Sometimes when people hear about whiplash, they label it as a made-up issue. They mistakenly assume that it isn't real and that it's just used in "frivolous" lawsuits. In some cases, people even discount their own pain and fail to get legal help because they believe in these myths so much.

However, that is not the case. Whiplash is a real and potentially very serious injury. Here's a look at five of the most pervasive myths about whiplash and the truth behind them.

1. Myth: Whiplash Isn't Real

Everyone who has ever suffered from whiplash knows that it is real, and medical experts agree. The Mayo Clinic defines whiplash as a "neck injury due to rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck." The main symptoms include neck pain and headaches, but they can also include fatigue, dizziness, depression, blurred vision, and ringing in your ears.

In some cases, people refer to whiplash as a strain or a sprain, and while whiplash can be classified in those categories, not all sprains or strains are necessarily whiplash. Whiplash can be complicated by tissue damage or broken bones, and it's important to get treatment as soon as possible so those issues don't make it worse.

2. Myth: Whiplash Only Occurs After Car Accidents

Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash, but they aren't the only cause. People can get whiplash through sports injuries, physical abuse such as being shaken by someone, and even amusement park rides. For whiplash to occur, the ligaments need to extend quickly and forcibly beyond their usual range of motion.

3. Myth: Whiplash Symptoms Show Up Right Away

You may have heard a story that goes like this: "They were fine after the accident, but then, they wanted to get money, so they faked a whiplash injury." Despite the prevalence of this story, the interpretation is not true. In many cases, people don't experience whiplash symptoms until a few days after the accident.

If this happens to you, that's perfectly normal. Immediately after a serious accident, your adrenaline usually kicks in, and that can block your pain receptors. Additionally, the effect of the injury on your spinal discs and ligaments sometimes takes a while to translate to your nerves. To be on the safe side, you should seek medical attention after a car accident, but if that's not possible, you should pay attention to your symptoms for a few days.

4. Myth: Whiplash Doesn't Have Long-Term Effects

Luckily, in most cases, whiplash symptoms go away quickly, but in some cases the symptoms linger for a year or more. According to a Danish study released in about 2001, you can often tell if whiplash is going to lead to a long-term disability in the week after the car accident. The study looked at 141 adults who had recently been in a rear-end collision, and it determined that those who had the worst neck pain, dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision in the week after the accident were the most likely to have pain and other issues a year later.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after a car accident, don't just wait for them to go away. Get medical treatment.

5. Myth: You Don't Need a Lawyer If You Have Whiplash

If you want to protect yourself financially, you need an attorney. They can help you estimate your damages from the whiplash injury. That includes medical costs, compromised ability to work or complete routine tasks, pain and suffering, and more. Then, they can help you negotiate with the other driver or their insurance company to get the settlement that is fair in your situation.

To learn more about the truth about whiplash injuries, contact an attorney today at a law firm like The Accident Law Center. Most attorneys start with a free case evaluation where they let you know if you have a solid case and which steps you should take to move forward.