Whiplash can be an extremely debilitating condition – it can be painful and leave you unable to go to work, socialise with friends, or do the hobbies which make you happy. At The Injury Lawyers we hear about the effects of whiplash on a daily basis from our clients. We encourage our clients to tell us the full effects of their condition and to give us updates on how their recovery is progressing on a regular basis – as all these factors are considered when placing a value on a claim.
At The Injury Lawyers we see whiplash most commonly as a result of road traffic accidents. This is because the condition is caused by a sudden jolt to the head which causes the neck to move beyond its normal range of movement. This then causes the muscles and tendons in the area to be damaged and leaves the victim with some or all of the common symptoms below:
- Pain, tenderness and / or stiffness in the neck
- Pain radiating down the shoulders and / or into the back
- Pins and needles type sensations in the arms
- Severe, recurrent headaches
- Reduced or even no mobility in the neck and affected areas
These symptoms are normally not apparent straight away, and most commonly become apparent within 6-12 hours after the accident. They can then increase in severity for up to one week after the accident, or even for longer.
The benefit of beginning a claim for whiplash is not only the compensation; many law firms such as The Injury Lawyers realise that conditions such as whiplash require treatment such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, or chiropractic assistance to relieve the symptoms at an early stage. On the NHS there can be long waiting lists for this treatment so many law firms offer to arrange for their clients to have private medical care. At The Injury Lawyers this is at no cost to the client as the costs are either recovered from the other side or covered by insurance depending on whether the claim is won or lost. Getting this treatment quicker means that this may speed up your recovery and get you back to normal life faster.
Furthermore there is a duty on you as the sufferer of an injury to help yourself. This means that if it has been recommended that you need physiotherapy in order to recover from your injury then you should actively ensure that you attend the sessions. If you fail to attend the sessions and as a result it takes longer for you to recover, this extra time suffering may not be considering when valuing your claim.
If you require any further information regarding the above please feel free to call.
