Whiplash injuries, also known as neck sprains, are common in car accidents and occur when you abruptly jerk your neck back and forth. For example, a truck may ram your car from the back, giving you whiplash. Unfortunately, many dismiss whiplash injuries as minor or insignificant, only to later discover they are severe.
If you or your loved one sustains whiplash injuries after an accident, contact a Fort Worth whiplash injury lawyer at Loncar Lyon Jenkins to file a claim and pursue compensation for your injuries. We offer victims a free consultation and contingency-fee payment options.
Common Causes of Whiplash Injuries
The most common cause of whiplash injuries is rear-ending car accidents. You may also sustain whiplash injuries after a slip and fall, a sport-related accident, or physical abuse. Sometimes whiplash injuries can take days to surface. To know if you sustained whiplash after an accident, watch out for the following symptoms:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Pain when you move your neck
- Limited neck range movement
- Headaches
- Pain in the shoulders, upper back, and arms
- Numbness in the neck and arms
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
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How to Protect Your Rights After an Accident
Your actions after an accident significantly affect the direction of your injury claim. They could even make it more difficult for your personal injury lawyer to recover fair compensation from the at-fault party. Here are some steps on how you can protect your rights after an accident:
Call the Authorities
Notify the police immediately. The police are responsible for assessing an accident scene, taking witness accounts, and reporting on the possible cause of the accident. This information is also part of the evidence needed to file an insurance and personal injury claim.
Seek Medical Attention
Whiplash injuries can lead to long-term pain and discomfort. Therefore, it is critical not to dismiss any whiplash injury as minor after an accident; only a doctor can assess the nature and severity of your injuries. Many victims display some of the same neck injury symptoms as those with spinal cord injuries. Additionally, a medical report is one of the supportive documents required for your case.
Contact a Whiplash Injury Attorney
If the doctor confirms that you suffered whiplash after an accident, contact a whiplash lawyer to start pursuing a personal injury claim. Remember that settling an individual injury case takes time. Delaying after an accident can lead to missing critical filing deadlines. Additionally, a whiplash lawyer has the skills to negotiate with the liable insurance company for maximum compensation.
Document Your Expenses
If you deal with frequent hospital visits, loss of income, and expensive therapy and rehabilitation costs after sustaining whiplash injuries, ensure that you keep records of every expense incurred due to the injury. Your lawyer will also advise on other necessary documentation for your injury claim.
What Do Whiplash Injury Lawyers Do?
Working with an injury lawyer has several benefits. First, our attorneys have experience dealing with similar cases and offer the best chance at maximum compensation. They will also advise you on your case’s best legal options and alert you to any filing deadlines.
Here are other matters that our personal injury attorneys will handle on your behalf:
Proving Liability
Your attorney will analyze the available evidence, including the police and medical reports to prove liability and build a fool-proof case.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
Insurance representatives will likely manipulate you to accept less than you deserve if you handle insurance negotiations alone. So instead of these inconveniences, let an attorney take the lead in any talks.
Calculating Damages
An attorney will make an objective assessment of your accident-related expenses and will also come up with the best compensation amount. They will also factor in other costs like the cost of your pain and suffering and your loss of income.
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Whiplash Injury Settlements
Like with other accidents, the average settlement for a whiplash injury depends on the accident’s severity. The compensation figure for whiplash injuries with long-term health consequences will be higher than for damages with short term side-effects.
Additionally, the average settlement will be higher for injuries that lead to loss of income or loss of future earning capability, for example, when the pain from the injury is chronic or if the injury results in permanent disability.
What Are the Recoverable Damages in a Whiplash Rear-End Collision Case?
When an accident victim suffers neck injuries in a Fort Worth crash, they could suffer minor injuries, catastrophic injuries, or any type of injury in between. Regardless of their injuries, they can hold the at-fault party legally responsible for their negligent actions through legal action or a legal claim based on that driver’s insurance policy. A skilled attorney from our team can seek fair compensation for medical care and a range of other damages.
- Medical bills
- Future medical care and support costs
- Loss income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damages
- Miscellaneous expenses
- Pain and suffering
We can document the case against the responsible parties and pursue financial compensation. Our experienced car accident lawyers have a long track record of settling insurance claims and winning personal injury lawsuits for our clients.
Can I Sue Someone Personally for Whiplash?
You have a right to sue the negligent party after sustaining whiplash injuries. However, you must have the proper legal knowledge to collect the necessary evidence and present a compelling case that warrants reimbursement.
Note that insurance companies want to pay as little compensation as possible. Without legal representation, insurance representatives will exploit your inexperience to trick you into accepting liability for the accident. You will not receive any settlement for your injuries if you accidentally accept liability. For this reason, it is best to work with a lawyer for your whiplash personal injury claim.
They could also downplay your injuries, medical expenses, property damages, and other losses. This is common with soft tissue injuries. The costs associated with severe injuries add up quickly, so you need to recover as much money as possible based on your case facts. One of our Fort Worth auto accident attorneys can help you build a case and hold the liable parties responsible.
How Soon Do I Have to File My Lawsuit?
In Fort Worth, Texas, you only have two years to file a personal injury claim after sustaining injuries in an accident per the statute of limitations, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. Even though two years may seem like enough time to pursue a personal injury claim, that is not always the case. Remember that negotiating with insurance companies and gathering evidence takes time.
For this reason, contact a lawyer immediately after your accident. Delaying may lead to missing critical deadlines, including the statute of limitations, and consequent dismissal of your case. When you work with an auto accident lawyer from our team, we work to protect your rights, including honoring these deadlines.
Learn More About Your Legal Rights by Contacting a Whiplash Injury Attorney Today
At Loncar Lyon Jenkins, we understand the frustration of dealing with a personal injury case when recovering from whiplash injuries. For this reason, we take over all the legal proceedings of your case so you can rest and recover.
We offer responsive legal care and frequent case updates and are open to addressing all your legal concerns regarding your case. Contact a Fort Worth whiplash injury lawyer today for a free consultation to learn the legal options for your case and pursue the maximum compensation for your injuries.
