Whiplash is a neck injury that happens when your head gets thrown suddenly backward and then forward, stretching and tearing the soft tissue in your neck. It is one of the most common injuries we see after rear-end crashes here in San Diego.
The name describes the motion. Your body is held in place by the seat and the belt, but your head keeps moving, so the neck takes the hit. That force damages muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and sometimes the discs and nerves too. Because it is mostly soft-tissue damage, it does not always show up on a standard X-ray, which is one reason insurance adjusters like to argue it is not real.
The tricky part is the timeline. A lot of people feel fine at the scene and then wake up the next morning stiff, sore, and unable to turn their head. Symptoms can include neck pain, headaches, dizziness, shoulder tightness, and trouble sleeping. If you were in any kind of collision, get checked out, even if you feel okay. That medical record matters.
Whiplash after a crash usually falls under car accidents or neck injuries, and it is a core part of any personal injury claim.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different.
If you are dealing with neck pain after a crash and the insurance company is giving you the runaround, call Crudo Law at (858) 622-7280 or reach out through our contact page. The consultation is free.