One of the most common injuries to be sustained in car accidents is whiplash, which affects the neck and spine. It can even occur in relatively low-speed collisions, and it can be extremely painful. The condition can take time to heal, and great care needs to be taken to ensure the correct recovery process is adhered to from start to finish.
A whiplash injury will usually be suffered by drivers and passengers in cars which have been hit in the rear. The impact will cause them to be propelled forwards, only to be thrust backwards when their movements are stopped by seatbelts. Needless to say, these belts save lives, but they can’t prevent the neck injury that often follows.
The nature of the injury will results in your whiplash complaint being classified as one of the following (as determined by the QTF Grades of Whiplash-Associated Disorder):
- Grade 1: Neck pain, stiffness and/or tenderness without any physical signs for these symptoms being determined by a health practitioner;
- Grade 2: The same symptoms as Grade 2 are present but the examining physician has successfully detected physical restrictions to the range of neck mobility, casual to tenderness in the neck.
- Grade 3: Whiplash complaints comprising the before mentioned discomfort physical restrictions, as well as neurological symptoms (a decreased flexibility to tendons and sensory interference are two examples of such).
- Grade 4: The most serious neck injuries resulting from whiplash including neck fractures, dislocations and/or injury to the spinal cord.
The whiplash claim process
If the accident is caused through no fault of your own, you should be looking to mount a whiplash compensation claim against the insurers of the perpetrator. The pain caused by someone else’s recklessness can be severe, so you should be seeking a no fuss settlement as soon as possible. You may well be entitled to a large amount, because the average payout in such cases is substantial.
The best option is to speak to personal injury solicitors as soon as possible. A legal specialist will be able to discuss the individual circumstances of every case before deciding whether a whiplash injury compensation claim can be instigated. With the experts on your side, you can be confident that every effort will be made in an attempt to get you the justice you deserve.
Because of the nature of the injury, the symptoms aren’t always immediately apparent. If the victim of an accident is in any doubt, he or she needs to seek treatment as soon as possible, even if it’s some time after the incident has occurred. There is a time limit on any whiplash compensation claim, so it’s best to speak to a lawyer who will be able to guide the client through the whole procedure.
It’s difficult to predict the amounts of money that are awarded in whiplash claims, purely because each incident has its own unique circumstances. In the UK, legal professionals can be contacted by telephone or online, and are able to offer advice based on a sound knowledge of the processes involved, and will be able to ensure clients are looked after from start to finish.
Compensationclaims.net is here to help – contact us today and one of our specialists will help you begin your claim.
Treatment and recovery
The treatment that may be required by those who make a whiplash claim may involve more than just a visit to the local doctor. It could be that physiotherapy may be required, for example, and perhaps even some long-term recuperative care. The effects of a sudden trauma to the neck may be serious, and in the ensuing months and years may require some expensive specialist medical assistance.
Mounting a whiplash injury claim is simple when you engage the services of a legal professional. If you’re worried about the effects of the accident on your finances you can gain the reassurance you need that justice will be done. Every road user has a duty to others, and when that duty isn’t carried out, a painful neck injury could result.
