Whiplash

Whiplash is a commonly used word to describe whole range of symptoms associated with soft tissue neck injury.

Typically, whiplash is caused by involvement in a car accident in which the head is made to jolt violently. Whiplash can be suffered even at a low-speed, particularly common are neck injuries to passengers in cars hit from behind. It does not matter whether you were a driver, passenger or even pedestrian.

If you were involved in an accident that was not caused by you and you suffer from one of the whiplash symptoms you may be entitled to bring a claim and get compensation for the injury suffered. Contrary to common belief it does not take years to bring a claim nor is it complicated or expensive.

What is whiplash ?

Whiplash is a non-medical term used to describe a soft tissue injury to the neck.

Whiplash is usually associated with feeling of neck pain for days, months or in the most severe cases years. According to medical experts majority of whiplash victims recover from the injury within a few months but even those that have recovered may from time to time experience some pain. For the sake of your health and ability to enjoy your life and be able to perform your professional duties it is vital that you obtain good medical care. Should you not receive adequate treatment from the NHS you should ensure that you recover all of your private medical treatment costs from the party that caused the accident.

Some of the most common syndromes of whiplash include:

• Headaches;
• Blurred vision and the feeling of dizziness;
• Pain while swallowing;
• Neck muscle spasms;
• Pain in the shoulders, arms or between the shoulder blades;
• Fatigue.

Aside from physical symptoms victims may also encounter:

• Sleep difficulties;
• Poor concentration or memory;
• Depression.

What compensation can I expect?

Your ultimate compensation level will depend on your circumstances. The Judicial Studies Board Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases sets different brackets dependent on recovery times.

• If you fully recover within 12 months you will be entitled to compensation of between £1,000 and £2,500.
• If the full recovery takes 24 months you should be able to obtain from £2,500 to £4,250.
• If the recovery is slow and takes more than 24 months the compensation level will be in the region of £4,250 to £7,750.
• If as a result of whiplash you will be left with permanent and ongoing symptoms the compensation that you may be entitled to will be in the region of between £7,750 and £16,000.

As you can see the compensation levels are quite wide and what you get will very much depend on your solicitor and evidence available to support your claim.