A whiplash injury can be a very painful experience, with symptoms ranging from a stiff neck that persists for a few days to weeks through to whiplash syndrome which can involve persistent headaches, reduced range of movement in the neck and lumber pain. These symptoms can go on for some for months and for some unfortunate sufferers, years. These sufferers can be on prescribed medication for a long time, feel fatigued and experience tingling in their arms.

Whiplash injury is the result of the soft tissue in the neck being stretched as a result of a sudden jerk forward; it is often the result of a car accident. If this accident whether it was in a car or a diving accident was not your fault, you should think about getting compensation.

If you have a whiplash injury as a result of an accident that was not your fault, you may well be entitled to compensation for the injury you have sustained and for any loss of earnings that you may have incurred.

These injuries don't just affect people as a physical problem, there may be a knock on effect of a loss of status and possibly even loss of your job, which is devastating, not just in the short term.

In order to make sure that you receive the compensation you need to help you through this painful experience you should make sure that you have followed the legal procedure required at the scene of an accident if you were involved in a car accident.

At the scene of the accident you should have exchanged details with the third party involved and taken your insurance details to the local police station within 24 hours. These are details that could prove very important later should you choose to make a claim for your whiplash injury.

The most important factor of all is to see a doctor as soon as is possible and have it documented that you are suffering from a whiplash injury. Once the diagnosis has been made, it is much easier to apply for compensation as the problem has been recognised officially.

Once you have seen a doctor, you can then go on to look for an experienced personal injury solicitor who can go through the claim with you.

If you are having trouble finding a local solicitor to help, you can contact the citizen's advice bureau and they will advise you of a local solicitor who will be able to help.

It is important that you review all these points before visiting your appointed solicitor and try to provide as much evidence both from the scene of the accident and from a medical source when you first visit. This will help your claim and speed up the process.