First question: have I got whiplash? Well, whiplash is a term given to a range of injuries affecting the neck that have been caused by a distortion or extension of the muscles in the neck.

The way in which your head flies during a car accident can cause such an injury hence its instant association with that type of accident however road traffic accidents are not the only cause of whiplash.

A medical expert will need to examine you and confirm you have whiplash.

Second question: can I claim? Is less complicated. If someone else was the cause of your injury or you have an insurance policy in place to compensate you for such an injury – then yes, you can make a claim.

The third question of: how much will I get? Is often the first question asked. Damages awarded for whiplash do not vary greatly. However, the difference between a low grade whiplash injury and a severe case could be a difference between £1,000 and £1million. The main question to answer your question is: how long did recovery take?

Whiplash comes in four grades:

* Grade 0: no neck pain, stiffness, or any physical signs are noticed
* Grade 1: neck complaints of pain, stiffness or tenderness only but no physical signs are noted by the examining physician.
* Grade 2: neck complaints and the examining physician finds decreased range of motion and point tenderness in the neck.
* Grade 3: neck complaints plus neurological signs such as decreased deep tendon reflexes, weakness and sensory deficits.
* Grade 4: neck complaints and fracture or dislocation, or injury to the spinal cord.

With proper care, treatment for the lesser injuries could mean recovery in only a few days or at most a few weeks. Severe whiplash could be a life-long disability. Such an injury from a regular road accident is rare. The majority of claims that insurance pay out on are for amounts around the £1500 to £2500 mark.