One of the most common injuries caused by car accidents is a neck injury known as whiplash. Although most whiplash victims do not have long-term effects from this injury, the condition can be very painful and affect many facets of a person’s life.
If you suffered a whiplash injury caused by another driver’s negligence, you should not have to pay for your medical treatment and other losses by yourself. The person responsible for your injury may be legally responsible for your expenses.
When someone suffers this injury in the Melbourne, Florida area, the Melbourne whiplash injury lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, is here to help. Our team may be able to help you recover compensation by negotiating with insurance providers or pursuing damages through a personal injury lawsuit. You can schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we may be able to help you by calling (844) 730-0233.
Symptoms and Causes of Whiplash
Whiplash is a kind of neck injury. It has this name because the cause of the injury is a sharp back-and-forth motion, like cracking a whip. This quick motion can damage the bones, discs, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and other tissues in the neck.
A whiplash injury can be minor and resolve by itself within a few days, or it can be a serious condition that causes chronic pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, the possible symptoms of whiplash include:
- Neck stiffness and soreness that worsens with movement
- Limited range of motion in the neck
- Upper back, shoulder, or arm pain, numbness, or tingling
- Headaches, dizziness, or fatigue
- Tinnitus (hearing a ringing sound in your ears)
- Blurred vision
- Sleep disturbances
- Memory issues and concentration issues
- Depression or irritability
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) states that many whiplash victims can recover in days or weeks, but some experience lasting pain. Treatments for whiplash can include prescription or over-the-counter pain medication, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, a cervical collar, neck traction, heat application, and physical therapy.
One of the most common causes of whiplash is car accidents, especially rear-end collisions. Even at very low speeds, a rear-end collision can cause the vehicle’s occupants’ necks to lunge forward and then snap back very quickly. It may take some time for the pain to manifest, so if you are in any type of car accident, you should always seek medical attention.
For a free legal consultation with a whiplash injury lawyer serving Melbourne, call (844) 730-0233
What to Do After a Whiplash Injury
If you suffer a whiplash injury because of a car accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical treatment. After seeing a doctor, there may be several things you can do to obtain compensation for your injury and its costs:
- Make an insurance claim. Florida’s no-fault insurance law states that, for minor injuries incurred in a car accident, you must first seek compensation through the personal injury protection (PIP) coverage in your car insurance policy. When you seek reimbursement for damage to your vehicle or other property, you can make a claim on the at-fault driver’s car insurance.
- File a personal injury lawsuit. If your injury is serious, you may go outside of the no-fault system and pursue compensation in civil court through a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury lawsuit could also help you recover the costs of property damage and other losses if you are not reimbursed through insurance.
A Melbourne whiplash injury lawyer can help you determine the best route to take when seeking compensation for your whiplash injuries.
Melbourne Whiplash Injury Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Recoverable Damages for a Whiplash Injury
Whiplash can happen in an instant, but it can also have serious physical, financial, and emotional consequences. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you might have the right to pursue a financial award in compensation for your suffering. The losses you may be able to recover through a personal injury lawsuit in Melbourne, Florida, include:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical treatment expenses
- Lost income and earning capacity
- Emotional distress
- Property damage costs
- Inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Other costs associated with the accident
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Four-Year Statute of Limitations
If you wish to pursue compensation through civil court, you will have to file your lawsuit within four years of the date of the accident, according to Florida Statutes §95.11. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your right to pursue damages. There can be rare exceptions to the statute of limitations, however, so you can always set up a consultation with a Melbourne whiplash injury lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, to be sure you know your legal options.
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Get Help from the Team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC
At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, our Melbourne whiplash injury lawyer is dedicated to helping victims of this injury. If you are not sure whether you have a legal case, we offer a free consultation to help you decide how to pursue compensation for your injury and the other expenses of the accident.
To help you recover compensation, our team could:
- Investigate the cause of the accident by obtaining police reports, video footage, photos, witness statements, and other evidence
- Use this evidence to prove the other driver’s fault and your right to compensation
- Obtain and review your medical records to establish proof of your suffering
- Identify and calculate the damages you may be able to recover
- Negotiate with insurance providers on your behalf
- File a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf
- Manage all necessary communication and documentation
Because we work on contingency at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, you can rest assured that we will do our best to obtain a full and fair settlement for all your losses. We will never charge you any fees unless we can recover a financial award for you. Call (844) 730-0233 today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your whiplash injury and compensation possibilities.
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