Can I Receive Compensation For A Whiplash Injury?

Hundreds of car accident victims suffer whiplash injuries every day. If it happens to you, you are entitled to compensation. A whiplash injury can be debilitating for a long period of time, disrupting ordinary life.

What Types of Compensation Can I Recover in a Whiplash Claim?

The types of compensation available to whiplash injury victims will likely include:

• Current and future medical bills related to the injury
• Current and future lost wages if the victim is unable to work
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Any other out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury

How Much Compensation can I Receive for a Whiplash Injury?

There are many factors taken into account when whiplash compensation is being calculated. The severity of the injury, your financial losses, and how the injury has impacted your way of life will influence your claims’ value.

The majority of whiplash injuries are classified as minor, with an average recovery time of around 4-5 weeks. Ninety percent of people fully recover within three months. For these cases, the approximate range of compensation is between $2,500 and $10,000. Most of the other 10 percent or so of cases, where there is permanent or recurring pain that lasts for years, the amount may escalate to around $30,000.

At the other end of the scale, a small minority of car accident victims suffers permanent cervical spine damage. This type of whiplash injury can result in chronic pain, headaches, and a variety of other symptoms. For these cases, there may be a six-figure settlement or more.

What are the Symptoms of Whiplash?

Whiplash neck injuries occur when the impact of a car accident causes the head to violently and abruptly be thrown backward and then forward. Symptoms can include:

• Stiffness in the neck – soreness and difficulty moving the neck, especially when trying to turn the head to the side.
• Blurred vision – a lack of sharpness of vision resulting in the inability to see fine details.
• Headaches – a tightening around the head and neck, followed by aches.
• Lower back pain – any pain between the bottom of your rib cage down to the top of your legs.
• Dizziness – a sensation of spinning and losing one’s balance.
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Sleep disturbances
• Irritability
• Tingling or numbness in the arms
• Difficulty concentrating

Rear-end car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash.

Do I Need a Lawyer for My Whiplash Injury Claim?

Insurance companies will typically offer an amount of compensation for a whiplash injury that is a fraction of how much you may legally be entitled to claim. Speaking to a car accident lawyer before accepting any type of settlement offer will protect you from recovering less than what you’ll need for the injury’s impact on your life. Although whiplash injuries typically heal, they leave victims in pain with reduced mobility, and a decreased overall quality of life. As a result, they may require ongoing medical care and may also miss days, weeks, or even months of work. Most Houston car accident lawyers offer free consultations to discuss your case and learn its value.