Survey of one hundred cases of whiplash injury after settlement of litigation

One hundred patients with previously diagnosed cervical neck strain following auto accidents whose litigation on compensation claims had been settled were queried as to their present clinical status. After legal claims for damage were completed, 88% showed recovery, and over half of these had no residual complaints. Many emotional factors, but especially those concerning monetary compensation, greatly confuse proper medical evaluation and appear to be the cause of the wide divergence of professional prognostic opinions relative to this particular injury. Copyright, 1956, by American Medical Associatio