What You Need to Know About Whiplash After a Car Accident

One of the most common injuries sustained in an auto accident is whiplash. You may know it involves the neck, but what exactly is happening during this injury—and how long does recovery take? Read on.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash (not a formal medical term) describes an injury from a sudden distortion of the neck—often in a rear-end collision. In medical language, this is commonly called a cervical sprain or, more specifically for auto accidents, a cervical acceleration–deceleration (CAD) injury.

During impact, muscles, ligaments, and tendons can overstretch due to rapid motion. These structures—along with nerve roots—are soft tissues, which is why whiplash is frequently categorized as a soft tissue injury.

How Long Does Whiplash Take to Heal?

It depends. Every whiplash injury is different. The crash severity, your health history, and timely care all matter. Some people report lingering symptoms even two years after an accident, while others recover within weeks. No two whiplash injuries are exactly alike.

What Happens to Your Neck During a Rear-End Collision?

The sequence below (over ~300 milliseconds) shows typical occupant-seat interaction in a rear-end crash (source):

0 milliseconds

• Rear car structure is impacted and begins to move forward and/or crushes
• Occupant remains stationary
• No occupant forces

100 milliseconds

• Vehicle seat accelerates and pushes into the occupant’s torso (central portion of the body in contact with seat)
• The torso loads the seat and is accelerated forward (seat deflects rearward)
• Head remains stationary due to inertia

150 milliseconds

• Torso is accelerated by the seat and may start to ramp up the seat
• Lower neck is pulled forward by the accelerated torso/seat
• The head rotates and extends rapidly rearward, hyper-extending the neck

175 milliseconds

• Head is still moving backward
• Vehicle seat begins to spring forward
• The torso continues accelerating forward
• Rearward head rotation increases and is fully extended

300 milliseconds

• Head and torso accelerate forward
• Neck is “whipped” forward, rotating and hyper-flexing
• The head accelerates due to neck motion and moves ahead of the seat back

Should I See a Doctor After Being Rear-Ended?

Yes. If you experience neck pain, headaches, reduced range of motion, or any discomfort after an accident, see a doctor. Don’t exaggerate symptoms, but do seek medical evaluation if you think you need it.

You should also consider speaking with an attorney. Learn what to expect and what to know before filing a whiplash claim.