Whiplash After a Car Accident
Short answer: Whiplash is a strain of the neck's muscles and ligaments from the head being thrown back and forth. It can happen at speeds as low as 5 mph. Many people recover within weeks, but about half still report neck pain a year later.
Stop-and-go traffic on I-35W and I-30 makes rear-end crashes common in Fort Worth, and rear-end crashes are the classic cause of whiplash.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck caused by a sudden back-and-forth movement of the head. Rear-end crashes are the classic cause. Symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain, dizziness, and tingling into the arms. Doctors often describe whiplash using a grading scale created by the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders:
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| 0 | No neck complaints and no physical signs |
| I | Neck pain, stiffness or tenderness only, with no physical signs |
| II | Neck complaint plus musculoskeletal signs, such as reduced range of motion or point tenderness |
| III | Neck complaint plus neurological signs, such as weak or absent reflexes, weakness or numbness |
| IV | Neck complaint plus a fracture or dislocation |
Can a low-speed crash cause whiplash?
Yes. Research shows injuries can happen at speeds as low as 5 mph. In one controlled study, about 4 in 10 volunteers had whiplash symptoms after a 5 mph bump from behind. Other studies disagree on how serious those injuries get, so here they are side by side:
| Study | What they tested | What they found | Plain takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brault, 1998 | 42 volunteers, rear bumps of 2.5 and 5 mph speed change | 29% had symptoms at 2.5 mph and 38% at 5 mph, measurable on exam | Very low-speed bumps hurt some people. |
| Castro, 1997 | 19 volunteers, 5.4–8.8 mph, exams and MRI | No injury signs, except one man with 10 weeks of stiffness | Not everyone is hurt, and small studies vary. |
| Cormier, 2018 | Review of 51 volunteer studies, 1,984 test crashes | Neck strain and pain do occur; worse injuries were very unlikely | Neck strain at low speed is real. |
Volunteers in lab studies are healthy, braced and expecting the impact. Real crashes surprise you.
How long does whiplash last?
Many people feel better within weeks, but whiplash lasts much longer for a large share of people. People who start with worse pain, or who feel down or afraid to move, tend to heal more slowly.
of people with whiplash still report neck pain one year after the crash.
Source: Neck Pain Task Force, Spine 2008 →Context the researchers give
The same review notes that 20–40% of all adults report some neck pain in any given month. That's why a documented exam soon after the crash matters: it separates the crash injury from everyday aches.
What to do if your neck hurts after a crash
Get examined by a provider experienced with accident injuries, and keep a record of your symptoms. Neck pain that starts a day or two later is common. Read about delayed symptoms, getting treatment, and the broader back and neck injury guide. Back to all injuries.
Want a lawyer to look at your case for free?
If you were hurt in a crash that wasn't your fault, in Fort Worth or anywhere else in Texas, you can ask for a free consultation. A participating personal injury law firm will reach out to you promptly. There's no cost to ask and no obligation.