So you've suffered a whiplash injury - what's your next step?

So the inevitable has happened - you've managed to get yourself into a road traffic accident where you've ended up with pain and soreness in your neck. You go to the doctor, and he tells you that you're exhibiting the classic signs of whiplash - but you've no idea what to do now or where to go from there.

First of all, you'll need to know a few things about whiplash injuries so you understand what's going on with your body. Whiplash is caused when you're given a sharp, unexpected jolt from in front or behind, causing what's called hyperextension, which is when your head snaps back too quickly, or hyperflexion, which is when it snaps forward.

The results of either event, which are often caused by car accidents when you're hit from behind, are often moderate to severe pain that can be long-lasting. Many people suffering from whiplash injury experience enough pain to preclude them from attending work until the soft tissue injury in the neck and shoulders heals, and with some of the only treatments for whiplash-related injuries to be pain medication and physiotherapy, it can be several weeks and even months before a particularly painful case subsides to the point where you can return to your normal, everyday life.

If you have been injured in a car accident to the point where you're going to miss work, you may not be out of luck completely as you have the option to make a claim for lost wages against the other driver's insurer. In instances where you were struck from behind, the other driver is almost certainly at fault for the accident, which means that the likelihood of your claim prevailing is that much higher.

In order to make a claim, you may need to seek legal advice from a reputable personal injury solicitor firm. Your legal team will work with you to ensure you that your compensation case is a strong one, finding independent medical experts that will be able to corroborate the fact that you've been injured to the point of needing time off work, and if you're worried that you can't afford to pay the high legal fees that accompany such legal representation, many law firms will enter into a conditional fee arrangement, also called a "no win, no fee" arrangement, with you so that you don't have to pay any fees up front.

It can be a painful and isolating experience to suffer from the effects of a whiplash injury in the wake of a car accident. However, if you keep these tips in mind, you can minimise the impact the injuries have on you and your finances, giving you the peace of mind you need to concentrate on your recovery!