Mark Roman | September 19, 2024 | Personal Injury
Neck injuries are among the most common types of car accident injuries. Whiplash is often used as a catch-all for unexplained neck pain. However, whiplash is a serious injury that can cause long-term symptoms. Furthermore, the whipping motion that causes whiplash could also cause spinal cord injuries, concussions, and traumatic brain injury.
If you sustained a whiplash injury in a car accident, you may incur substantial medical bills and lost wages. You may also experience chronic pain and other physical symptoms. Insurance companies often downplay whiplash as a minor injury. However, you deserve compensation for all damages caused by a whiplash injury.
What Is Whiplash?
A car accident causes whiplash when your body is subjected to violent acceleration and deceleration in a collision. Your head jerks backward and forward in a “whipping” motion. The symptoms of whiplash include:
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Neck stiffness
- Limited range of motion
- Pain that worsens when you move your neck
- Numbness or tingling in the arms
- Dizziness
- Pain or tenderness in the upper back, shoulder, or arms
- Tiredness
Some victims may experience additional symptoms, including blurred vision, tinnitus, and memory problems. Many cases of whiplash heal in a few weeks with rest. Victims may use over-the-counter pain medications for neck strains or sprains.
However, some accident victims may experience long-term symptoms. They may also sustain other neck injuries, including damaged discs and fractured vertebrae. Other injuries could accompany whiplash, including spinal cord compression and brain injuries.
It is always best to seek prompt medical treatment after a car accident. You cannot know the extent of a neck injury until a doctor examines you. If you experience worsening symptoms after a crash, seek immediate treatment. The symptoms could be an indication of a severe injury.
How Much is the Average Whiplash Injury Settlement After a Car Accident?
The amount of your whiplash injury settlement depends on many factors. Accident victims can recover compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. The damages you may receive include:
- Past and future cost of medical treatment and care
- Rehabilitative therapies, including occupational and physical therapy
- Loss of enjoyment of life and quality of life
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Lost wages, earning capacity, and benefits
- Property damage
- Impairments and disabilities
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Scarring and impairments
There is no way to know exactly how much you may receive for a whiplash injury settlement. The value of a claim depends on the factors and circumstances involved. Some whiplash injury settlements are a few thousand dollars, while other settlements could reach millions of dollars.
Factors That Impact How Much a Whiplash Injury Claim is Worth in Tampa, FL?
Numerous factors impact how much you may receive for a personal injury claim. Factors that could impact your whiplash settlement include:
- The severity of your injury
- The time it takes to recover from a whiplash injury
- The treatments you received for your injuries
- Whether you sustain a permanent impairment or disability
- The cost of your medical care
- Whether you can return to work or your ability to work is reduced
- The parties involved in the case
- The evidence you have proving that the other driver caused the accident
- The availability of insurance coverage and policy limits
- Whether you could be partially to blame for causing the accident
- The amount of your monetary damages
Each case is unique. However, damages often increase as the severity of the injury increases. For example, it costs more to treat catastrophic injuries, and permanent impairments can increase out-of-pocket expenses.
An experienced Tampa car accident lawyer analyzes the damages in your case and each factor in your case. They determine the maximum value for damages to increase how much your case is worth.
What Can I Do to Increase a Whiplash Injury Settlement After a Car Accident?
The steps you take after a car accident are important. Your actions can increase or decrease your settlement amount. After a car accident, steps to take include:
- Call 911 to report the accident to the police.
- Gather evidence by taking photographs of the accident scene and asking witnesses for their contact information.
- Do not admit fault. Admitting fault could reduce the value of your claim under contributory fault.
- Seek medical treatment for your injuries. Do not say that you are okay or fine at the accident scene because that could be used to claim you are exaggerating your injuries.
- Document your damages by keeping records of all expenses.
You may also want to contact a Tampa personal injury lawyer to discuss your situation. Attorneys offer free consultations so you can get the legal advice you need to protect your rights after a whiplash injury.
Contact the Florida Car Accident Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Clearwater. We have four convenient locations in Florida: Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Law Office
840 Beach Dr NE Suite 202
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Safety Harbor Law Office
202 9th Ave S Suite A-2
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 787-2500