Whiplash is a common injury that people experience after a car accident, especially if they’ve been rear-ended by another driver. Whiplash injuries are typically caused by a sudden back-and-forth movement of the head and neck. The rapid acceleration-deceleration force associated with car accidents can easily cause this sort of unrestrained “whipping” of the head.
As you may likely recall from television shows, personal injury claims for whiplash have a reputation of involving dishonest lawyers and clients with neck braces who are simply faking the severity of their injury. This reputation may cause an insurance adjuster to look at whiplash cases with suspicion. In reality, this type of injury can be very disruptive and painful.
Because the injuries associated with whiplash are difficult to prove or aren’t immediately apparent, it’s important to hire a personal injury lawyer following your car accident so you can receive the compensation you deserve. Keep reading for more information regarding personal injury lawsuits for whiplash.
Whiplash Symptoms and Treatment
If you feel even the slightest amount of discomfort or pain following a car accident, you should seek medical treatment immediately. Whiplash symptoms are not always instantly apparent, but a physician will be able to look for signs of your collision. Some symptoms include neck and shoulder pain and stiffness, headaches, dizziness, weakness and more.
Because soft tissue injuries like whiplash are difficult to prove (it won’t typically show up on x-rays or other tests) and the symptoms might not show up for several days, seeking medical attention and treatment is vital for your case. Depending on the extent of your accident, a whiplash injury can cause serious long-term complications and pain. A doctor can help give you the resources and treatment you need to reduce the risk of lifelong symptoms.
The Whiplash Personal Injury Claim Process
It’s important to file a claim for your whiplash injury very soon after your accident. In Maine, this entails sending the at-fault driver’s insurance company a notification, in writing, of your injuries and your intent to file a claim. The sooner you can get the claim process started, the sooner you can be reimbursed for your medical expenses.
Speaking of, you’ll want to document all the expenses associated with your treatment and rehabilitation. These expenses may be the result of lost wages, medical bills, health insurance co-pays, prescriptions, etc. The insurance carrier you’re filing a claim against will need evidence of the money you’ve spent if you want to be reimbursed for it.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Let’s say the insurance adjuster denies your claim or the person who hit you doesn’t have insurance. Filing a personal injury lawsuit after your car accident may be the only way to collect compensation for your damages.
A Maine personal injury lawyer can help determine if your claim or lawsuit is actually viable. Victims of whiplash are often unprepared to handle claim settlement negotiations or personal injury lawsuits on their own.
Contact our attorneys at 207-775-3819 or fill out our free case review form to improve your chances of a successful personal injury lawsuit. We will fight for you following your car accident so you can move on with life as usual.
