Whiplash and Proven Ways to Help Your Personal Injury Case

Whiplash is more serious than just a little temporary neck pain. Unfortunately, many people don’t take this type of injury seriously. The truth is, this severe jerking of the head back and then forward can cause a very problematic spine injury, and it can even be accompanied by a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Whiplash, itself, is typically viewed as a minor injury, but it is actually capable of causing long-term damage. After an accident occurs, drivers are always advised to seek medical attention, even if they are only feeling mild neck pain.

Symptoms of Whiplash Injuries

If a driver feels fine after an accident, they may opt to skip the doctor visit. This could be more of a gamble than they might think. Sometimes symptoms take at least a day to show up. Each individual’s body may respond differently to this kind of injury, so sometimes the symptoms will take even up to several days or even a couple weeks to appear. This is due to the body settling after the strong force of the accident.

Careful attention should be given to how your body is feeling in the days following the accident, and taking notes (written or recorded) can prove to be very worthwhile. Notes about symptoms, as well as details of the accident, will help your doctor during the examination. Furthermore, the notes can help greatly in your personal injury case, should you determine that legal action is necessary.

Coincidentally, some of the symptoms can be similar to what a person with TBI might also struggle with.

• Headaches
• Painful when moving head, or even inability to move head
• Jaw pain
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in ears
• Fatigue (yet may have difficulty sleeping)
• Weakness
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Numbness and tingling in upper extremities
• Problems spreading from head and neck down shoulders and into arms
• Irritability
• Problems with bladder/bowels

Additional symptoms such as struggles with cognition and sensitivity may also point to a TBI. For more information about what symptoms to look out for regarding a brain injury, you can read the article Misdiagnosis and Lack of Treatment Can Worsen Symptoms of TBI.

Success in a Whiplash Personal Injury Case

Although whiplash is a very real and potentially dangerous injury, it has a bad reputation in some circles due to fraudulent claims. Regardless, the actual damage of severe whiplash deserves compensation just like any other major injury, and because of this plenty of individuals are able to get the care they deserve if they are able to prove their case.

The good news is that these claims can often be resolved in a relatively short amount of time—three to six months. The following tips are just a few things that can help, but you will need to personally speak with your lawyer for more detailed advice regarding your specific case.

Some tips for to strengthen you legal claim are:

• Start your claim as soon as possible. The longer you wait the more it could hurt your claim. Timing is a major factor this type of case.
• Make sure you have reported your accident to all that should know. This includes your insurance provider, your work, and your doctor
• Take photos as soon as possible (preferably even before leaving the scene of the accident)
• Take detailed notes. If you can accompany the notes with video to show what you are dealing with (with decent lighting and sound), this can be helpful. When you make notes, make sure to try to write/record it for someone that might be skeptical of the validity of your injury.

Settlement Expectations

It is reasonable to expect $2,500 to $10,000, but if your condition is particularly severe and requiring long-term care, you could win much more in your case. Again, this is something you will need to discuss with your lawyer.

You should know that by hiring a lawyer for your personal injury claim, you significantly increase your chances to win the compensation you deserve. Medical costs and time away from work can not only harm you, but your dependents as well. If injuries are severe, the damage can remain an issue for the rest of your life. Don’t let your chance for compensation and justice pass you by. You can get things started right away by finding a qualified personal injury lawyer near you and contacting them now.