Whiplash is a common car accident injury that can cause severe neck pain, loss of mobility in the neck and persistent headaches. If you are diagnosed with whiplash after a New York car accident, it’s important to understand your options for making a financial recovery. You may need to hire a car accident lawyer in Forest Hills, NY to help you negotiate a fair settlement for this soft-tissue injury.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash describes damage to one or more of the soft tissues located in the neck and cervical spine (upper vertebrae). It can describe neck muscle strains or sprains, stretched or torn ligaments, injured tendons, damaged nerves, and slipped disks. A serious case of whiplash can also cause bone fractures. Whiplash stems from the neck “whipping” back and forth due to the forces of a car accident. It is especially common in rear-end collisions.
What Are Common Symptoms of Whiplash?
If a victim suffers whiplash in an automobile accident, he or she may not notice immediately. This injury often comes with delayed symptoms that only arise hours or days after the crash. Delayed onset pain, tenderness and stiffness are common.
Symptoms often associated with cases of whiplash include:
- Neck pain
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Pain that radiates down the shoulders and arms
- Neck stiffness
- Loss of mobility
- Trouble sleeping
- Persistent headache
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
If any of these symptoms arise after a car accident, it is important to see a medical professional. Whiplash can require treatments such as hot or cold compresses, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxers, and physical therapy.
How Long Does Whiplash Last After a Car Accident?
The length of time a car accident victim will deal with a whiplash injury depends on the case, but often ranges from around two to four weeks. Major whiplash injuries may take longer, around six to twelve weeks. A severe neck injury caused by an automobile accident may cause chronic pain, which is described as pain or stiffness that lasts for longer than three months.
Who Pays for a Whiplash Injury in New York?
New York is a no-fault state. This means motor vehicle drivers are required to file claims with their own car insurance providers first, regardless of who is at fault for an accident. Only if a victim suffers a severe whiplash injury that meets the state’s tort threshold can he or she bring a claim against an at-fault party.
What Is the Average Settlement for Whiplash After a New York Car Accident?
Whiplash car accident settlements in New York can range from $10,000 or less for a minor soft-tissue injury to over $500,000 for a severe or permanent injury. It is important not to base the potential value of your whiplash injury claim on a perceived average, as your case is entirely unique. Instead, consult with a personal injury lawyer in New York for a personalized case review.
How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help With a Whiplash Claim?
Whiplash injury cases can be difficult to handle since insurance companies often try to dismiss and diminish them. You may have to face arguments such as an insurance adjuster claiming that your pain or injury is fake, your neck pain was caused by something else, or that you are exaggerating your neck injury.
A whiplash attorney in New York can help you prove the existence and extent of the injury, as well as the connection between your whiplash and the automobile accident. You can trust a lawyer to fight for a fair settlement on your behalf while you focus on your recovery. Contact Abaev Law Firm, PLLC for a free car accident consultation to learn more about a whiplash injury claim.