The most common form of a neck injury is in the form of whiplash, which is normally caused through a road traffic accident. If the muscles and ligaments in the neck area are stretched beyond their normal range of movement then you can end up with pain and stiffness for a prolonged period of time.
So read on for more advice about what you can claim for in a neck injury compensation claim and what kind of pay-outs you may be looking at.
Neck injuries can affect different people in different ways. Some people may be lucky and get away with just a few weeks of pain and stiffness, whereas some will be suffering for months or even years. Two people in the exact same accident who suffer with a neck injury can end up suffering in very different ways.
In any claim for personal injury compensation, you normally claim for the injuries and for any losses and expenses caused as well. So you are awarded an amount for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience caused, as well as awarded a sum to reflect the losses and expenses incurred as a result of the accident or neck injuries.
The losses aspect of things can include things such as lost earnings, travel expenses to and from appointments, medical expenses, pain medication expenses, and many other things. As long as the cost or the expenses is reasonable given the injuries or the accident, and as long as you have proof of the loss, you ought to be able to claim it back.
We value neck injury compensation claims by sending you to see an expert medical consultant. They will produce a report for us that will outline the extent and severity of the neck injuries suffered. They will give their opinion about the prognosis of the neck injuries, which means they will confirm how long they think you will suffer for and to what extent. They will also comment on the reasonableness of your claimed symptoms so far.
This report can also importantly verify that your losses and expenses claim is reasonable. I said earlier that you can only claim back losses and expenses that are deemed reasonable, and one way of classifying them as reasonable is by asking the medical expert to comment on it. For example, if you have two weeks off work, the expert can comment on that to say whether they feel the two weeks off was justified given the severity of the injuries.
Importance of medical evidence with neck injury compensation claims
When it comes down to the overall value of the claim it is all about the extent and severity of your suffering combined with the losses and expenses claim. Generally speaking, the more you suffer, the more we get for you. We use the medical evidence mentioned above, with official guidelines and our specialist experience as injury lawyers, to value the claim.
The official guidelines for neck injury compensation claims are as follows:-
- Full recovery within a few days, a few weeks, or a few months: up to £1,500
- Full recovery within a few months and a year: £1,500 to £3,100
- Full recovery within a period of one to two years: £3,100 to £5,600
Most people will fall within the minor category which can encompass the above. If you suffer for longer than above or more severely than normal then this can of course push the value of the claim up.
To find out more, just call 0800 634 7575 today.
