging tests performed by your provider might include:
  • X-rays to rule out broken bones, arthritis, or other issues
  • CT scan to view any bone damage
  • MRI to determine the presence of soft tissue injuries, like damage to the spinal cord, disks, or ligaments