Whiplash Compensation Claim - Take These Actions
Receiving a whiplash compensation claim is something that most people dread. It can be difficult to navigate the process on your own and you might not even know where to start.
To make your life easier, we’ve outlined some essential steps which will help you with the process of claiming whiplash compensation as well as what to do if you are unable to pursue it yourself.
We’ve also put together a list of useful resources for you so that there is no way in which you can escape this article without obtaining at least some valuable information about how to tackle these issues.
Let’s get started!
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is the colloquial name given to a soft tissue injury to the neck. It is caused by the sudden jolt of your body being thrown forward and back, from a collision or fall for example. It can also occur spontaneously during activities such as driving, swimming or horse riding but in these cases it is usually mild and not severe enough to result in insurance claims.
Whiplash usually manifests itself in a variety of ways including soreness and muscle spasms, headaches, difficulty moving your neck and even loss of feeling in your arms.
In severe cases, a whiplash injury may result in damage to your spinal cord and you may be left with permanent paralysis or even death.
How Do You Know It Is Happening?
Whiplash injuries are often experienced by people who have been involved in a motor vehicle collision. It is not uncommon for someone to suffer whiplash after being involved in a car accident.
Often, the symptoms of whiplash play out gradually over time so it’s easy to miss the fact that you have been injured as an effect of a collision until symptoms start becoming more severe. This can happen many months or years after the accident, sometimes even a lifetime later.
The symptoms of whiplash are difficult to confirm because they are not always immediately obvious. However, there are a few outward signs that can indicate you have sustained a whiplash injury. Some of these include the following:
Headaches - Also known as Tension Headaches, Headaches caused by whiplash are common and you may experience them one or more times during the first week after an accident. Occasionally, this type of headache may be severe enough to cause serious damage to your head and neck muscles.
Arm Pain - The pain in your arm may develop after a fall or collision and is most likely to affect the upper arm or shoulder. It builds up gradually and starts to feel worse if you try to move it, but it will often begin to improve as you leave the bed and take your usual activities. Your arm may also take on an unnatural position if the injury is severe.
Joint Pain - The pain usually starts in your neck and radiates quickly down through your shoulders, down one side of your back or into one of the arms. It is common for people who suffer whiplash injuries to experience pain not only in their neck but also in other joints such as their back, shoulders, hips and thigh.
Reduced Neck Mobility - Many people also find that they struggle to move their neck after being involved in a collision. The amount of movement you are able to achieve may vary depending on how severe the damage is. However, it is generally easier to move your neck when you are sitting or lying down.
Limited Range of Motion – If your range of motion is reduced, this could be an indication that you have sustained a whiplash injury. It can be difficult to tell how much range of motion you have until you try moving your head from side-to-side and up-and-down.
Loss of Sensation - In some cases, people who have suffered whiplash may experience loss of sensation in their arms, so they may not be sure whether they have been injured or not. This is especially true if you have sustained an injury to your neck.
Stiffness - If you’ve been involved in a collision, any movement from side-to-side will likely make your neck stiff and awkward. A stiff neck means it takes more effort for you to move it and there may be a loud clicking noise which can occur when making movements.
Limited Proportional Movements - A person with a neck injury commonly has trouble moving their head from side-to-side and up-and-down. Some have difficulty moving it at all, for example if the neck is stiff. Limited movement could be an indication that you’ve sustained whiplash.
Dizziness - Whiplash sufferers may feel dizzy the first few times they try to get up and walk around after a collision or fall. This only lasts temporarily until they fully recover, but it sometimes results in falling or tripping over things in the house.
Remember that whiplash can result in a wide range of symptoms as we mentioned before, so it is important to speak with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the above issues.
What Should You Do If You Suffer A Whiplash Injury?
If you have sustained a whiplash injury and are unable to pursue it on your own, the process to claim compensation falls under the legal category of Personal Injury Law. This means that you will need to satisfy criteria set by the government in order for personal injury compensation to be granted. In order to receive these benefits, there are certain steps which must be taken.
Firstly, you must follow the correct legal procedures by filling out an M1 compensation form or an S2 compensation form, depending on the type of injury you have sustained. Read this article on our blog which contains detailed information about how to complete a personal injury claim.
If you are unsure about the process, seek advice from a lawyer who specialises in personal injury law and can help you with your claim. There are many solicitors who offer services for whiplash claims and it is important that you choose wisely when hiring one to represent your case. Make sure that the solicitor you go with is on a panel approved by The Personal Injuries Board (PIB). You can find details of approved solicitors here .
If you have a whiplash injury, your solicitor will always begin the process by starting to gather the information they need to support your case. This will include finding medical reports, undertaking a car accident report and also conducting an assessment of your injuries. This means that your solicitor will then need to make multiple visits to hospitals, doctor's surgeries and other medical institutions for the purpose of collecting evidence. For this reason, it is important that you give close attention to any dates which are given by your lawyer as this is when they are most likely to be making a trip into town.
Conclusion
Whiplash injuries are a common occurrence, but you should know that you are not alone if you have been involved in an accident. If you have been involved in a collision and have suffered any of the symptoms mentioned above, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. You should also make sure that you obtain medical proof of your injury before taking action on your own. By doing this, it will help speed up the process of collecting evidence and put pressure on the insurance company to compensate you for your pain and suffering. .
The information contained within this website is general advice only.