Whiplash can affect many parts of your life. It can cause pain, make daily tasks harder, and keep you from working. Still, insurance companies may treat whiplash as a minor injury because it may not show up clearly on an X-ray or MRI.
At Sweet James, we know whiplash can cause real pain and limitations. Our Los Angeles whiplash lawyers can help you document your injuries, deal with the insurance company, and seek compensation for your losses.
Sweet James offers free consultations and has over 600 five-star reviews across Yelp and Google. You do not pay attorney fees unless we win your case. Reach out to us to schedule a free consultation with a California whiplash lawyer today.
What Is Whiplash, and How Does It Happen?
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden back-and-forth movement of your head and neck. This movement can strain the muscles, ligaments, and other tissues in your neck. Whiplash often happens in rear-end crashes, but it can also happen in side-impact crashes and other accidents.
You do not have to be in a high-speed crash to suffer whiplash. A sudden impact can make your head move with force, even when there is not much damage to the vehicles. This is why the damage to your car does not always show how serious your injury may be.
Whiplash symptoms may not start right away. You may feel fine after a crash and notice pain or stiffness hours or even days later. Getting medical care after an accident can help doctors find injuries early and create a record of your condition. Talking to a whiplash lawyer as soon as you can can also protect your rights.
Compensation That May Be Available for Whiplash Injuries
If you have a valid whiplash claim, you may be able to seek compensation for losses related to your injury. Depending on the facts of your case, this may include:
- Medical expenses: Doctor visits, tests, medicine, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and other treatment.
- Future medical care: Ongoing treatment or care you may need because of your whiplash.
- Lost wages: Income you lose if your injury keeps you from working.
- Reduced earning ability: Income you may lose if your injury affects your ability to work in the future.
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain and discomfort caused by your injury.
- Emotional distress: Stress, anxiety, or other emotional effects related to the crash and injury.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Changes that keep you from taking part in activities you enjoyed before the accident.
- Out-of-pocket costs: Other reasonable expenses you have because of your injury, such as transportation to medical appointments.
The types of compensation available will depend on your accident, injuries, and the evidence in your claim. California also uses comparative negligence rules. If you are found partly responsible for the accident, your compensation may be reduced. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can help you understand the laws and types of damages that may be available to you.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash symptoms can be different for each person. Some people have mild soreness, while others have pain that makes it hard to turn their head, work, exercise, or do daily tasks.
Common symptoms include:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Headaches
- Trouble moving your neck
- Shoulder or upper back pain
- Dizziness
- Tingling or numbness in your arms
- Arm pain or weakness
- Trouble sleeping
Seeing a doctor after a crash can be important, especially if you start to notice symptoms. A doctor can examine you, look for injuries, and recommend treatment. Your medical records can also show when your symptoms started and how they affect you. A Los Angeles whiplash car accident lawyer can help you collect evidence.
Why Insurance Companies May Downplay Whiplash Claims
Insurance companies may question whiplash claims because the injury is not always easy to see. Whiplash is often called a soft tissue injury, and an X-ray or MRI may not show every problem with the muscles, ligaments, or other tissues in your neck. That does not mean your pain is not real.
An insurance adjuster may also point to minor vehicle damage or say you should have recovered quickly. Your medical records, symptoms, treatment, and daily limits can help show how the injury has affected your life.
Sweet James can help when an insurance company questions your injury. A Los Angeles whiplash injury lawyer from our team can review the evidence, document your losses, and deal with the insurance company for you. We can also help make sure your claim accounts for the effects of your injury.
Proving Your Whiplash Injury Claim
Medical records can be an important part of a whiplash claim. Records from doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, and other medical providers can show your symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and progress. Following your treatment plan and keeping your appointments can also help document your injury.
Other evidence may help support your claim. This can include photos of the crash scene and vehicle damage, accident reports, witness statements, and other records showing what happened. In some cases, accident reconstruction evidence may help explain how the crash happened and the force involved.
It can also help to keep track of how your symptoms affect your daily life. You may miss work, stop exercising, need help around the house, or have trouble sleeping because of your pain. These details can help show how the injury has affected you beyond your medical bills; a Los Angeles whiplash attorney can also help collect and present evidence.
Contact a Los Angeles Whiplash Accident Lawyer Today
Whiplash should not be dismissed just because you cannot see the injury on an X-ray. If you have neck pain, headaches, stiffness, or other symptoms after a crash, getting medical care and keeping records can help protect your health and your claim.
California also has deadlines for filing personal injury claims. Evidence can also become harder to find as time passes. Speaking with a lawyer early can help you understand these deadlines and what information may be important to your case.
Sweet James offers free consultations for people hurt in accidents. A Los Angeles whiplash accident attorney can review what happened, explain your options, and help you understand what to do next. You do not pay attorney fees unless we win your case.
