Accidents can happen to anyone anytime – that much is true. And being on the road increases the chances of an accident because it’s a public setting where anyone can become reckless. It means you can pass by different people without your knowledge, be it strangers or not.
Unfortunately, it’s rare for those involved in a car crash to leave the scene unscathed. With the injuries that the victims could sustain, it’s no surprise how everyone can be affected by the accident, one way or another. And one of these effects may leave you with the aftermath of a whiplash.
What Is Whiplash?
Unlike cuts and bruises, whiplash has a delayed reaction on the victim. Because not only is it unseen, but it’s also due to the rush of adrenaline and cortisol that get released throughout your body. And if you didn’t know, this can only happen after a life-or-death situation since it’s your body’s way of helping you deal with the threat.
Although it’s extremely helpful, these chemicals will leave you numb from everything else. But as quick as it makes its appearance, they’d have left just as hastily. Therefore, once your senses are starting to return, only then will you notice you got whiplash, which may leave you feeling these symptoms:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Back pain, and more
Since this injury targets the soft tissue and ligaments found in your neck, whiplash will leave you with slow-healing side effects that could alter your life over time, depending on its severity.
What Can Affect Your Whiplash Claim?
As you’ve seen, whiplash is a serious injury that requires extensive care and attention. If you believe you suffer from this injury due to a car accident, consider filing a claim for whiplash compensation to ease you from succumbing to financial ruin. But before you do that, consider some factors that could alter the settlement you deserve.
- The Severity
Since it’s not as obvious as a broken bone or a nasty cut, your whiplash claim might leave you with a small amount of settlement—or worse, reject your claim entirely. Whatever the case is, you’re likely to leave less than the proposed settlement depending on how severe your injuries were. After all, as mentioned earlier, the more serious it is, the more extensive it is to treat it.
- Type Of Vehicle
There are many vehicles in the market. Hence, many can also be found on the road. Despite their differences, all of them have the same primary purpose: to get from Point A to Point B. Although, how you get there is where things start to branch out.
For example, riding around on a bike makes it easier to weave through traffic. But without any extra parts cushioning the rider, they’re bound to receive the worst impact compared to a car driver. As a result, the one with the most vulnerable vehicle is entitled to more settlement. In the same vein, this is why truck companies can guarantee excellent insurance due to how dangerous it is to drive a vehicle that massive.
- Pre-Existing Conditions
Since you’re filing a whiplash claim, that’s the only thing that’s supposed to get compensated. Therefore, if you’re unfortunate enough to have any pre-existing health conditions before the accident, your settlement doesn’t cover it. Even when this health condition worsens because of whiplash, it’ll boil down to the same outcome.
How To File A Whiplash Claim
Now you know what can influence your claim, what you need to do next is the step-by-step in filing for one.
- Contact Authorities
Like other car accident claims, you start by seeking out people you know who can handle the situation you’re in calmly and smoothly. Although you can choose between medical attention and your insurance company, you should contact your insurance company first. This way, they’re informed of what happened to you and start drafting a claim. While they handle that, they can also contact medical services and direct them to your location.
- Collect Driver’s Details
While that’s happening, reach out to the other driver if you can. Ask them about their name and valuable information like their license and insurance provider. Once you get those, make sure not to entertain any interaction anymore. Always be careful of what you say in this scene because everything can be used against you, even when you say it during a vulnerable moment.
- Get In Touch With An Expert
When you’re recovering from the accident, handling a whiplash claim might be too overwhelming. Instead, contact a lawyer specializing in car accidents to serve as your guide. Because of them, you can plug up any holes in your claim and even back it up with pieces of evidence. At this point, medical evidence will play a crucial role.
Because your injuries are ‘invisible,’ there’s bound to be friction between you, the liability, or your insurance company. Therefore, to ensure there’s no room for argument, request that your medical records be used as evidence. After all, the liability or the insurance company should have a little argument against a doctor’s notes. With that dealt with, you’re well on your way to settling an agreement that can benefit you.
Takeaway
Getting involved in a car accident immediately means getting injured, mild or otherwise. However, these injuries can differ from one victim to another because of how many factors are involved. Therefore, if you thought you got away from the scene ‘unharmed,’ you might think twice once the adrenaline wears off and you’re left with serious pain in the neck. Only then will you realize you got whiplash. Fortunately, you can file a claim to have it compensated.
