It’s not easy to prove most whiplash injuries, but you can increase your odds for compensation if you know the following. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that whiplash injuries are the most common types of injuries in car accidents. That is especially true in rear-end collisions. These are painful injuries, but they’re hard to prove since they tend to be soft tissue injuries.
You should do the following after suffering from a whiplash injury. Doing so will increase your odds of getting a bigger settlement:
• See a doctor ASAP
• Get the evidence needed to support your claim
• Hire an attorney if the defendant’s insurance company is trying to take you for a ride.
Whiplash Injuries
You sustain a whiplash injury in a car accident when your head is violently jerked back and forth, often many times. If these movements are strong enough, they can and often do result in damaged muscles, tendons, and discs, especially in your neck. Most people sustain whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. But you can get a whiplash from falling down or from violence. The most common whiplash symptoms:
• Neck, shoulder, arm, or hand pain
• Pain in the lower back
• Stiff necks
• Dizziness or headaches
• Inability to move the neck as much
• Numb or tingling sensations in the hands and arms
• Blurry vision
• Insomnia
• Ringing in the ears
Most whiplash injury cases only need Tylenol and some rest to heal. However, you may need codeine or antidepressants if your injuries are severe enough. Your doctor may even prescribe physical therapy or a neck brace.
How You Can Support Your Whiplash Claim
See a doctor immediately if you think you have suffered from a whiplash injury. It can take months for a whiplash injury to show, for many reasons. If you see a doctor right away, he or she will be able to treat you better and help you make a full recovery faster.
You’ll also have the evidence you need to file a claim with the other party’s insurance company and win a big settlement. You also need to follow whatever your doctor tells you to do. If that means going for physical therapy sessions, you should do that.
Filing an Insurance Claim for Whiplash Injuries
You’ll probably file the insurance claim with your own insurance company if you live in a no-fault state. If you don’t live in a no-fault state, or are uninsured, you’ll be filing a claim with the defendant’s insurance company.
Remember that you have to file a claim. Doing so maximizes your chances of winning a settlement since it tells the insurance adjuster that your claim was legitimate. It would also be wise for you to hire a personal injury lawyer in Highland to help you navigate through the complex maze of personal injury law and help you get the settlement that you want.