Whiplash is in an injury to the neck which has normally been caused by a sudden movement. That forceful and sudden movement caused damage to the tendons and ligaments within the neck, resulting in potentially severe pain and discomfort.
Whiplash normally takes 6-12 hours to develop and takes time to become evident. The symptoms suffered usually worsen after the incident and they may continue to get worse for several days or weeks. Whiplash is normally a short–lived condition, and it is uncommon that the symptoms would last longer than 6 months.
Chronic whiplash is often used as a term when whiplash is suffered for a period of 6 months or more; even spanning over years. Chronic whiplash can be a cause of severe pain and may require a course of painkillers or even physiotherapy.
Whiplash is caused by a sudden hit or jerk to neck, which is most commonly caused by car accidents.
The symptoms of whiplash are:
- Neck pain
- Stiffness and tenderness to neck
- Headaches
- Limited movement
- Muscle spasms
- Blurred vision
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
Whiplash is a common injury, and there is some 1500 whiplash claims made every day within the UK (source). Compensation is available for you if you have suffered whiplash and have been in accident that isn’t your fault. If another other persons negligence has been the cause of your personal injury, you should be able to claim.
The compensation available all depends on the type of whiplash you have suffered. It would be dependent on whether the injury is minor, moderate or severe and whether there is medical evidence to support your claim. Compensation for whiplash is not at all easy to assess and is always dependant on medical evidence and the individual circumstances of each case. In general, whiplash claims can bring £1,000 to £5,000 if the injury is classed as a minor whiplash.
Insurers commonly want to settle whiplash claims quickly and quietly, offering a much smaller settlement than entitled, causing you to make accept an under-settlement. They may approach you directly to do this.
Do not settle for less compensation than you are entitled to. At The Injury Lawyers we are experts in personal injury, and are more than willing to help you with your whiplash compensation claim today. Call us on our free helpline on 0800 634 75 75.
