When it comes to whiplash accidents the specifications are so many that it’s definitely amongst the hardest cases to go through. If you ask a regular citizen from the street outside whether he believes whiplash is a serious accident, he is most likely going to say that it is. However, if you go ahead and ask an insurer broker the same question, he is almost always going to deny that it’s an accident. On top of all that, if you ask a lawyer he is going to say that in the majority of situations it’s dependable on the circumstances. We’ve enlisted these three parties because they are usually involved in a case of the kind and their different opinions are definitive proof for the complexity of the accident.

Whiplash Associated Disorder

As a matter of fact, this isn’t your common dodging answer – the truth is that the situation is really that dependable because whiplash has a wide range of severity degrees which need to be accounted for. Now, to be completely fair, whiplash doesn’t even exist as a medical condition. In fact, the term is Whiplash Associated Disorder of WAD, for short and there are four known category, from one to four. The first and the second are usually considered to be mild conditions while the third and the forth are those who need more serious attendance. With this in mind, the fourth category is also particularly distinguishable because it usually includes dislocations and fractions of the neck.

Furthermore, it is usually agreed that a WAD IV condition is usually going to be incredibly serious and is rather permanent instead of being categorized as a general whiplash of the more mild categories. These, on the other hand could be resolved with time and with some treatment as well. The main difference between the first and the second category is the lack of musculoskeletal signs which could be observed in WAD II. Generally, you would need between four and six weeks in order to make a full recovery from a WAD II type. The treatment itself is usually going to consist of chiropractic care, physiotherapy as well as massage therapy.

Recovery or disability

Even though the majority of people suffering from WAD I and WAD II are going to make a full recovery with little to no complications at all, there are those who wouldn’t be able to recover fully. Instead, they are going to be exposed to ongoing pain, tenderness, stiffness and restriction of motion. With this in mind, you already know why the answer to the question whether whiplash is a serious condition or not is so complicated. It might be amongst the most serious and permanent conditions, while it might also take you no more than a week or two to recover without any special treatments. It is important to talk with a personal injury lawyer to know about your eligibility and whether you are liable to receive any compensation.