Whiplash is an extremely common injury when it comes to road traffic accidents in the UK. It happens when your head is forced forward and backwards in the event of a sudden impact or jolt while moving at speed. The condition can come with some achy and painful symptoms, both short term and long term. And while it’s a condition that usually occurs as a result of a car accident, it can also happen after a sports injury or other accident that causes rapid head movement.
But how long does whiplash last? In this helpful guide, we’ll explain typical recovery times, how you can treat it and how you can claim compensation if you believe the accident that caused your whiplash wasn’t your fault.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash injuries are soft tissue injuries that affect the muscles and ligaments in your neck. The name of the condition comes from the whipping motion that causes it — this rapid movement can cause the ligaments and muscles in the neck to stretch or tear, resulting in pain, stiffness and discomfort.
The symptoms of whiplash are many and varied. You might not even realise that you’re suffering from it until you experience one or more of the following:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Shoulder and back pain
- Reduced range of motion in the neck
- Headaches
- Dizziness and fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
If you can check any of these boxes, it’s worth visiting your GP to make sure. If it’s determined that you’re suffering from whiplash, you may be entitled to claim for compensation — get in touch with us and we can kickstart a case for you.
How long does whiplash last?
As with many soft tissue injuries, whiplash has no definitive recovery timeframe. Getting better will vary for everyone and depends on factors like injury severity, age, and the treatment you’ve received. You will, though, have either a short-term case of whiplash or a long-term case.
For those lucky enough to have a short-term form of the condition, whiplash symptoms should go away within a few weeks to a few months. According to the NHS, most people will experience full recovery within two to three months, depending on your treatment. During this period, pain should gradually decrease and mobility will improve with the help of rest, medication and physical therapy.
For long-term cases, if your symptoms extend beyond six months, your case will be considered chronic. Chronic whiplash can result in prolonged pain, discomfort and reduced mobility. In the worst cases, chronic whiplash might cause permanent neck pain and reduced range of motion, although this is not typical for most people.
What treatment options are available for whiplash injuries?
If you believe you’ve suffered whiplash after a road traffic accident or a similar injury, your road to recovery will depend on how you manage your injury from the moment it occurs. The first thing to do is to seek medical attention — both to confirm your suspicions and to create a medical report, which you could use as evidence in a legal case later on.
Directly after your diagnosis, be sure to:
- Rest — Allow your strained or torn muscles to rest and recover. Avoid any kind of strenuous activity for a few days after your injury.
- Ice — Use an ice pack or frozen peas to reduce swelling in the neck area in the first 48 hours.
- Medicine — Over the counter medicine like ibuprofen can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
If you’re unfortunate enough to still have symptoms in the long-term, try out some of the following:
- Physiotherapy — Visiting a physiotherapist can help you towards a quicker recovery and reduce any pain you might have. If you take legal action against the person at fault for your condition, you could be awarded remuneration for physio as part of your compensation, along with general damages.
- Exercises — Gentle exercise can gently stretch and strengthen the muscles in the neck, promoting healing.
- Stress management — Stress isn’t good in the best of situations. With whiplash, it can exacerbate your symptoms. So, be sure to practice mindfulness, relaxation and other stress reliefs.
Can I claim compensation for whiplash?
If you believe your whiplash injury was caused by the negligence of another party, you can take legal action and claim for compensation.
Winning your case
In order for your case to be successful, you’ll need to prove that the other party involved caused your injury because of their negligence. To prove this, you must find evidence that shows that they breached their duty of care over you. In road traffic accidents, this could be as simple as evidence that proves the party ignored some aspect of the highway code, causing your accident.
Initiating a legal case against another party can be stressful, time consuming and costly. By getting in touch with Injury Lawyers 4U, we’ll handle the gathering of evidence and fight in your corner. What’s more, you won’t pay us a penny if your claim is unsuccessful — it’s all part of our no-win, no-fee guarantee.
Calculating compensation
Whiplash compensation is usually calculated based on the severity of the injury and how long it takes for you to recover. If your accident took place after May 2021 then the amount of compensation you can recover will also depend on whether you were the occupant of a vehicle.
If your accident took place after 31st May 2021, and you suffered whiplash injuries in a vehicle, then it is likely that your case will fall within the new tariff based system.
An example of the value of damages awarded under the tariff is as below:
| Not more than 3 months | £240 |
| More than 3 months, but not more than 6 months | £495 |
| More than 6 months, but not more than 9 months | £840 |
| More than 9 months, but not more than 12 months | £1,320 |
| More than 12 months, but not more than 15 months | £2,040 |
| More than 15 months, but not more than 18 months | £3,005 |
| More than 18 months, but not more than 24 months | £4,215 |
If you also suffered psychological injury, this would increase the award slightly.
Therefore, if your whiplash recovers in a short space of time, it may be that you will not recover a great deal of compensation. Further, it may be that you may not secure legal representation.
If you were a child, a pedestrian, cyclist or a motorcyclist at the time of the accident then the tariffs outlined above would not apply and the Judicial College Guidelines provide a framework for estimating compensation amounts based on the injury severity and recovery time:
| Severity level | Compensation level |
| Minor injuries (recovery within three months) | Between £1,000 and £2,500 |
| Moderate injuries (recovery between three and 12 months) | Between £2,500 and £6,000 |
| Severe injuries (long-term or permanent damage) | Upwards of £6,000 depending on circumstances |
We at Injury Lawyers 4U also have our own compensation calculator that can give you a better idea of the general damages you could receive.
How long does a whiplash claim take?
As with whiplash recovery times, the time a whiplash compensation claim can take will be different for each case. For minor cases, claims can typically be settled in a few months. However, more complex cases, especially those with disputed liability or severe injuries, may take six months or more to reach a conclusion.
How to prevent whiplash injuries
While whiplash can be difficult to avoid entirely in a road traffic accident, you can reduce your risk by following these tips while out on the road:
- Adjust your headrest — Make sure that your headrest is positioned correctly to limit the movement of your head during a crash.
- Maintain good posture — Proper posture helps reduce strain on your neck muscles.
- Drive safely — By following the rules of the road and driving carefully, you will reduce the risk of whiplash by reducing your risk of accidents.
How can Injury Lawyers 4U help?
If the worst has happened and you’ve suffered a whiplash injury, Injury Lawyers 4U can provide expert legal support throughout the entire claims process. Our team will help you gather the necessary evidence, assess your treatment needs and ensure you receive the most compensation possible for your injury. Get in touch today.