It’s estimated that millions of people experience whiplash each year, but there are still many unknowns about the injury, including the mechanisms of pain and the long term effects. While the injury is mostly associated with vehicle occupants in car crashes, the nature of the injury can affect cyclists, too.
Simply put, whiplash is an injury to the neck, and mostly occurs after a strong force bends the neck forward or backward. This is why the injury is strongly associated with being rear-ended by a car. For cyclists, being hit from behind or the side may result in whiplash. A cyclist may also encounter whiplash if they’re forced to brake suddenly.
“Whiplash injury can result from various factors, and it does not always lead to pathological changes,” researchers wrote in a 2024 report analyzing available data on whiplash injuries. “However, when subjected to greater impact forces, it can cause immediate damage to structures such as intervertebral discs, ligaments, and paraspinal muscles. Additionally, brain injury is also a potential consequence following a whiplash injury.”
Cyclists should not ignore neck pain — or other symptoms associated with whiplash — after an accident because it could be serious and require medical attention. While scientific data around cycling and whiplash doesn’t exist, we do know that it’s common in car and motorcycle accidents. Logic follows that whiplash would also affect many cyclists, who don’t have nearly as much protection from the force of a hit as vehicle occupants do.
Symptoms and diagnosis
In a lot of cases of whiplash, symptoms can be felt almost immediately following the incident or after the adrenaline wears off, but they may also develop in days following the injury. These injuries also vary greatly from person to person and depend on the nature of the injury.
Symptoms of whiplash can include:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Shoulder or low back pain
- Dizziness
- Pain or numbness in the arm or hand
- Irritability
- Sleeplessness or tiredness
- Difficulty turning your head
- Muscle spasms around the neck or shoulders
Whiplash is diagnosed through a medical exam, and a physician may order x-rays, CT scans, or MRI to determine severity. However, evidence of whiplash may not be picked up by some of these methods, so if symptoms persist it’s best to continue to seek medical care.
Researchers have also determined that there may be psychological symptoms that follow the injury, including depression, anger, fear, anxiety, and hypochondriasis. Researchers say there are abundant opportunities to learn more about these symptoms, the concurrence of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and why multidisciplinary approaches to treatment could be important.
Recovery may take a few weeks, but sometimes symptoms can persist for much longer. This may depend on severity, and greatly impact quality of life.
Chronic stiff neck, sleep issues, or headaches may interfere with work or everyday activities. In a 2021 longitudinal study, researchers found that participants who endured a whiplash injury were more likely than those who weren’t to report shoulder stiffness, arm pain, and headaches 20 years following the injury.
Treatment
Treatment for whiplash often depends on the severity of the injury and whether there are other injuries present. Some injuries may only require the cyclist to rest, ice their neck, and take pain relievers. Others may include more intense physical therapy.
Common treatments include:
- Icing to reduce pain or swelling
- A neck collar
- Gentle stretches
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, or topical gels
- Muscle relaxing medications
- Physical therapy
In more severe cases of whiplash, more intense treatment plans may be needed. These can include injections to reduce pain (lidocaine and steroids are common), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and regenerative medicines, which boost the body’s healing response.
It may be preferable to try and grit through pain or discomfort of whiplash because the injury is not the worst case scenario in a bike crash, but the long term effects mean that treatment early on should be a priority.
Often, bicycle crashes go unreported because a cyclist doesn’t think their injuries are severe enough to warrant filing a police report or seeking medical attention right away, but even these “minor” injuries can make a big difference to everyday life.
Getting an expert medical opinion will help rule out any serious problems that may show themselves in time and prevent further damage. A doctor’s review will also give you the proper documentation needed in a personal injury case.
Whiplash and personal injury law
Working with a personal injury attorney who specializes in bicycle cases can bring injured cyclists with whiplash and other injuries a plethora of benefits. First, the Bay Area Bicycle Law staff only focuses their attention on bicycle-related cases, so you know you’ll be getting dedicated experts working on your case who are in your corner.
Because of this specialty and comprehensive understanding of cycling and the law, we understand the importance of small details and the nuances that come with these types of cases. Whiplash can be a nuanced and complex diagnosis. With the potential for symptoms to last for months or even years, you’ll want experts who understand bicycle-related injuries, how they impact work and life, and how compensation may offset those losses due to the injury.
If you’ve been involved in a crash, the bicycle attorneys at Bay Area Bicycle Law can help navigate your rights, responsibilities, and options. Schedule your free consultation today.