Settlements for whiplash can vary greatly but usually range from $2,500 to $10,000 for mild to moderate injuries. If you need physical therapy or other ongoing treatment, you may be able to recover closer to $30,000.
More serious neck injuries can lead to settlements of $100,000 and above.
Understanding Whiplash
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury affecting your neck. It occurs when your head and neck snap forward and backward, a movement that frequently occurs in car accidents. Whiplash injuries can last anywhere from a week to a few months, and longer-lasting symptoms usually indicate a more serious neck injury.
If you have any of the following symptoms after a car accident, see a doctor right away:
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Shoulder pain
- Low back pain
- Pain or numbness in your arm or hand
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Trouble concentrating or remembering
- Irritability
- Changes in your sleep patterns
- Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
The symptoms of whiplash can be mistaken for other medical conditions, so be sure to tell your doctor you have been in a car accident. Keep in mind the symptoms of whiplash could also be indicative of a more serious injury, so you need to seek medical attention right away.
Challenges of Whiplash Claims
Like other soft tissue injuries, whiplash injuries do not show up on x-rays or other diagnostic tools, which can make them difficult to prove. Still, neck injuries should always be taken seriously because they can be extremely painful and affect your mobility.
The amount of your settlement will largely depend on how long your symptoms last, so make sure to track your symptoms. If you suffer lasting stiffness, pain, tingling, numbness, or mobility problems, you may have damaged your cervical spine.
Keep in mind that spinal cord injuries (SCIs) may lead to catastrophic injury claims, which yield more compensation than whiplash injury claims.
How to Get a Fair Settlement for Whiplash
The first step to getting fair whiplash injury compensation is having your injury diagnosed. Always seek medical attention after a car accident – even if you feel fine at first – and alert your doctor as soon as symptoms arise.
Even though whiplash doesn’t show up on an x-ray, medical professionals can document your symptoms, diagnose your injury, and recommend treatment. You may be able to recover compensation for physical therapy, chiropractor’s visits, and other injury-related expenses.
Most importantly, doctors can detect more serious problems, and if you have an SCI or another severe neck injury, you will need more compensation.
After you talk to your doctor and get a better sense of your injury, you should speak to an attorney. All kinds of neck injuries take time to recover from, and you should not have to deal with the consequences of someone else’s carelessness on your own.
With the Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli, you do not have to. We can help you recover fair compensation and put more than 2 decades of legal experience on your side.
Call us anytime at (516) 628-6402 to schedule your free consultation – we are available 24/7 to take your call – or you can always contact us online for a quick call back.