What To Do if You Get Whiplash in a Car Accident

Out of all the injuries you can sustain in a car accident, whiplash is one of the most common. And, even though whiplash may not seem quite as severe as, say, a traumatic brain injury, it can still create serious problems for you.

By going over what to do if you get whiplash in a car accident, and speaking with one of our Alabama car accident attorneys, it may be easier for you to obtain the best possible legal outcome.

What is whiplash?

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury caused by a rapid acceleration–deceleration movement of the neck, such as when the neck forcefully bends forward and backward.

For example, if you are rear-ended by a large truck, your neck might bend forwards and backwards, due to the force of this collision. And, if your neck bends in both of those directions, it could lead to whiplash.

Whiplash can lead to a number of symptoms, some of which can be found below:

• Trouble turning your head.
• Lower back pain.
• Neck stiffness.
• Tingling in your arms.
• Shoulder pain.
• Neck pain.
• Numbness in your arms.
• Dizziness.
• Pain that gets worse when you move your neck.

On top of that, whiplash can lead to serious issues like long-term pain, anxiety and depression, and being unable to work.

What should you do if you get whiplash in a car accident?

If you get whiplash in a car accident, you should think about doing the following:

• File a police report for the accident, as well as the injuries/property damage associated with it.
• See a doctor as soon as possible and get your whiplash injury evaluated.
• Undergo the necessary treatments, as per your doctor’s orders.
• Keep an eye on your symptoms, especially during and after treatment.
• Maintain a symptom journal that goes over your day-to-day experience of your whiplash symptoms.
• Hold onto any documentation and evidence related to the injury, such as your medical bills and expenses.
• Contact your insurance company and inform them of the accident, as well as your injury.
• Speak with a car accident attorney that may be able to help you obtain damages for the car accident.

Why should you think about working with a car accident attorney?

Whiplash is a serious injury that can lead to long-term issues. If someone else’s negligence caused the car accident that led to you sustaining whiplash, you may be able to receive some form of compensation.

To obtain compensation for the whiplash injury you sustained, you may want to think about working with a car accident attorney because:

• Alabama uses a very strict contributory negligence law that can bar you from receiving compensation if you are partially at fault for an injury.
• The damages associated with an injury can go far beyond your medical bills or, even, the weeks and months after the injury.
• You need evidence that supports your claims and gathering this evidence, especially if it goes beyond the documentation immediately available to you, can be a complicated process.
• If you file a personal injury claim, you may need to negotiate with the liable party’s insurance company, which can be stressful.
• If you are unable to agree on a settlement with the liable party’s insurance company, you may need to bring your case to court, and in some cases, to trial.

Doing all of the above can be challenging without the help of an attorney. But your lawyer will have ways to help your claim proceed more smoothly. Some of the ways that an Alabama car accident lawyer can support you include:

• Gathering complex evidence suggesting that you are not at fault for the whiplash injury you sustained. This evidence could come in the form of expert testimony from a medical specialist and security camera footage of the accident, among many other possibilities.
• Looking at every facet of your injury and the accident you experienced to develop a thorough list of the damages you may be able to obtain. These could include your medical bills and the time you lost at work, as well as the long-term pain and suffering you may experience later on.
• Your attorney can speak with the liable party’s insurance agency on your behalf and go over the damages you are asking for. They can present evidence that supports these damages and argue for the compensation you are seeking.
• Your attorney can argue in front of a judge or jury and present evidence that supports your claims. All while filing the paperwork necessary for your case to go to court, dealing with court fees, filing deadlines, and more.

What are the different types of damages a car accident attorney can help you obtain?

If you were in a car accident and sustained a whiplash injury, a car accident attorney may be able to help you obtain the following damages:

• Compensation for the medical expenses you incurred.
• Compensation for the long-term pain and suffering you may experience.
• Compensation for the wages you lost at work.
• Compensation for the long-term loss in income and other financial hardships you may experience due to the injury.
• Compensation for the damage to your car.

The damages available in your whiplash case will depend heavily on the facts.

Get in touch with an Alabama car accident attorney

If you were in a car accident and sustained a whiplash injury, you may be able to obtain some form of compensation.

You can use this contact form to get in touch with an Alabama car accident attorney. We can go over your case and determine your next steps.

Prince Glover Hayes has an office located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and handles car accident cases statewide. This article is an advertisement and is not intended as an offer of legal employment.