Whiplash Claim? Need Whiplash Claim Solicitors?
Whiplash Claim? Need Whiplash Claim Solicitors?
If you have suffered a whiplash injury in a road traffic accident * that was not your fault you may be able to claim for compensation for your pain and suffering, loss of earnings, medical costs and physiotherapy costs.
What is whiplash?
A whiplash injury can be extremely severe with some suffering long term as a result. Each whiplash claim differs depending on the level of injury and therefore compensation is calculated taking into account the time taken to recuperate, all loss of earnings, medical expenses and your overall pain and suffering. Some whiplash injuries are heightened by ancillary injuries i.e. dislocations, fractures or lower back injuries incurred at the same time.
The most common cause of whiplash is a sudden, forced movement or jerk which often happens in a car crash.
Whiplash symptoms
Medically, whiplash has been hard to define but in essence it is deemed to be an impulsive stretch or tear of the tissue / ligaments at the top of the spine as a result of a persons head jerking forward and back. Often symptoms can take a few days to appear.
Doctors find it hard to diagnose as there are no specific tests to determine whiplash. Therefore the doctor will rely heavily on the patients feedback as to circumstances of the injury and location and details of pain. In fact they often do not use the term whiplash, instead referring to soft tissue injuries to the neck, hyperextension injury or a cervical sprain or strain. You cannot see whiplash on an x-ray, MRI or scan MRI scan. Generally an x-ray is taken if a doctor or A & E suspect a fracture or similar breakage, especially with a spinal cord injury.
Classic symptoms of whiplash injuries
- Neck stiffness and tenderness
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Muscle Spasms
- Difficulty in head and neck rotation
- Pains to shoulders and down arms
- Fatigue
Some serious whiplash injuries * can result in memory loss, unconsciousness, severe head pains, pins and needles in shoulders and arms and ancillary sensory issues in arms.
Is it worth claiming for whiplash?
If you have suffered a whiplash injury through the fault of a third party, it is usually worn making a whiplash claim. Some of the payouts can be substantial and to forgo these payments would be an act of extremem folly.
What is the typical payout for whiplash?
Depending on the severity of your injury, you can expect anything from 10k to 40k. Each case will be judged on its own merits and so it can be hard to give
a generalised amount that you can expect to be paid out.
How long does the average whiplash claim take?
Whiplash claims can take up to two years or less, depending on the circumstances of your case. Some of the factors that will influence the duration will include whether a third party accepts liablity or whether the insurer decides to fight the case in court or not.
Whiplash injury compensation solicitors
If you would like to discuss making a whiplash claim, contact us for expert legal advice. A personal injuries* solicitor from personalinjuriesclaim.ie will handle your entire whiplash injury claim * for you to ensure you obtain the maximum amount of compensation for your whiplash injury. Contact us today for a consultation. Email: info@personalinjuriesclaim.ie or Phone 01234 0044.
*In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. This statement is made in compliance with Reg.8 of SI 518 of 2002.
*First published July 16, 2013
