Whiplash Injury Claims: What You Need to Know?

Whiplash is perhaps the most common car accident injury. Do not confuse common with minor. You may have suffered serious injuries in a whiplash accident that may never fully go away. If you have suffered this type of injury in a crash, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. First, you need to hire an experienced car accident lawyer to fight for your legal rights and to get you top dollar for your whiplash injuries.

Whiplash Is Common in Rear-End Car Accidents

Whiplash can happen anytime that there is a sudden and violent motion from a car accident. These injuries happen most often in rear-end crashes. Here, the force of the accident will cause your head and neck to suddenly and violently snap forward, while the rest of your body remains still. The jarring motion can result in various injuries that are associated with whiplash, such as:

• Head and neck injuries
• Herniated discs in your back
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Concussions

You may not necessarily associate whiplash with brain injuries. However, the violent motion of the accident could cause your brain to suddenly move within your skull. It can strike the base of your skull, causing serious damage.

Whiplash Injuries Can Develop in the Weeks After an Accident

When you have suffered a whiplash injury, the symptoms often do not materialize at the scene or even in the days afterward. You may begin to feel pain weeks after the accident, and it can grow progressively worse. You need to be vigilant for potential whiplash injuries because they can grow worse when they are untreated. As soon as you begin to realize any symptoms of the car accident, you must be proactive about seeking medical treatment. Not only can it make a difference in your health and your ability to recover, but it can also affect your legal claim.

Many Car Accident Victims Never Fully Recover from Whiplash Injuries

Whiplash can be a chronic injury that can affect you for the rest of your life. There are varying estimates on the number of whiplash injury victims that are permanently hurt. Some estimates have the percentage of victims who never fully recover as high as 40%. What is certain though, is that you would be subject to debilitating pain so long as you are dealing with your injury. You may need extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation to make the fullest recovery possible.

Your Whiplash Claim May Be Worth More Than You Realize

Insurance companies often underestimate the severity of whiplash claims. They try to rely on the perception that whiplash is a common injury and often dispute the amount of your claim. You often need to fight how seriously injured you really are to receive the full compensation. Whiplash claims could be worth far more than you think because of the severity of your injuries. Never take the insurance company’s word for the true value of your claim.

Whiplash Claims Are Not Always Easy

Whiplash injuries commonly result from rear-end car accidents. In these types of crashes, liability may not always be an issue because it is often assumed that the driver of the rear car would be at fault for the accident. However, the real battle is to ensure that you receive the exact amount of compensation for the damages that you have suffered. You may begin the claims process on a completely different page from the insurance company and need to fight to get every dollar you deserve.

Contact the Belleville Car Accident Lawyers at The Cates Law Firm Today for Help Getting the Compensation You Deserve for Your Whiplash Injury

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash, the Belleville car accident lawyers at The Cates Law Firm are here to help. You can schedule a free initial consultation with one of our car accident lawyers by calling us today at 618-277-3644 or by contacting us online. Our office is located in Swansea, Illinois, and we proudly serve clients in St. Louis, Belleville, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, Granite City, Waterloo, Chester, Carbondale, St. Clair County, Madison County, Monroe County, Randolph County, and other regions throughout Southern Illinois.