Do I have whiplash?

[dazwalsh]

I was in a car collision Tuesday evening and I felt fine apart from a dead leg from it hitting centre console

Yesterday I had a dull ache in my shoulder/ chest area and this morning a stiff neck which is quite uncomfortable when I tilt my head left or right. I can still function and have no headaches but work will be slow today (property development)

The collision was side on as a result of someone failing to stop at a T junction and just ploughing into the side of my car, enough for my feet to be liberated from the pedals.

I was totally unprepared for the collision and was resting my elbow on the inside arm rest so that I think made the jolt worse as my head pivoted down on to my shoulder rather than my whole body moving.

I cant get in to see a GP just yet because they are so busy apart from emergency appointments so cant confirm if it is or not.

Does this sound like whiplash? can it be left to right movement as well as front and back which causes it?

Also I informed my insurance company 30 minutes after accident that I was fine and no injuries, and I still dont intend to put any sort of claim in unless it worsens and I have to take days off work. Should I at least inform them?

[Riley Blue]

Do you have a minor injuries unit you could visit? You can find the location of your nearest one here:

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/Emer...

[davek_964]

dazwalsh said:

I was in a car collision Tuesday evening and I felt fine apart from a dead leg from it hitting centre console

Yesterday I had a dull ache in my shoulder/ chest area and this morning a stiff neck which is quite uncomfortable when I tilt my head left or right. I can still function and have no headaches but work will be slow today (property development)

The collision was side on as a result of someone failing to stop at a T junction and just ploughing into the side of my car, enough for my feet to be liberated from the pedals.

I was totally unprepared for the collision and was resting my elbow on the inside arm rest so that I think made the jolt worse as my head pivoted down on to my shoulder rather than my whole body moving.

I cant get in to see a GP just yet because they are so busy apart from emergency appointments so cant confirm if it is or not.

Does this sound like whiplash? can it be left to right movement as well as front and back which causes it?

Also I informed my insurance company 30 minutes after accident that I was fine and no injuries, and I still dont intend to put any sort of claim in unless it worsens and I have to take days off work. Should I at least inform them?

I can't answer whether it's whiplash, but to be honest I'm not sure how much it matters whether it's actually that - you clearly have some after effects from the accident regardless of what it is.
I think you have years afterwards to still lodge a claim (the never ending "have you had an accident in the last <x> years that wasn't your fault" calls prove that). But if I was you, I think I would at least notify your insurers that you're having some symptoms and that you intend to visit the doctor as a result and see what happens.
I also think it's worth getting checked anyway - just because you don't think you have immediate symptoms, and even if they don't get worse immediately - you can never know for sure. When I was younger (20-25 years ago) I fell off my motorcycle a few times (mostly my fault, but at least one of them I blame on the deer). It never seemed I'd broken anything - although I did end up with a rather large hole in my elbow thanks to the deer - but since everything still seemed to work, I never bothered with the hospital.
As I've got older (late 40s now) I'm quite sure some of my aches and pains come from those days. Whether they could have done anything who knows, but I do regret not being checked over.

All credit to you though - most people would already have ££££ signs in their eyes.