Whiplash injuries of the neck and spine commonly occur in auto accidents. Even minor impacts with little vehicle damage can put significant stress on the spinal ligaments, disks, and delicate nerves. Some people get whiplash symptoms right after the accident (which is a very bad sign) but most people feel somewhat unscathed, at least initially.
It’s important to think how spinal injuries can affect you over the long term. When ligaments are injured, there can be substantial changes over the years, such as arthritis and disk degeneration.