Whiplash can be a very serious neck injury. The neck is hyperextended, the muscles are sometimes torn or stretched. It can result in nerve damage. In really serious cases, the spine can be permanently damaged. In most cases, whiplash is the result of a car accident. The victim is driving when his car is suddenly struck from behind, causing his head to rotate in the direction of the body’s thrust. What is actually happening in this scenario is that the body unexpectedly pushes itself forward, the head lags behind, and then “moves” forward in an effort to reach the body. Although this is the most common occurrence, it is certainly not the only one. Whiplash victims are sometimes pedestrians hit by cars. Other whiplash injuries include, but are not limited to, falling off a horse, motorcycle, or bicycle. Symptoms typically range from stiff neck or back muscles to headaches, or sometimes much worse. Because symptoms vary in severity and sometimes do not appear immediately, whiplash is an injury that must be taken very seriously. Proper medical attention should be sought and a whiplash injury lawsuit should be considered.
Here are the basic dos and don’ts to file your whiplash injury claim:
Yes: seek medical help immediately. Most often, whiplash symptoms are not felt right away. Many times the victim is “caught” in the emotional torrent of the accident and is not aware of any discomfort. Other times, there is simply a gradual intensification of the pain. Whatever the case, a doctor must report and document all the details of the injuries.
Yes: Plan and maintain regular office visits with your doctor or caregiver. When it comes to whiplash, new or developing symptoms often arise. They must also be dealt with and documented.
Yes: Hire or consult with a personal injury attorney or whiplash attorney. Insurance companies have a lot of “fine print” that you should know about. There are special provisions and terms that must be fully reviewed and understood. An experienced, top-notch attorney can help you recover any out-of-pocket expenses you have incurred, such as medical or auto costs.
No: Delay. Too often, whiplash victims put off treatment. This is not very smart for 2 reasons:
Almost 50% of whiplash victims report new symptoms two years after the date of the accident. Whiplash symptoms can grow gradually. Delaying treatment will often cause existing mild symptoms to progress to more painful ones and lead to the development of new symptoms.
If whiplash-related injuries are not fully reported and documented, it is much more difficult to obtain full compensation from the insurance company.
No: rely solely on X-rays to find whiplash injuries. A full examination should be performed and the victim’s medical history should be taken into account.
Do not accept the first insurance offer if you agree to settle. They’ll get the ball off you, for sure. Do your due diligence. find out what the payment averages are. Talk to other whiplash victims. Choose the brain of your lawyer.
The accident may be minor, the whiplash is not …