Whiplash Claims

Whiplash injuries are one of the most common types of compensation claim, made by many thousands of people every year who are involved in car collisions/road accidents which are often no fault of their own. Where the injury has been caused by someone else, there are many firms out there willing to help you fight for the compensation you are entitled to. On top of a cash settlement, some insurance firms will pay out for the cost of private treatment, and physiotherapy sessions.

Many accident claims companies will offer free consultations, and the promise that none of any resulting payout will be eaten up by lawyers fees; in fact, when you win a compensation claim, the lawyers acting on your behalf actually get their fees from the other side, so it is a win-win situation for both parties.

Whiplash injuries used to be hard to diagnose, due to the fact that soft tissue could not be picked up by scans (MRI/CT) or x-rays, and as it is mainly tissue damage that occurs with whiplash injuries, rather than any bone defects, then it can be hard to determine the nature of the problem. Victims seeking compensation must make sure that they keep a record of all their appointments and visits to the hospital, as well as copies of their medical records where possible, to ensure that their claim cannot be questioned in court. Many insurers refuse to pay out due to the fact that whiplash injuries can be so difficult to prove, as it mainly depends on the doctors interpretation of the symptoms, accident conditions and of course the actual physical examination. Sufferers should also keep an up to date record of any problems which occur as a result of their injuries, such as missed days at work, and any psychological aspects, such as a fear of driving/getting into a car, caused by the accident. This will all help to determine not only the extent of the injury, but the compensation amount which should be attributed to the claimant.
As with most compensation claims, the individual who suffered the whiplash injury must be able to prove that another driver was at fault for the accident, whether that is the driver of the car they were travelling in, or another road user. This should not be left up to the lawyers in charge of your case, but rather the victim should help as much as possible themselves, in terms of gathering names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses, any relevant photographs - either of the injury or the scene of the accident. Obviously, any police involvement should be recorded as well.

The severity of the whiplash injury will determine the amount paid out to the victim, and this can be anything from 2000 and upwards. Some people recover quickly, whilst others can suffer whiplash symptoms for many months after the accident. Each claim is treated individually, so there is no way to guarantee how much, if anything will be recovered on your behalf.