In order to understand minor impact soft tissue injuries, commonly known as whiplash, it helps to understand how the brain works and how these types of accidents affect it.
The brain is the most sophisticated organ in the human body.
Even the best neuroscientists and neurologists only claim to have a general idea of how it works, although new advances into learning occur every day.
Little by little our picture of the part of us that makes us truly us is becoming clearer, and ironically it is through damage and injury do we discover exactly how the brain functions.
The main part of the brain is called the cerebrum.
This is the top part of the brain and consists of the wrinkled, gelatin-like grey matter most people think of when they think of the brain.
It is also responsible for many of the higher functions people take for granted, such as reasoning, sensory processing, language and memory.
The secondary part of the brain is the brainstem.
This part connects the higher brain to the spinal cord, allowing nerve impulses that control movement and sensory systems to radiate out through the body and let us experience the world.
The third part of the brain is the cerebellum.
It's easily identifiable as it is the little globe of tissue that hangs beneath the main part of the brain.
It is one of the oldest parts of the brain, and controls many important functions such as mind motor control, coordination and balance.
Damage to any part of the brain is a serious medical emergency.
People involved in so-called minor accidents that only result in whiplash or a slight concussion often discover days, weeks or months later that they are now facing lifelong complications from which recovery is difficult if at all possible.
In fact, these "minor" injuries are often the most dangerous because they go untreated or undiagnosed.
If you had a three-foot long piece of iron sticking out of your skull, you'd probably seek immediate medical attention.
However, if you get rear-ended in traffic and all you feel is a slight soreness in your neck, you likely wouldn't think anything of it until a few days later when your neck vertebrae are so misaligned that you can't walk or think straight.
That is why if you or someone you love suffered an impact soft tissue injury, whiplash, concussion or any other "minor" injury because of a car or other type of accident caused by the negligence, irresponsibility or action of someone else, you need to get medical attention immediately.
There is a direct correlation between successful early diagnosis and treatment and the prevention or management of long-term injury.
Once you get the treatment you need, you also should consider your legal options.
Medical treatment for soft tissue brain injuries can involve months if not years of therapy, and can cost untold sums of money.
It is only fair that the person or entity responsible for your condition compensate you for your situation, and the best way to go about ensuring that you don't suffer any more than you have to is to contact a personal injury attorney that understands the complexities involved in your condition, and can do whatever he can to alleviate your situation.