(ThyBlackMan.com) Let’s face it; this is the question everyone wants answered when they have suffered a whiplash injury. You want to know if you are going to be entitled to compensation and you want a realistic answer. After all, no one wants to waste their time and money on a solicitor only for their case to be unsuccessful. This post will help you to determine whether you should go ahead and make a claim for a whiplash injury or not. So, keep on reading to find out all you need to know…
There are three key factors that will give you a really great idea as to whether you are going to be able to make a successful claim. These are as follows…
- Did the accident happen within the last three years?
- Did you see a medical professional for the whiplash injury?
- Did the accident happen because of someone else’s error or negligence?
These three questions are extremely important. If you can answer ‘yes’ to all three you should definitely proceed with your claim with an injury lawyer. However, if you are not able to answer yes to those questions it is extremely unlikely that you are going to be able to get compensation and thus you would probably be wasting your time if you were to proceed.
Three mistakes that lead people to being unable to claim for their whiplash injury
Have you suffered a whiplash injury? Perhaps you were the victim in a road traffic accident? Maybe an unfortunate incident occurred at work that was not your fault? Whatever the scenario may be you could be entitled to compensation. Yet, make sure you do not damage your chances by making one of the following three common mistakes…
- Failing to see a doctor – This is one of the biggest mistakes people make if they have suffered a whiplash injury. This is because whiplash thankfully tends to be a minor injury. Therefore, a lot of individuals decided that they are going to cope with the injury themselves. Yet, if you do this you will not be able to claim. Why? Well there will be no proof of you even suffering an injury in the first place.
- Waiting too long to make a claim – Did you know that there is a three-year time limit on personal injury claims? There is no time to waste. Court proceedings must be issued in this three-year period. If you fail to meet the deadline you can kiss goodbye to your chances of getting compensation.
- Failing to keep proof of expenses – Last but not least, a lot of people do not get the full amount of compensation they are entitled to because they fail to keep receipts and proof of any expenses they have encountered. From prescription costs to travel expenses, you will be able to claim for these if they have occurred as a consequence of the whiplash injury you have experienced. But you will only be able to do so if you have kept proof!
Do I have to see a doctor if I have suffered a small whiplash injury?
So, you have suffered a whiplash injury, yet thankfully your injuries seem very minor. Perhaps you have a small headache and a little bit of discomfort, but you think you can cope with it yourself. So, there is no need for you to visit a doctor, right? Wrong! If you have suffered any type of whiplash injury it is imperative to go and see a medical professional, and here are the reasons why…
First and foremost, you need to see a doctor for medical reasons. Whiplash is an injury that can show itself in many different ways. There are lots of various symptoms people can experience. Thus, self-diagnosis does not come recommended. It is vital to go and see the doctor as quickly as possible so you can get the right treatment. You don’t want to run the risk of anything getting worse.
Aside from this, you also need to see a medical professional if you want any chance of making a successful personal injury claim. If you bypass this step you will have practically no chance of getting the money you deserve. Why? Well, how are you going to prove that you even sustained whiplash if there is no medical proof of it?
Neck damage as a result of a whiplash injury
A whiplash injury occurs when the head quickly jolts forward and then back. As a result, most people that have whiplash experience damage to their neck. This can range from something minor that will recover within a few weeks to something much more serious, such as permanent spastic quadriparesis.
Determining how much compensation you could be entitled to for the whiplash injury all depends on the severity of your injury. It is impossible to give you a precise figure without knowing the specifics of your case. However, by separating neck injuries into three main categories you should be able to have a much better idea of how much money you could be entitled to…
Severe
Severe injuries can give rise to disabilities. They include damage to the soft tissue that is so significant the disability is of a permanent nature. It also includes little or no movement in the neck, severe headaches on a permanent basis, permanent spastic quadriparesis, or incomplete paraplegia. If any of these apply to your whiplash injury you can expect anything from $16,400 to $97,500 when it comes to compensation.
Moderate
Next we have moderate injuries, which tend to result in a payout of anything from $5,150 to $9,000. This is where there is permanent or recurring pain, serious limitation and the possible need for surgery.
Minor
Last but not least we have minor injuries. A minor whiplash injury is one that could recover in a couple of weeks, months or at a maximum two years. In this instance the victim is likely to receive anything from $875 to $5,150.
Four reasons why people do not claim for a whiplash injury
Did you know that a huge number of people that have suffered a whiplash injury never actually claim? There are several reasons why this is the case. So, keep on reading to find out more…
- They run out of time – Many individuals do not realise that there are actually time restrictions in place when it comes to making a personal injury claim. In most instances you will have three years to make a claim and court proceedings will have to be issued within this time.
- Worry about losing their case – A lot of people do not make a claim because they are worried about the implications if the case was to be unsuccessful. They would have spent a significant degree of time and money on something to essentially get nothing in return. You don’t have to worry about this when using our no win no fee service.
- They fail to see a doctor – Luckily, a whiplash injury will more often than not be minor. However, because of this, a lot of people feel they do not need to see a doctor. If you do this then you will not be able to claim as there will be no proof of your injury.
- They do not have enough money to start a claim – Last but not least, the final reason why people do not make a personal injury claim is because they do not have enough money to do so. If you go down the traditional route you will face a lot of costs for consultations and such like. You don’t need any money to begin your claim if you use Accident Advice Helpline!
Staff Writer; Gary Fuller
