If you were injured in a car accident, you might be struggling physically, emotionally, and financially. This is especially true if you’re suffering from whiplash.
Whiplash can be a serious condition, and you’re entitled to seek compensation for your injury. At Grossman Law Offices, we can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve after enduring a car accident. Our firm has over a decade of experience helping car crash victims, and we are here to help you as well.
Below, this post will discuss some facts about whiplash and the typical car accident settlement amounts for whiplash. That way, you can be more informed about what to expect when you bring your legal claim.
Typical Car Accident Settlement Amounts for Whiplash
Because every case is unique, there is no average settlement amount for whiplash injuries after a car accident. However, it may be helpful to know the general factors that are considered when an attorney is determining how much your settlement amount might be. These factors include:
- Insurance limitations,
- Who was at fault in the accident,
- The amount of proof establishing the other party’s liability,
- How severe your injuries are,
- How long it takes to recover from your injuries,
- The amount of time you had to take off of work, and
- The type of treatment required for your injuries.
In general, as the above factors show, the worse your whiplash symptoms are, the more compensation you can potentially receive.
What Damages Am I Entitled to After Suffering Whiplash?
Damages after a car accident usually include both economic and noneconomic damages. Therefore, a person who was in a car accident can usually recover compensation for the following:
- Hospital bills,
- Medication costs,
- Lost wages,
- Doctor visit costs,
- Ambulance costs,
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress, and
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
An experienced personal injury attorney can explain which damages you may be able to recover in more detail.
The Whiplash Grading System
Because whiplash can range from mild to severe, doctors typically assign an injury a grade ranging from 0-4. This diagnostic tool is known as the Quebec Classification of Whiplash-Associated Disorders. Each level in the grading system has certain symptoms associated with it.
Grade 0
A grade 0 patient is someone who is diagnosed with whiplash but who doesn’t suffer from any pain or other symptoms. This is the least severe type of whiplash.
Grade 1
This is the first grade that has pain as a symptom. Typically, a person with grade 1 whiplash also experiences stiffness when moving their neck and tenderness around the site of the injury.
Grade 2
Grade 2 whiplash causes pain and other symptoms associated with a more serious physical injury. Symptoms of grade 2 whiplash include:
- Radiating pain around the shoulders, head, neck, and face;
- Muscle spasms that affect a person’s mobility; and
- Bruising, swelling, or sensitivity around the injury site.
Again, you should seek medical attention if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms.
Grade 3
Grade 3 whiplash is associated with signs of neurological problems. Neurological issues can result if inflammation from the injury disrupts nerve signals that travel through the injured area on the way to your brain. Symptoms of grade 3 whiplash include:
- Muscle weakness;
- Numbness or the lack of ability to feel hot and cold on your neck, upper back, shoulders, or arms;
- Burning or a “pins and needles” feeling in your neck, upper back, shoulders, or arms;
- Headaches;
- Dizziness or vertigo;
- Problems with vision; and
- Trouble swallowing or dysphagia.
Grade 3 whiplash symptoms can last for days, months, or even years.
Grade 4
Grade 4 whiplash is the highest level on the whiplash injury scale. These injuries typically involve all symptoms of the above grades but on a more severe level. Sometimes, people with grade 4 whiplash have also suffered a neck vertebrae fracture, which puts pressure on your spinal cord and nearby nerves.
What Is Whiplash?
Simply put, whiplash is an injury to your neck. It is caused by a sudden force that pushes your neck forward and then backward or vice versa. The sudden force strains your neck and spine, and it can cause damage to your spine’s bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Some common symptoms of whiplash include the following:
- Neck stiffness,
- Neck pain,
- Dizziness,
- Lower back pain,
- Shoulder pain,
- Pain in your arms or hands,
- Numbness in your arms or hands,
- Blurred vision,
- Ringing in your ears,
- Concentration problems,
- Memory problems,
- Irritability,
- Fatigue, and
- Sleeplessness.
These are just a few symptoms of whiplash. If you’re suffering from one of the above or another symptom of whiplash, we recommend that you seek medical attention immediately. Oftentimes, whiplash doesn’t present itself right away after an accident. Sometimes, it can take days or weeks after a car accident for symptoms of whiplash to appear.
A doctor can help you by diagnosing the condition through the use of X-Rays, MRIs, or a CT scan. Once diagnosed, there are several treatment options available to you. Your doctor may recommend the following:
- Ice applications,
- Gentle stretching exercises,
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines,
- Muscle relaxing medicines,
- Physical therapy,
- Osteopathic manipulation,
- Pain medication,
- Foam collars,
- Regular massages, or
- Numbing injections.
While whiplash is usually treatable and short-lived, sometimes, people can experience symptoms for months or even years.
Grossman Law Offices Are Here to Help You
If you suffered a whiplash injury after a car accident, the attorneys at Grossman Law Offices can review your case and explain how much compensation you might be eligible to receive. Our firm has years of experience dealing with car accident cases, and we can help you get the most compensation possible for your whiplash injury. Our award-winning attorneys know how to stand up to the big insurance companies that may try to minimize your injuries, and they will always fight for your right to seek justice. Contact us today for a free consultation.
