Can You Sustain A Whiplash Injury As A Result Of An Accident On A Bus?
Copyright (c) 2011 Nicholas Jervis
Whiplash injuries are one of the most common injuries sustained in accidents on our roads and are usually associated with people travelling in cars, where one vehicle goes into the back of another. However, this is not the only way in which a whiplash injury can be caused. This article looks at how a whiplash injury can be caused by a bus accident and what to do if you have been injured under these circumstances.
A whiplash injury is caused when your head and neck are suddenly and forcefully thrown back and forth causing damage to the soft tissue and ligaments in your neck. This could occur, for example, if the bus driver of the bus on which you were travelling braked suddenly either because he or she needed to make an emergency stop or needed to avoid going into the back of another vehicle. It could also occur if another vehicle went forcefully into the back of the bus on which you were travelling.
Symptoms of whiplash may not be apparent for several hours or even days after the accident. You may feel pain and discomfort in your neck and back, restricted movement, headaches, dizziness and/or pins and needles in your hands and arms. If you think you may be suffering from a whiplash injury you should visit your GP or Accident & Emergency Department as soon as possible to confirm this diagnosis and to rule out anything more serious. Treatment for your whiplash injury may include - depending on the severity of the injury - painkillers, physiotherapy or gentle mobility exercises.
Some newer buses are fitted with seatbelts and it is important that if a seatbelt is available you should always use it. Although research has shown that seatbelts can sometimes cause or make a whiplash injury worse (by restraining your body and forcing your head and neck to flip backwards) the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt could, if a collision occurs, be much more severe than a whiplash injury.
If you have been involved in a bus accident and are thinking of making a claim for compensation you may be wondering who is to blame for the accident. This will depend entirely on the circumstances of the accident and what actually caused the collision. It is likely that you will either need to make a claim against the bus company's insurance company (if the driver was to blame) or a third party driver's insurance company. Either way, you should ensure that you choose a solicitor who is experienced in bus accident whiplash claims to help you pursue your claim.
In summary, it is clear that it is perfectly possible to sustain a whiplash injury as a result of an accident on a bus. If this happens to you, you should ensure that you seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident and then make a careful, informed decision as to which solicitor to choose to help you make a claim for whiplash injury compensation.
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