December 22, 2020

Can I Get Compensation for Whiplash After an Accident?

If you see a doctor after an accident and have medical bills, then you can get compensation for the injuries you’re diagnosed with, including whiplash. In fact, you can also get compensated for pain and suffering related to whiplash. However, if you’ve been diagnosed with whiplash, you should follow up with your doctors because your condition may get worse.

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s actions, contact Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. today. We have represented thousands of victims of personal injury accidents, and we will make sure you get what you deserve. Call us today at (312) 236-2900 or use our online contact form to reach out.

What Causes Whiplash?

Whiplash is caused when the neck violently moves back and forth. This often happens in a car crash, particularly rear-end wrecks. In these situations, the head is forcibly propelled backward into extension, and then it bounces forward again.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is an injury to your neck that is usually restricted to your muscles. However, in severe cases, whiplash can result in more serious traumatic brain injury and spinal injuries. Even in the most minor cases of whiplash, symptoms can last up to three months or longer. Some people experience pain and other symptoms for years after a whiplash diagnosis.

Some common symptoms of whiplash include:

Soreness in the neck
Tightness and inability to turn the head
Pain in the spine at the base of the neck
Memory problems
Sensitivity to light, sounds, or other sensory issues
Depression or anxiety
Mood swings
Irritability
Inability to concentrate
forgetfulness

How Much Money Can I Get for a Whiplash Claim?

You can get money for your past medical bills, future medical needs, physical therapy, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and any other losses. Additionally, you can get compensation for pain and suffering associated with whiplash. Since whiplash is a very painful injury, a significant portion of your compensation may be made up of noneconomic damages.

To understand what your claim is worth, you can start by adding together all of your economic damages, such as medical bills. You will likely have future medical bills to consider. We will consult with a medical expert to determine what type of medical treatment you will need in the future and an economic expert can let us know how much that will cost.

We will also get a statement from your employer about how much you’ve lost in wages and whether you can still complete the duties of your job. If you’re temporarily disabled due to the condition, we will total all of the wages that you lose. If you’re permanently unable to complete some of the duties you used to do at work, we will ask experts about the value of those losses.

For noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering, we will have to prove to the insurance company that your symptoms have significantly impacted your life. We might do this through testimony from you, your friends, your family, or with a pain journal.

Some insurance companies use a multiplier to determine how much they will offer in noneconomic damages. For example, if you have $50,000 worth of economic damages, they might multiply that by 2.5 and offer you $150,000 in noneconomic damages for a total settlement offer of $200,000. We will likely ask them for more than they offer.

Learn More About How Much Your Whiplash Claim Is Worth

Call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers today to learn more about your claim. Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you. Make sure you get what you deserve. Call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. at (312) 236-2900 or use our online contact form today.