Approximately 8% of all Utah car accident victims sustain whiplash injuries. Although it is a common injury in Utah accident cases, whiplash should not be taken lightly. Jonathan Grauer, MD, and Travis Maak, BS, composed a helpful article explaining the symptoms and treatments for whiplash injuries. Here is a short summary of the article for reference in case you have suffered a Utah whiplash injury. Whiplash and its symptoms Whiplash occurs when a sudden impact causes the neck to over extend in either a forward or backward motion. As this happens, bodily reflexes initiate muscles to forcefully contract and “whip” the head quickly in the opposite direction. This often results in tissue strains and tears in the upper spinal area. Whiplash can damage different structures of the body, including intervertebral discs and ligaments, capsule and facet joints, and certain areas of the spine.