Whiplash Injury Compensation
What is a whiplash injury?
Whiplash is best described as a straining or stretching injury, sustained to the spine from a sharp or sudden jerking motion.
Commons causes of whiplash injury
This type of personal injury can be caused by various different scenarios including:
- road traffic accidents
- roller coasters, and
- contact sports
Road Traffic Accidents
A road traffic accident where a vehicle has been hit in the rear can result in a typical whiplash injury, caused by the sudden deceleration of the vehicle which leads to the occupant/s suffering a first backwards then forwards motion of the head, causing strain and stretching to the neck muscles.
Similarly, although not as well known is that whiplash trauma can be caused in a road accident wherever the vehicle is hit, because even a sideways motion can cause occupant movement and a resulting strain on the neck and/or back.
Simpson Millar LLP have a dedicated team of solicitors who are well rehearsed in the road traffic accident claims process, and can give you advice and assistance on claiming whiplash injury compensation. We have dealt with claims ranging from a £1000 award for a 4 week injury to a £500,000 award for serious and life-affecting injuries and associated losses, and everything in between.
Our 12 year old client was a passenger in a vehicle when she was injured in a road traffic accident. A third party vehicle collided with their stationary car causing whiplash injuries. We recovered £4,250 compensation for her.
Roller Coasters/Contact Sports
The same sort of trauma can be caused whenever a sharp or sudden movement is felt, hence the occurrence on roller coasters where the occupant is subject to fast movement on a track, or diving where the body is subject to the pressure of water, and other sports such as martial arts and rugby.
Whiplash injury symptoms
Typical symptoms of whiplash are aches and pains in the head and neck, which can radiate to the shoulders and down the back. The nature of whiplash is that is has a slow presentation in most cases, therefore symptoms will usually be worse in the 24-48 hours after rather than immediately after an incident.
- Pain and stiffness after long periods of non-movement are common, such as upon waking in the morning
- Raising the head and/or arms will cause discomfort and it is unlikely that you will be able to undertake any heavy lifting or manual work for a period of time.
Our client was involved in a road accident. He was traveling behind a vehicle that slowed down and stopped as did the Claimant. The vehicle directly behind our client was shunted into our client's vehicle which caused him to hit the vehicle in front. He suffered injuries which resulted in lower back pain, stiffness and discomfort and a whiplash injury to his neck. We recovered £2,545.42 compensation for our client.
Whiplash injury treatment
Sufferers of this type of personal injury are advised by medical practitioners to continue movement to a usual degree if possible whilst taking care with any heavy duties, because avoiding movement will cause an increase in immobility as the muscle cramp and stiffen.
Whiplash can be treated with painkillers and anti-inflammatories which help to reduce swelling. Additionally ice packs or heat packs may prove of assistance.
In more extreme cases where whiplash does not resolve naturally or with the above treatment within a reasonable time, manipulation such as physiotherapy treatment can help. Physiotherapy is not effective in all cases and some patients may find that they are more suited to chiropractic or osteopathic treatment, the difference mainly being that:
- Chiropractic treatment is usually focussed on the neck, shoulders and back and involves significant manipulation
- Osteopathic treatment comprises more of a whole body manipulation which tends to be more gentle
Why make a claim for whiplash injury compenastion?
The so-called "compensation culture" has produced a great deal of negative feeling about whiplash injuries, however, it cannot be disputed that whiplash does occur in 99.9% of accidents. The vast majority of you enter the legal process in an apprehensive and tentative manner, and it is central to our role as a solicitor to reassure you that your claim is a valid one, and that you are justified in pursuing damages.
£250 cash upfront for your whiplash injury
Simpson Millar LLP Solicitors run a scheme entitled "Cut out the middleman" which means if we agree to take on your personal injury claim we will pay you £250 cash within 7 days of agreeing to act for you on a "no win no fee" basis. Find out more about the scheme here.
Make sure you quote "Cut out the middleman" when calling us or use "Website250" in the promo field of our no-obligation online enquiry form.
Make a whiplash injury compensation enquiry
If you have been in an accident and think you may have suffered a whiplash injury, even if your suffering did not continue for a long period of time, you are still entitled to make a compensation claim. Compensation is not just about getting money which you are entitled to, but also about putting you back in the position you were in before an accident, and feeling like you have been given something in return for the suffering and inconvenience you have sustained.
Our whiplash injury team provide a comprehensive and flexible service to all. If you would like some guidance or advice on making a compensation claim please do not hesitate to contact us on freephone: 0808 129 3320 or complete our no-obligation online enquiry form and we will get in touch with you.
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