Neck, shoulder, and back injuries are some of the most common issues chiropractors see after a car accident. Whiplash occurs when your cervical spine is abruptly “whipped” backward and then forward, knocking it out of alignment. This injury often happens as the result of a rear-end collision when the recipient doesn’t know it’s coming. Along with the whipping effect comes muscle stiffness and pain in the days and weeks after the accident. Sometimes, when a driver or passenger sees the impact coming, they will tense up their muscles in anticipation. This can cause them to end up with strained back muscles, neck muscles, or shoulder muscles.