what to do if whiplash should i get lawyer

by Dr. Tavares Yundt 3 min read

When choosing a personal injury attorney to handle your whiplash case, here are some things to consider: Ask friends and family for recommendations Look for an attorney who has experience and success handling cases like yours, and

If you're struggling with symptoms related to a whiplash injury we advise you to speak with a qualified car accident lawyer about your options for compensation. A lawyer will help protect your rights and give you honest advice as to whether you may be able to get compensation for your whiplash injuries.

Full Answer

Can a personal injury lawyer help with whiplash?

Mar 28, 2019 · The challenges of diagnosing or proving a whiplash injury should not discourage you from getting compensation with the help of a whiplash attorney. If you need to discuss your injuries or accident claim further, contact Sutliff & Stout at 713-987-7111 for a free case review with one of our attorneys. Return to top ↑ Whiplash Signs and Symptoms

How do you respond to a whiplash injury properly?

Dec 28, 2021 · In the meantime, your whiplash pain is getting worse and impacting your life. Whiplash can be difficult to prove for other reasons. As a soft tissue injury, it doesn’t generally show up on an X-ray or MRI. This kind of imaging should be done to check for bone fractures, and the insurance company might latch on to the lack of visible injury.

When should I go to the doctor for whiplash?

Sep 09, 2021 ¡ You should also get in contact with a qualified motor vehicle accident attorney. If you suffer from whiplash after a car accident, you should discuss financial compensation and your personal injury case. This payout will cover your physical injuries, damage to your vehicle, lost wages, and more.

Should I seek compensation for my Whiplash?

Nov 28, 2017 ¡ You should immediately hire an attorney with PI experience. Whiplash is actually a tearing of the muscle or connective tissue. You're not going to get reimbursed "fully' for the Chiro unless you hire an attorney in my experience and you mat need to see an Ortho specialist.

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What kind of settlement should I expect from whiplash?

Average whiplash settlement amounts may range from: $10,000 to $100,000 for minor neck and back injuries. $1 million to $5 million or more for life-altering whiplash injuries or permanent disability.Jan 9, 2021

How do you negotiate a whiplash settlement?

10 Tips to Negotiating Pain and Suffering:Manage Your Expectations for Compensation.Know What Counts as Pain and Suffering.Support Your Claim with Outside Factors.Tell a Vivid Story of Your Pain and Suffering.Describe Your Distress During Recovery.Link Evidence to Your Pain and Suffering.More items...•Nov 9, 2021

What is a reasonable settlement offer?

A successful outcome also includes “an offer of settlement which we recommend as acceptable and which, in our reasonable opinions, represents an appropriate conclusion or resolution of the matter”…the reason for this comes down to the repercussions which occur when a reasonable offer of settlement is rejected.

What should you not say to an insurance adjuster?

The top 5 things to not say to an insurance adjuster are admitting fault, saying that you are not hurt, describing your injuries, speculating about what happened, or saying anything on the record. Doing any of these things after a car accident can undermine your insurance and personal injury claim.Nov 23, 2021

What's the Average Payout For Each Grade of Whiplash?

Unlike many other car accident injuries, whiplash injuries are classified by grade of severity, with 0 being almost no injury at all and grade 3 be...

Can you get whiplash from a side impact crash?

Yes, you can get whiplash from a side impact crash or T-bone collision. Whiplash occurs when the victims head and neck is jolted rapidly in a quick...

Can whiplash be fatal?

Most whiplash injuries are what are considered to be soft tissue injuries. Most whiplash injuries suffered in car accidents are considered mild to...

How long after a car accident can you claim whiplash injury?

Whiplash is a common neck injury after a car accident. However, filing a claim for compensation for this injury can be problematic. Many insurance...

Can you get whiplash from being t boned?

Side impact car wrecks are commonly referred to as T-bone accidents. They often have a more severe effect on the body than a frontal or rear end co...

What happens if you don't treat whiplash?

A whiplash injury is a serious injury. The pain and limited motion of this serious neck injury can last weeks, months or years in the worst cases....

Will hiring an attorney to negotiate my whiplash settlement pay for itself? Does the (hopefully) inc...

There are some soft tissue injury accident cases where you may be able to represent yourself. If you have a minor soft tissue injury such as whipla...

Can I negotiate my whiplash settlement myself?

Some people can effectively handle their own minor car accident settlement without a lawyer. In a whiplash settlement claim where injuries and fina...

How long does whiplash last after the car crash?

Whiplash is a serious soft tissue neck injury that happens in a car accident. The head of the victim is suddenly thrown forwards and backwards. Man...

Can you get whiplash from a minor car accident?

Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs by the sudden forward and backward motion of the head. Most commonly, whiplash occurs in a car accident when...

What To Do After a Whiplash Injury

After you sustain a whiplash injury from an auto accident, there are important steps that you need to take to protect yourself. Without taking the proper steps, you put yourself at risk for long term medical problems. You will also find a harder path ahead of you with whiplash claims and whiplash settlements.

Whiplash Injury Causes

Whiplash most commonly occurs during rear end car accidents. It happens when a vehicle strikes your car, causing the body to jerk forward quickly. The head usually trails by a second, causing injuries to the muscles and soft tissue in the neck as it makes exaggerated movements due to the force of the crash.

How to Prevent Whiplash Injury in a Car Accident

It’s easy to forget how much power is harnessed by the modern automobile. As we run errands or sit in traffic, we rarely consider the sheer weight and force required to get us from one place or another. It’s not until we’re involved in an accident that we truly appreciate the physics at work.

The Physical Impact of Whiplash

Whiplash occurs when a person’s neck is jerked suddenly back and forth. The movement pulls the cervical spine beyond its usual range of motion, damaging the muscles and ligaments in the neck. Particularly common among victims of rear-end car accidents, whiplash can occur any time a person’s neck moves back and forward unexpectedly.

Reducing the Risks of Whiplash Injury

Understanding the physics at work in a car crash scenario can help accident victims minimize the effects of whiplash. Because whiplash occurs when the head is jerked back and forth, having the headrest properly adjusted can reduce the severity of such movements in a collision. A headrest should sit directly behind your head while driving.

Evolving Technology and Whiplash

Modern cars are designed to absorb as much energy as possible in crash situations. Rather than pass the energy on to the passengers, vehicles offset collisions by using crumple zones to bear the impact of the crash. Air bags, seat belts and side impact protection go a long way to prevent the force of the wreck from harming passengers inside.

The Importance of Aftercare

Even when you take precautions to prevent whiplash, accidents happen. Controlling for damage sometimes isn’t enough. If you have been involved in a car crash and feel the telltale signs of whiplash, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Brian Christopher Hargrove

BOTTOM LINE: YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HIRE A LAWYER, not just "a lawyer", you need an experienced personal injury lawyer.#N#1. Auto accident injury claims are not a “do it yourself project”. Hiring the right car wreck lawyer may be the most important move a car wreck victim can make to get...

Nicholas Charles McGowan

The attorneys in this forum will always try to give you the best information possible given the facts that are outlaid.

Shane Michael Boasberg

You should immediately hire an attorney with PI experience. Whiplash is actually a tearing of the muscle or connective tissue. You're not going to get reimbursed "fully' for the Chiro unless you hire an attorney in my experience and you mat need to see an Ortho specialist.

John Gus Zgourides

If you hire a good personal injury lawyer, you will likely put more money in your pocket.

Timothy D. Raub

If I only got you $750 OVER your medical then I need to find a new line of work. You will always get more with a lawyer.

How Long Does It Take Whiplash to Show Up After an Accident?

It depends, but you probably won’t notice it right away. In fact, most people don’t realize they even have whiplash, so they wait to get treatment until they start experiencing serious back or neck pain.

Should I Seek Legal Help Regarding Whiplash After an Accident?

Whiplash is a complicated injury that can range from mild to severe. If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt, you might want to consider taking legal action against the at-fault motorist who caused your car crash.

What to do if you have whiplash after a car accident?

If you've got whiplash-type injuries after a car accident, but the insurance company's injury settlement offer is too low, make sure you call attention to or accentuate the aspects of your claim that show you're entitled to more compensation for your injuries. If you haven't done so already, it's a good idea to make these points (and others) in a detailed car accident injury demand letter that you'll send to the insurer.

How to tell if you have whiplash?

The main symptoms of whiplash-type injuries include: 1 neck or upper back pain or stiffness 2 shoulder pain or stiffness 3 headache 4 dizziness, and 5 a burning or itching sensation in the neck, shoulders, or arms.

What is a whiplash?

What Is "Whiplash"? First, it helps to understand what we're talking about when we use the term "whiplash," which has for decades now been steadily falling out of favor in both the medical and legal realms, especially when it comes to car accident injuries. In a car accident, when muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck are suddenly ...

What is it called when your neck hurts?

The resulting neck sprains and neck strains can result in a "soft tissue injury" that is sometimes called "hyperflexion" or "hyperextension," more commonly known as "whiplash" (at least historically). The main symptoms of whiplash- type injuries include: a burning or itching sensation in the neck, shoulders, or arms.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

The main symptoms of whiplash-type injuries include: neck or upper back pain or stiffness. shoulder pain or stiffness. headache. dizziness, and. a burning or itching sensation in the neck, shoulders, or arms. More severe whiplash-type injuries might be accompanied by memory loss, difficulty in concentration, sleep disturbances, or fatigue.

What happens when you hit your neck in a car accident?

In a car accident, when muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck are suddenly and powerfully contracted -- due to the unexpected force of even a seemingly minor collision -- this connective tissue can stretch unusually far . The resulting neck sprains and neck strains can result in a "soft tissue injury" that is sometimes called "hyperflexion" ...

Is the multiplier accurate?

But the multiplier concept is accurate only up to a point. If your case went to trial, the jury would not use a multiplier. In reality, there are so many other factors that increase or decrease a damages award at trial that it probably doesn't make sense to rely too much on the multiplier concept.

How long does it take for whiplash to heal?

However, you can expect defense lawyers to claim that most people who suffer whiplash injuries are completely healed within four to six weeks. The accident did not cause your injuries. The defendant may claim that your injuries were ...

How does whiplash affect your life?

After a whiplash injury, you may experience a constellation of symptoms that can have a direct impact on your daily life. Stiffness in your neck can make it difficult to turn your head, limiting your ability to drive safely. Headaches can affect your cognitive abilities, directly affecting your ability to work.

Can whiplash be severe?

Yes. Whiplash can occur on a spectrum from mild to severe. Severe cases often have higher settlements since victims experience more injury-related losses. A mild whiplash injury can heal within a few months, while severe whiplash can leave you with chronic pain and long-term impairment.

Does physiotherapy help with pain?

Physiotherapy will help to monitor pain levels and ensure that the condition is treated appropriately.

Does whiplash disappear?

Although whiplash can simply ‘disappear’ of its own volition, it needs to be properly checked out and appropriate treatments undertaken to ensure that it will disappear and not linger, you also need to ascertain if there has been any other ‘hidden’ injuries sustained, which is why a medical diagnosis is so important !

Is whiplash life threatening?

This is not because whiplash is life threatening or because serious damage will be done if you do not seek help. Establishing that you do indeed have whiplash can ensure that any other more serious conditions, such as having a fracture etc can be ruled out. So ensure that you do have whiplash and not something more serious!

Can whiplash show up on MRI?

So ensure that you do have whiplash and not something more serious! A diagnosis is usually made by a doctor or pain specialist. The difficulty with diagnosing whiplash is that it does not really show up on an X-ray, CT scan or an MRI scan. The diagnosis is usually made by asking the patient how they feel and then proceeding from there.

Is it important to treat whiplash?

But there are some myths that exist about whiplash and what the best treatments are, so if you suspect that you have whiplash, it is important that you treat it properly and ensure that you alleviate the condition.

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