Whiplash compensation claims are regularly in the news. However, anyone reading these reports may have been put off from claiming for their whiplash injury, as these claims have been linked to a rise in the cost of insurance premiums and a ‘compensation culture’ in Britain. It does seem that reports are zoning in on those claims which maybe fraudulent, however, these news articles could make the most genuine victims of injury think twice about putting in their claims.
At Nelsons, we take whiplash claims as seriously as any other injury. We hear from many of our clients the pain whiplash has caused them and the effect this injury has had on their life. Below we have set out some details about whiplash.
Causes of Whiplash
At Nelsons, we see whiplash most commonly as a result of road traffic accidents. This is because the condition is caused by a sudden jolt to the head which causes the neck to move beyond its normal range of movement.
However, a person can suffer whiplash as a result of anything which can cause such a sharp jolt to the head and neck.
Symptoms
Whiplash is damage to the muscles and tendons in the neck, back, and shoulders area. This damage can cause the sufferer to have pain, tenderness and/or stiffness in the neck area resulting in reduced mobility of the neck.
In more serious cases, a sufferer may have pain radiating down the shoulders and/or into the back, pins and needles type sensations in the arms and severe, recurrent headaches.
Many sufferers can feel fine after an accident and so report no injury at the scene. It is usually that night or the following day that the above symptoms begin to become apparent, they can then increase in severity.
Whiplash Compensation Claims
As with all personal injury claims you need to prove that another person was responsible for your injury.
This means that you will need to get the negligent driver’s details. If there are witnesses to your accident, it may also useful to obtain their contact details, as they may be needed to support your claim later on down the line.
If the negligent driver has no insurance or leaves the scene, you should contact the Police and report the incident as soon as possible.
You should seek medical assistance for your injury. If you intend on claiming financial losses as a result of your injury, these could include prescription costs or travel expenses, keep any receipts as evidence of these costs.
How Nelsons Can Help
Julie Chislett is a Senior Litigation Assistant in our expert Personal Injury team specialising in whiplash compensation claims.
If you have any questions in relation to the topics discussed in this article, please contact Julie or another member of the team in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.