Whiplash injuries: What are they?

Whiplash injuries occur due to car collisions. When two vehicles collide or when a car is brought to a sudden halt, the body of the victim moves forward while the head is thrown backwards, which leads to hyperextension. It can then cause the neck to move forward in a way that the chin touches the chest, which causes the neck joint to over bend. This is known as hyperflexion. Hyperflexion and hyperextension processes takes place in 1/10^th of a second. After the completion of 1/10^th second the head reverts back to the original position of the neck. During an accident the collision of the striking car decelerates while the struck car accelerates; this generates a lot of energy, which is transferred in the body of the victim/occupant. This energy creates the fast movement of the neck which leads to a whiplash injury. The joints, ligaments and neck muscles bear the brunt of the whiplash and causes soft-tissue damage.

What are the symptoms of whiplash injuries?

The most common symptoms of whiplash injuries are neck pain, back pain and headaches. Victims of whiplash also complain of heaviness, tingling and dizziness.

Can whiplash injuries be claimed?

Yes, they can be claimed. If the negligence of someone else caused your injury, you should claim. Various studies have shown that about 60% of whiplash victims are relieved from pain in about three months whereas most of the people get completely cured within three years of their accident. Only about 4% of patients continue to suffer for a really long time. But whatever be the curing period, suffering and distress are felt by every victim; for these compensation can be claimed.

How to claim?

Appoint a solicitor for this purpose. A solicitor will provide you with expert advice and will guide you about how to get on with the case.

What is the amount of compensation?

The amount of compensation can be said to be directly proportional to the expertise of the solicitor. Only a solicitor can help you get maximum compensation. The compensation amount also depends on the degree of the victim’s suffering.

How does the solicitor charge me?

Solicitors work under the no win no fee agreement, therefore, solicitors never charge you any fees. The person or organisation against whom you are claiming pays the solicitors fees but only if he wins the case.

Will I get 100% compensation?

Yes, you always get the total amount of the compensation. The solicitor or its firm will never deduct a penny from your compensation.

What will be my contribution to the case?

You need to explain your solicitor everything that happened on the day of the injury. All that you can remember before and after the accident should be discussed with the solicitor. If you have noticed any peculiarity in the road where the accident took place or any other facts that you are aware of should also be mentioned. After that you can relax and let your solicitor furnish the evidence.

Whiplash injuries are suffered by many in U.K. It’s a shame if victims keep quite and do not claim compensation.

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A Whiplash Injury Claim Is ‘NO BIG DEAL’… Or Is It?

Are you aware of how important your compensation for a whiplash injury can be? Too often, a whiplash injury claim is overlooked or is under-compensated. It is often considered minor, but is it really? After all, you’ve suffered an accident, been injured even if the injury is ‘just’ whiplash.

Do you realise what a whiplash injury is?

A whiplash typically causes injury to your neck. Do you think a neck injury is minor?

Plenty of accident claim solicitors will try to tell you a whiplash injury won’t bring much accident compensation, if any. Do you believe them? If you do, it’s because you don’t understand the long-term consequences of the injury. If you’ve been in an accident and suffered, you’d better start to understand how serious a neck injury can be. Overlook the importance of a whiplash accident claim, and you could be in for a very unhappy life.

15 Years Of Hell

Here’s a story that will get you thinking twice about the importance of a whiplash neck injury claim.

It was a simple matter. A car accident. She was a passenger in her husband’s car. Someone stopped suddenly in front of him, and he rear-ended them. The accident was technically his fault, because he should have left more space between his car and the one in front. But the man’s wife was not at fault. She was just a passenger, an accident victim.

The driver of the car he rear-ended apparently didn’t have appropriate accident insurance, so he left the accident scene quickly, before the police arrived. The car wasn’t going very fast at impact. It was rush-hour traffic. Even so, the car engine was damaged by the accident impact, so that was the end of the car. But no accident injuries to the passenger or her husband, the driver.

Or so they thought…

The day after the accident, both husband and wife awoke with stiff backs and some pain extending from the neck all the way down the length of the spine. Accident insurance paid for a visit to the doctor, where they were diagnosed with ‘whiplash’.

Whiplash, Yeah… Whatever!

Here’s where the story gets bad. The doctor said whiplash was a minor injury and they’d recover; end of story.

But it wasn’t…

Two years later, the woman developed a problem with her wrist. It was almost as if her wrist was injured, but she’d done nothing to cause an injury. Gradually she realized the problem involved her shoulder as well. She developed occasional numbness from neck to hand, for no apparent reason.

The whiplash accident long forgotten, she tried to think of an immediate cause of injury and could not find one. She went on with her life, unaware that the numbness from neck to hand had anything to do with the injury two years earlier.

As time went on, she developed more problems various types of health issues that seemed to have no apparent cause. She still didn’t think to tie any of these problems in with the car accident from years before, and the whiplash injury the doctor said was ‘No big deal.’

Dealing With The Pain

Finally, on top of all her health problems that no one could diagnose, she developed severe neck pain and numbness in her head. It was worse every time she tried to drive. Even though her back and neck felt painful as she sat behind the steering wheel the same way she felt after her whiplash injury she didn’t once think about the accident that caused the injury. After all, she believed it when her doctor said the whiplash injury was minor, of no consequence.

But there were consequences, serious health consequences. Increasing disability. Trouble staying focused at her job, because of the constant numbness from neck to hand. Pain in her neck and shoulders every time she tired to use the computer or tried to drive. She was afraid half the time of getting into another accident because of the numbness, afraid her neck problems would cause a blackout as she sat behind the steering wheel.

The Relief

When she was finally unable to drive even down the street with the pain in her neck, she finally went to see a new doctor. He asked her, ‘Have you ever been in a car accident?’

She thought about it and remembered: ‘Yes. Fifteen years ago.’

‘What happened?’ the doctor asked.

She shrugged. ‘It wasn’t a big deal. I suffered a whiplash injury.’

The doctors eyes widened.

What do you mean it wasn’t a big deal? Don’t you realise the injury you suffered fifteen years ago is causing all of your problems today?

This is a sad story, because this woman never thought of a whiplash compensation claim. That injury caused one problem after another that severely impacted her ability to work and her quality of life. The impact of the whiplash injury continued over many years, and the problems intensified. All because of an accident that caused whiplash.

Living With The Consequences

Over the long term, this woman was disabled by her injury. Is that really no big deal, as the doctor who examined her after the accident claimed? Shouldn’t she have claimed accident compensation for her neck injury, looking ahead to see that she might suffer long-term consequences?

A whiplash injury is NOT minor!

Its an injury to the neck, which is a critical part of the body. Its through the neck that all neural messages and nutrient-giving blood cells travel to and from the brain and the rest of the body. It can have a severe long-term impact and its not necessarily apparent right away.

Your Decision

This doesn’t mean all whiplash injuries will have severe long-term consequences. But how will you know what compensation you might be entitled to unless you consult with a competent professional an accident claim solicitor who has seen the consequences of neck injury and knows whether or not you have a valid accident claim?

A claim solicitor who can direct you to take the right steps to handle your injury claim efficiently and fairly.

If you’ve suffered a whiplash neck injury, don’t just write it off as ‘no big deal.’ It might be a bigger deal than you think. Investigate your whiplash accident claim options. Because if the day comes when your injury causes long-term problems, and you can no longer hold a job as a result of your accident years earlier, you will not want to be without the compensation you were entitled to.

It’s easy to make an whiplash injury claim, if you ask! The 12 ‘Revolutions’ were created to put all your compensation in your pocket. Learn more at http://www.100percent-compensation.co.uk

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Severity Of Injuries Decides Damages For Whiplash

Everyday thousands of injured people claim millions of dollars as damages for whiplash for all types of injury, from minor whiplash injury to injuries of the most extreme severity. The term whiplash is usually used to describe only rear end collisions, often where a car is not in mobility ie, at rest and another car which is moving collides with the stationery one into the rear part of it. Whiplash is the soft tissue injury to the neck when somebody is involved in a car accident and pain starts within minutes. The injury and treatment can last for a few days or in more severe cases a number of days or even number of years.

Long term injuries caused during whiplash damages are only a small number with most people getting a full relief. The most important thing is that to see and make sure that the person is treated by a doctor as early as possible. The causes may be many reasons. One is the neck rest position and the wearing of seat belt. The neck is thrown forward when tied with the seat belt. While some whiplash accidents result in minor injuries and damage to vehicles, others are extremely serious and can result in totaled vehicles and death of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

Motor vehicle accident victims may have a right to compensate for their injuries, but often they do not realize this is the case.  Insurance companies have entire employees, adjusters and attorneys, devoted to limiting the amount of money they will have to pay out to victims and limit their own liability. Whiplash car accident injury claim depends on the period of treatment. It can last for a few days or in more severe cases a number days or even a number of years. Long term injuries are only a small number with most people getting whiplash car accident injury claim may be given as $200,000 – $400,000 for serious ones. The most important thing to get the whiplash compensation is that you should approach a professional medical staff immediately and get the treatment and word of note from him about the type of injury. These agencies claim 100% compensation from the liable party. They even arrange for physiotherapy treatment if needed. Some times the compensation for the accident and rehabilitation may be a less amount and in some cases it may go to $500,000 according to the severity of the accident.

Damages for whiplash account damages of your belonging such as cell phone, your ripped and tattered clothing, or any other valuables present in the vehicle at the time you have under gone whiplash are eligible for compensation.When your possesions are lost at that specific time it  is eligible for claiming procedures. Compensation is given depending on a number of factors such as severity, the part, which was injured, and the chance of it causing disabilities and damages can be either general or special.

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Claiming Compensation For Neck Injury Or Whiplash

Neck injury is very common in car accidents and it can also be sustained in work place accident, sports accidents, in a ‘slip trip fall’ accident or even an awkward posture while sleeping may cause this injury. Neck injury is very painful and must be compensated. Claiming compensation for neck injury is a legal and civil right for the sufferer and specifically if the reason for accident is not the fault of the sufferer a claim must pursued.

Award of compensation for neck injury varies from 750 to 86,000 pounds depending upon the severity of the injury and the duration taken to complete curing. There are many types of neck injury that start with the combination of shoulder and back problems. A severe neck injured person can not have any movement in his neck and suffers severe headache resulting in disability. For such severe neck injury, a claimant will get the maximum benefit of 86,000 pounds as compensation for neck injury. Depending upon the severity of the injury, diagnosis and duration required for complete curing are the factors that decide the award amount. Severe damage to soft tissues or ruptured tendons are also treated as severe injuries, where the award of compensation will be lesser than maximum. Fracture or dislocation, which expose immediate symptoms also are treated as severe neck injury but the award amount is even lesser. Moderate type of neck injury are whiplash injury, pulling and twisting type of injury which may result as cervical spondilosis, limitation  of neck movement, chronic pain and stiffness in the neck which may require future surgery. Compensation for neck injury for these types will range from 4575 to 18,150 pounds. If complete recovery of neck injury takes in the range from few weeks to a couple of years, then this type comes under minor category. Compensation for neck injury can be claimed for these cases also. Benefit of compensation amount will range from 750 to 2,550 pounds.

If the accident which resulted in neck injury is not the fault of the injured, then claim of compensation for neck injury may be pursued. Along with the neck injury claim obtaining compensation for pain and suffering resulted in the accident is a legal and civil right in UK. Some of the other losses that could be claimed are finance loss related to accident, loss of earnings, damages to the car and any other personal damages due to accident.

Claiming compensation for neck injury is very easy with the help of a good lawyer. Selecting specialist solicitor for neck injury compensation, who knows the legal procedure, will be an added advantage. Get an agreement signed in ‘no win no fee’ system with the solicitor so that no legal expenses or lawyer’s fee are involved. Do not hesitate or feel shy to pursue a claim. A woman worsens her neck problem at work, without the required special chair; could claim a compensation award of 2,000 pounds for tolerating the pain without the special chair. This should encourage a neck injured person to pursue claim with confidence.

Filed under: injury claims, no win no fee, personal injury compensation claim, whiplash compensation claims, whiplash settlement , cervical spondilosis, claim and compensation, Compensation for neck injury, neck injury, pulling and twisting type of injury, whiplash injury, work place accident

Whiplash Injuries

There are many causes for whiplash injuries. A whiplash injury is an injury which occurs to the neck and head as a result of sudden distortion of the neck area. It mainly occurs due to rear end collision in a road accident in which the victim is moved back and forth with extreme velocity that causes the head to snap in some cases. Other causes of whiplash injuries are direct head collision, fall from a bicycle or horse, head banging etc. In infants, such type of injury is common in shaken baby syndrome in which a baby is violently shaken by a distressed and exhausted parent.

The exact mechanism which causes the whiplash injury is not known. It is known to occur due to the impulsive stretching of the spine, especially the anterior longitudinal ligament which results in a tear due to the movement. Whiplash can occur in any type of accident similar to the rear end collision of the car accident. It can also occur in amusement parks in rides such as the roller coaster which is operated at tremendous velocity. As a result, the impact of the accident is also high.

The symptoms of whiplash injury can be any one of the following: neck pain, shoulder pain, lower back pain, stiffness of neck, dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, concentration and memory problems, sleeplessness, irritability, tiredness etc. These symptoms often resemble other medical conditions and hence it is always best to seek a proper diagnosis before getting treated for any medical problem.

Whiplash injuries can be diagnosed based on medical history and also by a thorough physical examination of the victim. X-rays can determine any damage that has occurred to the spinal cord. In case of ligament tear and damage to soft tissues which cannot be viewed through x-rays, CT scan also known as Computed tomography scan or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) can be used to identify the damage.

This sort of an injury can be treated by specific treatment methods given by the physician. The treatment will be based upon the age of the victim, overall health and medical history and the extent of injury. The treatment will also depend on the victim’s tolerance to particular medication, therapies and procedure. Some of the usual treatments given for whiplash injury are application of ice for the first 24 hrs, use of a cervical collar, treating with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxing medications, and physiotherapy.

Therefore the causes of whiplash injuries are many and it can be prevented by increasing the safety precautions in cars where most of these cases happen. Many car brands such as Opel, Ford, Nissan, Volvo, Jaguar and Mercedes have special head-restraints in car seats which can protect the victim to some extent, though not fully guaranteed to protect. Any way if you suffer from a whiplash injury, seek medical attention immediately and get the right treatment. Also you can file a claim for compensation through an experienced whiplash lawyer. So wherever you are, be safe and avoid whiplash injuries.

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Whiplash Settlements Made Easy

Whiplash settlements made easy, would be very useful to those people who are victims of whiplash and are looking for whiplash settlements. tons of car mishaps are reported globally and a majority of them suffer whiplash injuries in the event of the incident. Whiplash can be defined as an injury of the soft tissues around the neck. Some of the symptoms of the whiplash injury are pain and stiffness in the neck, blurred, vision, dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting, etc. These symptoms might show up immediately or after a few hours of the accident. The intensity of the disease depends upon the intensity of the whiplash injuries caused during the accident. Whiplash settlements can be made easy if one seeks expert legal advice. Some of the whiplash injuries might lead to serious problems in the future. So it is required to go for legal assistance and medical assistance immediately.

Whiplash settlements made easy with legal assistance. The whiplash settlements can be made with the insurance company or it could be filed through the law with the assistance of a professional whiplash injury solicitor. If the claim is made to the insurance company the compensation secured will be based on the settlement with the insurance company. However if it is sought through court the claim can be made under two heads namely special damages and general damages. General damages are made on the grounds of the suffering and the pain caused as a result of the wounds. The law has fixed instructions for the payment of general damages but however the general damages paid also depends on the medical report of the claimer and the emotional stress and other reasons which would have led to mental strains and depression.

The Special damages however include the loss of pay as a result of the accident, the loss of future earnings as a result of the accident, transport charges as a result of the vehicle being in the repair shop, the nursing assistance etc will be paid under the Special damages. To claim the compensation the claimer has to keep account of all the bills related to the expenses of the claimer as a result of the injury.

Whiplash settlements can be settled with the insurance company if the claimer agrees upon an a mutual agreement with the insurance company and accordingly the insurance company can pay the compensation fully or through installments. The whiplash claimer cannot again claim in the future and ask for more compensation.

Whiplash settlements can be made easy and the claimer can can get the fullest compensation through the assistance of legal experts. The compensation claimed through law would not only be sufficient for the present pains but also would for the future expenses.

The whiplash settlements made easy has helped many people with whiplash injuries, get compensation the simple and fast way. with knowledge of all about whiplash injury cases and the manner with which you collect your proofs and then present it forward is also of prime consideration.

Filed under: post traumatic syringomyelia whiplash, whiplash compensation claims, whiplash settlement , car accidents, whiplash, whiplash injuries, whiplash injury, whiplash injury cases, whiplash injury solicitor, whiplash settlements, Whiplash settlements made easy

Whiplash Settlement – The Process Made Simpler

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Whiplash Settlement – The process made simpler through easier claim filing procedure. The first thing to do if you decide to forward a claim against the person responsible for the accident resulting in whiplash injury is to find a good lawyer, an injury solicitor, to be more specific and present him with all the details of your case.

A simple whiplash settlement can take as much as six months to be settled, while a more complicated one stretches to over a year. Therefore the duration of time taken for settlement and the amount of compensation depends on the severity and extent of injury.

In order to expedite the process of whiplash settlement, it is important to get all information about the other party including their name, insurance information, and their address. In the case of any dispute arising as to the circumstances related to the incident it is important to inform the police and the insurance company immediately. Thus the whiplash settlement process is made simpler.

A lawyer will collect information regarding the accident and construct a case thereby ensuring enough data to start the claim process is present. The third party or their insurance company is then contacted by your lawyer and informed that a claim for compensation is to be made from your side. The circumstances leading to the accident are set out by the lawyer and put forth the reasons why they think that the third party is considered negligent and hence responsible for the accident leading to the whiplash injury.

There is a time limit of three weeks for the insurance company to acknowledge the letter and ninety days to further investigate your claim. The company must respond to your lawyer after this time period with either an admission or refusal of liability. Your lawyer may get your medical records from the doctor who treated you and if necessary have a medical examination arranged for you.

During the claims process for whiplash settlement, orthopedic surgeons are usually involved as they are more experienced in dealing with such injuries.

After the medical report is complete, the extent of injuries is reviewed by your lawyer along with the forecast of recovery period given by the medical specialist. A statement describing all your losses and expenses borne by you is prepared by the lawyer and these are sought to be recovered from the other party’s insurance company.

The third party should submit their response after the completion of investigation. Depending on the admission or refusal of liability, your lawyer will put forth an offer to the third party, of the amount of compensation required by you.

Whiplash Settlement – The process made simpler by lawyers experienced in the procedure. It is difficult for the injured person to focus on filing claims for compensation and having to arrange for medical and other records to be forwarded to the third party’s insurer. Therefore, having the services of an experienced lawyer is a big relief and makes the whole process a lot simpler.

Whiplash settlements- The process made simpler has been a big boon to the common man. Find out how?

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