Whiplash from a car accident is a neck injury. Your head snaps back and forth, fast, and the soft tissue in your neck gets stretched or torn. It’s most common in rear-end crashes. The pain often doesn’t show up until hours later, or the next day. It won’t show on a regular X-ray. That’s exactly why the insurance company likes to call it minor.
What Is Whiplash From a Car Accident?
Whiplash is a sprain or strain of the neck. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons describes it as “an injury caused by the neck moving (whipping) rapidly back-and-forth, commonly seen after rear-end vehicle collisions” (OrthoInfo, AAOS).
A sprain hurts the ligaments. A strain hurts the muscles. Either one can hurt plenty.
Does it take a big wreck? No. You’re stopped at a light in Orangeburg. Someone behind you looks at a phone. Your bumper barely dents. Your neck still took the hit.
When Do Whiplash Symptoms Start?
Whiplash symptoms often start hours after the crash, or the next morning. The AAOS says neck sprain pain “does not always appear right away” (OrthoInfo, AAOS). It also notes the pain can peak “a day or so after the injury”.
So you tell the officer you’re fine. You mean it. Then you wake up and can’t check your blind spot.
The classic sign is neck pain that gets worse when you move. Stiffness, headaches and sore shoulders are common too. Some people feel tingling down an arm.
We can’t tell you what your symptoms mean. A doctor can. A jolt to the neck can jolt the head too, so read about traumatic brain injuries after car accidents.
Why Doesn’t Whiplash Show Up on an X-Ray?
An X-ray shows bone. Whiplash lives in soft tissue. The AAOS puts it plainly: “A neck sprain or strain cannot be seen on X-ray since it involves soft tissues” (OrthoInfo, AAOS).
That’s why a clean X-ray doesn’t mean you’re not hurt. Your doctor may order a CT scan or an MRI. Some neck injuries go deeper, like spinal cord injuries.
How Long Does Whiplash Last After a Car Accident?
Most whiplash gets better within a few weeks. The AAOS says most symptoms “will go away in 4 to 6 weeks” (OrthoInfo, AAOS). Lehigh Valley Health Network says most people recover completely within two to three months (LVHN).
Most isn’t all. The AAOS adds that severe injuries “may take longer to heal completely”. Some people still hurt months later.
Which group are you in on day three? Nobody knows yet. So don’t settle anything early.
What Should You Tell the Insurance Company About Whiplash?
Tell the insurance company as little as you can. The other driver’s adjuster may call within days. They’ll ask how you feel. They may ask to record it.
“I’m a little sore” on day one becomes “minor soft tissue injury” in their file. Keep it short and honest. Say you’re still being checked.
Then keep your appointments. A gap between the wreck and your first visit, or long breaks in your care, gives the adjuster an argument. They’ll say something else hurt your neck. Your medical records are the answer to that argument.
Never sign a release before you know how your neck heals. A release closes the claim for good. Here’s what to do after a car accident that wasn’t your fault.
South Carolina sets a three-year limit for most injury lawsuits (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5)). Exceptions exist. Please talk to a lawyer about your own dates instead of counting them yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can whiplash from a car accident show up days later?
Yes. Pain often starts hours after the crash or the next day.
Can you have whiplash after a car accident with little damage?
Yes. A low-speed rear-end crash can still whip your neck back and forth.
Will whiplash show up on an X-ray?
Usually not. Whiplash hurts soft tissue, and X-rays show bone.
Should I see a doctor if I feel fine?
The AAOS recommends an evaluation after a neck injury even if you feel fine.
Talk to a South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer
Attorneys Chris Wilson and Lauren Dangerfield bring more than three decades of combined experience to injury cases at Wilson Law Group, LLC. If your neck started hurting after a wreck, read more about our work as a South Carolina car accident lawyer. Then call 803-245-7799 for a free consultation. There’s no obligation, and no fee unless we recover for you. The filing deadline may look far off. Still, call right away. Evidence needs to be preserved, witness statements taken, and every insurance policy that might apply found early.
This article is general information about South Carolina law, not legal or medical advice. Reading it doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship.
