If you find yourself in a car accident, there is a high possibility that you may obtain a whiplash injury.
Whiplash injury is a non-medical term for an injury arising within the neck region typically as a result of a sudden forward and backward movement or ‘jerk’ of the neck. The severity can differ greatly from instant neck pain to neck pain that may develop weeks or months after the car accident. Regardless of the severity, a whiplash injury can be serious and can have a devastating impact on your life.
Many people believe you cannot or should not claim compensation for a whiplash injury due to it being perceived as a minor injury. Although this may be true in some cases, many can develop into more chronic neck injuries which can be debilitating. A warning sign that you may have obtained a whiplash injury and may need to bring a whiplash injury claim, is experiencing aching or pain in the neck and or upper back. You may also be experiencing headaches and or pins and needles. These symptoms can also spread to the shoulders, upper and lower back, arms and legs.
As such, it is typical that clients who have sustained a whiplash injury develop shoulder and or back injuries which are inextricably linked. You may then find yourself having to bring a whiplash and back injury compensation claim for example.
No matter the level of injury and pain sustained in a whiplash injury, or any other body part for that matter, we always suggest injured people contact a specialist personal injury, motor vehicle compensation or car accident lawyer to have your claim assessed. Never assume you are not entitled to be compensated, no matter how minor you think your injury may be.
Can I claim for whiplash injury compensation sustained in a car accident?
Yes, you can certainly claim compensation for an injury resulting from a car accident, however, there are a few restrictions and timeframes that can limit your ability to do so. If you suffer from whiplash in an accident you should look to the help of a personal injury compensation lawyer to get the best advice on your individual situation.
You may not realise you have a whiplash injury immediately after a car accident. Often, people are in differing levels of shock, which can mask any pain or discomfort. More symptoms can also develop weeks or months after the car accident. Whether your symptoms were masked by shock or developed later, you may still need to pursue a whiplash injury compensation claim.
Another thing to be aware of when claiming for injury is that it needs to be made as soon as possible. Injury claims need to be completed within 3 years of the accident. Typically claims that fall outside this three year period are a lot harder to see results but our team here at Main Lawyers will give you the best chance of having a successful claim.
What are the compensation amounts that can be claimed?
Compensation can vary depending on the injury and whether it is severe, moderate or minor. At Main lawyers we have delt with many different circumstances and understand how best to handle your claim.
Our Personal Injury Compensation Calculator is the best way to get an idea of what you may be eligible to claim. Alternatively, you can get in touch with one of our specialist lawyers to see how much you could claim
How do I make a car accident whiplash injury compensation claim?
There are a number of steps you need to take after you’ve suffered from a whiplash injury in a car accident.
First, you’ll need to complete a police report on the car accident and this is the same for all parties involved in the accident. If you are unaware someone was injured during the incident you may be required to fill out the police report at a later time. More info about the police report procedure can be found via the Queensland Police for how to report an accident to police.
Secondly, your doctor or GP must be notified about the accident plus any injuries sustained from it. This is important as you will require proof that the injury occurred in that specific incident and also that an injury is legitimately there. They can then provide you with a medical certification for the accident.
Lastly getting in touch with an expert lawyer is the most important step as the claims process can be difficult without their help. A Notice of Accident Claim will be filed (for non-fatal injuries) in order to get the claim started. This can be done by anyone however without the professional help of a lawyer it will make it a lot harder to get a successful claim.
The team at Main Lawyers are here to help you with any claim you may have resulting from whiplash or other injuries from a car crash. Get in touch today and get your claims process started.