This is one of the most common questions we get here when we are advising people about their potential claims for compensation. The thing is, for the majority of people suffering from whiplash, they have been in a relatively straightforward road accident that was caused through no fault of their own.
Perhaps you have been hit in the back of your car, or perhaps someone pulled out from a side road in to you, or hit you on a roundabout; it’s relatively easy to establish who is at fault for the accident, so the majority of people who enquire with whiplash injuries know they have a definite guaranteed claim for compensation.
That’s why most people just want to know how much they could claim for…
Valuing a Whiplash Claim
Whiplash affects different people in entirely different ways. Two people can be in the same accident, or in accidents with very similar circumstances, and can both end up suffering in an entirely different ways. So, the first thing to remember is – don’t compare your whiplash with other peoples! If you hear of people getting particular amounts, don’t use this to gauge your own whiplash valuation.
There is only one solid way to accurately value a whiplash injury; get a professional expert injury lawyer working on a Genuine No Win, No Fee basis to arrange a medical examination to take place to assess your injuries. Only an expert injury lawyer with a quality report to hand can give you the proper valuation, and maximise your claim.
To help yourself with getting the most out of the medical evidence available, see your GP or get some form of medical attention as soon after the accident as you can. A note can be made in your medical records for the lawyer’s experts to comment on when they come to doing their report. This can help.
On top of your whiplash injury compensation, you are entitled to claim for any vehicle hire and repairs, medical treatment, lost earnings, medication costs, travel costs, and any other costs that you may need to pay out for as a direct result of your accident and injuries.
How Much COULD You Claim For?
Whilst it all comes down to the medical evidence you have and the lawyer you instruct, there are guidelines in place that can give you a very rough idea as to the sorts of valuations you may be looking at:
If your whiplash is only very minor, perhaps lasting around 3 – 5 weeks, you are probably looking at around £1,000.00 minimum for the injury alone.
The average minor whiplash claim settles for around £2,500.00 according to statistics and averages. Minor whiplash cases according to official guidelines can extend up to around £5,000.00.
If your suffering dictates that you are suffering from a more moderate whiplash injury, the official guidelines used to value claims range from around £5,000.00 – £15,000.00. Severe whiplash injuries are difficult to even consider.
How to get the Maximum Compensation
The only way to guarantee the maximum amount of compensation is to get a specialist personal injury lawyer working on a Genuine No Win, No Fee basis that guarantees you will receive 100% of your compensation amount. It’s as simple as that.
Make sure to avoid getting a lawyer through your insurers or through a claims company. There are referral fees involved that end up in either costing you from your compensation, or leaving you with a poor service. Speak to an independent injury lawyer directly like us, and we will help you out.