Whiplash Injury Compensation

Recovering compensation for whiplash on behalf of people injured in road traffic accidents, is one of the most common types of claim that road accident compensation solicitors are asked to undertake.

Whiplash injury claims are often in the news headlines. This is because the press and some insurance companies choose to highlight the numbers of whiplash claims that turn out to be fraudulent. However, even figures produced by the Association of British Insurers in 2011 suggested that only 7% of motor accident claims in that year were not genuine. Even then, not all of those fraudulent claims were related to whiplash injury. Turning those insurance industry figures around, we are pleased to see that 93% of claims were considered to be genuine claims and amongst those were many thousands of whiplash injuries.

What is whiplash?

Whiplash is an injury caused by a sudden movement of the head or neck in any direction. The ligaments and tendons inside the neck can be damaged from the force become stretched and damaged.

What are the symptoms of whiplash injury?

If you are experiencing or have experienced any of the following symptoms following an accident, you may have cause to make a whiplash accident claim:

• Constant discomfort or pain in the neck area (pain severity can differ from case to case)
• Painful twitches or twinges in the shoulders
• Difficulty moving the neck due to pain or stiff muscles
• Light-headedness, uneasy balance and/or slight tinnitus
• Headaches

It can take up to 24 hours for any signs of whiplash symptoms to kick in post-accident. Often whiplash symptoms will only cause discomfort and pain for a relatively short period of time, but some injuries can last for many months and even in some severe cases, for a number of years.

Victims of whiplash will often struggle to drive, exercise or carry out any form of manual labour - meaning they could be required to stay off work until symptoms subside.

How long does whiplash last?

Whiplash symptoms will in many cases generally subside within 6 months or less. However, there are instances where full recovery can take between 6 and 18 months and in some cases 2 years or even more, with symptoms of whiplash persisting on a long-term basis. To find out more about whiplash recovery and treatment please visit our whiplash compensation guide.

How much compensation can I get for a whiplash injury claim?

The average whiplash settlement will take into account any financial expenses that have arisen due to your injury, such as travel expenses, prescriptions, loss of income etc. You will also be compensated for the pain and suffering your whiplash injury has caused you.

The amount of compensation that you recover will depend on the length of time your whiplash symptoms last. Since a full recovery can take anything from a few weeks to several years, it is difficult to give an exact figure for the average payout for a whiplash claim.

We believe it is important to judge each case on an individual basis to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation you deserve. If you would like to get a rough idea about how much you might get for your whiplash claim, the best thing to do is contact us. One of our solicitors will be pleased to discuss this with you completely free of charge and you will not be obliged to make a claim.

Is it okay to make a Whiplash injury claim?

Yes, it is, absolutely. Anyone who has suffered from whiplash will know that it is a medical condition that can cause a considerable amount pain and discomfort, and have a significant impact on the sufferer's quality of life. If you get a whiplash injury, you may even have to take time off work, which could leave you in a difficult financial situation.

You deserve to be compensated for the pain and suffering your whiplash injury has caused you, as well as for any financial losses you have received due to this.

Facts about Whiplash compensation claims

When the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) undertook an investigation into whiplash claims, they found that 40% of genuine whiplash sufferers never make a claim. This may in part be due to press reports that try to make out that there is something morally wrong in making a whiplash claim. There is absolutely nothing wrong, morally or otherwise in bringing a claim for whiplash following an accident that wasn't your fault. Whiplash is an extremely painful injury to suffer. Indeed, if you don't make a claim, you may find that you actually suffer financial loss instead, as many people find themselves taking time off work, due to the highly inconveniencing, not to say painful effects that whiplash can cause.

So, our advice? If you do get whiplash as a result of a non-fault accident, contact us here at Spencers. You won't regret it if you do, but you are very likely to come to regret it if you don't - and after three years from the date of the accident, you won't by law, be able to bring a claim then, as it will be too late!

Contact Spencers Solicitors

If you would like to pursue a whiplash injury claim then contact us to speak to an experienced whiplash injury claims solicitor. It's free and you're not obliged to pursue a claim after speaking to us. If you decide that you wish to do so, the Spencers will be more than happy to help you.

We hope that you'll decide to instruct us. We're keen to help you make a successful whiplash injury compensation claim and firmly believe that talking to us will be the first step in securing the level of compensation you deserve.