A whiplash injury is commonly experienced after a car crash or collision. If you’re planning to file a lawsuit against the negligent party, your goal is to get “fair value compensation” for the injury. To that end, you must have good medical records to document the duration and nature of the injury.

You must take legal steps to recover compensation from the negligent party. Although many whiplash claims settle before trial, your best chance at obtaining a settlement offer may result from filing a legal claim against the potentially liable party or parties. In order to accomplish this, you need an experienced personal injury attorney to file a claim and to negotiate a settlement.

You should consider the nature of your damages relating to the whiplash injury. This is an important factor to consider when filing a lawsuit or legal claim. You might not know the full extent of your injuries for days or weeks after the incident.

Suffering may be prolonged in a whiplash case. Although some insurance companies write off these lawsuits as “nuisance” claims, the whiplash injury may be quite serious and affect the ligaments and soft tissues of the neck. Because the cervical (neck) region’s function is key to your ability to move your head and neck in comfort, any damage or alteration may present potential complications for life.

Whiplash injuries may be challenging to document. Your doctor may find it difficult to capture injuries to soft tissue in an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI. This is one of the best reasons to engage an experienced personal injury attorney. He or she knows how to address all of the objections from the insurance company.

The duration of your pain can affect the value of your claim. Many whiplash injuries spontaneously resolve in about a week. Even more serious cases resolve within months.

Typical lingering symptoms of a whiplash injury include pain, numbness, stiffness, tingling, and limited range of motion. Other signs may present that something’s just not right.

In that case, you may have experienced something greater than a common whiplash injury. If your symptoms persist longer than three months, your cervical spine may have been damaged from the impact. (The cervical spine involves C1 to C7 vertebrae). Your spinal discs or intervertebral joints may have been damaged. In that case, the accident may have resulted in damage to your cervical ligaments and/or muscles, or that your neck’s nerve roots were injured.

Never ignore lingering neck injury symptoms. Go to the doctor or hospital if your symptoms aren’t resolving on their own. Take the time to obtain well-documented medical evidence, including doctor’s bills and medical records, for your injury if you want to satisfactory compensation for your case.

Because only a qualified attorney can advise you about the best way to pursue a legal claim related to your whiplash injury, take the time to identify an experienced personal injury lawyer. According to Avvo, trial verdicts and settlement values for a whiplash injury can differ. Many mild or moderate whiplash settlements are considered fairly valued at $2,500 to $10,000.

A more serious case that involves physical therapy for three months or longer may be valued at $30,000 or more. If you have sustained neck injuries that affect your vertebrae or cervical nerves, your case may be valued at $100,000 or more.

If you have been injured by a negligent party, contact our experienced California personal injury lawyers at The Paris Firm at phone number 909-551-4040 or via our convenient online contact form. Consult with our team to pursue and confirm your legal rights after a whiplash injury.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.