Whiplash is an injury commonly seen in car accident victims, especially those who have been involved in a rear-end collision. This condition gets its name from the violent back-and-forth motion, like the cracking of a whip, that your neck can make when your body is jolted in a car crash. It does not take much force to cause a whiplash injury, and even minor, low-speed accidents can result in whiplash.
If you were involved in a car accident that caused whiplash injuries, you may be owed compensation for your suffering. A Raleigh whiplash accident lawyer may be able to help you with an insurance claim or lawsuit to recover the costs of your medical treatment and other expenses. If you would like to get started on your whiplash injury case, call (844) 730-0233 to speak with the team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC.
Whiplash Can Cause Long-Term Suffering and Chronic Pain
According to Harvard Health Publishing, it is estimated that more than one million people suffer from whiplash every year in the United States. The symptoms of whiplash can last weeks or months, and about half of all whiplash patients still experience pain a year or more after their accident. Around 10 percent of patients have long-term, chronic pain that interferes with their work and lives.
Whiplash can result in physical pain and cognitive difficulties. According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash can cause pain and stiffness in the neck, back, and shoulders, as well as dizziness, headaches, tingling in the arms, and a loss of range of motion. Cognitively, whiplash victims can suffer from insomnia, irritability, depression, blurred vision, memory issues, and ringing in the ears.
It can sometimes be a few days from the time of your accident before you experience whiplash symptoms. If you believe you have whiplash, you should see a healthcare provider immediately. Sometimes, broken bones and other serious injuries can happen in conjunction with whiplash, which can worsen symptoms.
How Whiplash Is Diagnosed and Treated
After conducting a physical exam, a doctor may want to take an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan to diagnose whiplash. There are several ways in which your doctor may treat whiplash, which will vary based on your age, medical history, and the severity of your injuries. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, treatment options may include anti-inflammatory and/or muscle-relaxing medications, use of a neck (cervical) collar, physical therapy, or osteopathic manipulation therapy.
For a free legal consultation with a whiplash injury lawyer serving Raleigh, call (844) 730-0233
Liability for Your Whiplash Injuries
Drivers have a right to stop, even unexpectedly, for their own safety. This means that in a rear-end collision, the fault is nearly always with the following car, not the lead vehicle. No matter what type of accident you were in, whether it was a rear-end collision, side-impact collision, head-on collision, or rollover accident, if the other driver was driving recklessly or following too closely, they may be liable for your injuries.
There are other parties that could be liable in your case. Sometimes a defective vehicle or faulty auto part causes an accident. For example, if your brake lights failed, causing the car behind you to rear-end you because they did not realize you were stopping, you could have a product liability lawsuit. If the driver who hit your vehicle was unable to stop because of a defect with the road, its design, or maintenance, the entity in charge of the roadway could be held responsible for your accident.
A Raleigh whiplash accident lawyer may be able to help you investigate the cause of your accident and injuries. You could be owed awards for your medical bills, vehicle damages, time lost at work, and your stress and anxiety. You may be able to pursue a settlement through an insurance claim, or if an insurance agreement cannot be reached, an attorney may help you take your case to civil court.
Raleigh Whiplash Injury Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
North Carolina Car Accident Laws
North Carolina’s accident laws require all drivers involved in a crash to stop at the scene. In a serious accident, law enforcement must be called and a crash report must be made, according to General Statutes (GS) § 20-166. The drivers involved are required to provide their name, address, driver’s license number, and license plate number to the law officer, as well as exchange this information with one another. You will need a copy of your crash report if you plan to file an insurance claim or lawsuit. You can do this by making a request with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS).
The state has insurance mandates, outlined by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Drivers must have liability insurance to protect against bodily injury to other motorists and for property damage. Insurance to cover accidents with uninsured/underinsured motorists is also required. A lawyer may help you file your insurance claims and fight to make sure you are given a fair settlement. If your claims are denied or underpaid, an attorney may take the insurer to court.
If you plan to file a lawsuit against those liable for your whiplash, make sure you begin your case within the time limits outlined by the state’s statute of limitations. You have three years from the time you were injured to seek compensation in a personal injury lawsuit, according to GS § 1-52.
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Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC Today
You could have a long and difficult road ahead of you as you recover from your whiplash injury. We do not want your fight for compensation to become another obstacle. A Raleigh whiplash accident lawyer may be able to do the legal work so you do not have to, including:
- Ensuring your insurance claims are properly filed
- Commencing legal action within the time limits allowed by the law
- Negotiating with insurers on your behalf, or negotiating a settlement if your case is taken to civil court
- Collecting all official documents and reports related to your accident
- Finding medical experts to testify on your behalf
- Obtaining eyewitness statements and other evidence, such as photographs or videos of your accident
The legal team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC may be able to help you through every step of the process of seeking compensation. To learn more, call our offices at (844) 730-0233.
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