A Whiplash Compensation Guide
We specialise in helping victims of injury claim the compensation they may be entitled to
The Official Whiplash Compensation Guide
Whiplash is a painful and debilitating injury. The cause of it is the muscles in the neck and shoulders straining further than they would normally. It happens when a person’s head is thrown violently forward and backwards. The movement is similar to a whip crack, which is where the condition gets its name.
The Compensation Experts handle hundreds of queries about whiplash every year. It is one of the most frequent injuries of a road traffic accident. This is because it can easily happen when a driver or passenger in a vehicle in motion hits a stationary or slow-moving car from behind. A typical example is when a driver is waiting at a roundabout or a junction for their right of way, and a vehicle that does not stop hits them in the rear.
How to Make a Claim for a Whiplash Injury
The first step in claiming compensation for whiplash is to contact The Compensation Experts where you’ll speak to one of our agents. They will go through all the details of your accident and talk to you about your injury before matching you with a personal injury solicitor who specialises in whiplash claims. It is important to work with a solicitor who specialises in this area for your potential claim to be as smooth and successful as possible.
For your claim to be valid, you must prove that you have a genuine injury. You can demonstrate this by using your medical notes. This is one reason why it is important that you seek medical attention if you suspect you have whiplash. If you have any lingering symptoms, then your solicitor may arrange for you to have an independent medical assessment. This adds weight to your potential claim.
In addition to showing you have an injury, you also need to demonstrate that it was the other party’s fault. You can do this with a police report (you should always phone the police if there has been an accident where someone was hurt), and with diagrams or photos of the accident site, witness statements, and photos of your car and the other vehicle if the cause of your whiplash was an RTA.
It is still possible to claim compensation for whiplash even if you were partially responsible for the accident. An example of this could be if you ignored warning signs and walked across a wet floor, slipping and hitting your head; or if you were rear-ended in a traffic accident, but your brake lights were not working correctly. Cases such as these are known as “split liability” and mean that your compensation payment will be reduced by the proportion which you are liable for. If a judge rules you are 20% responsible, then you will receive 80% of the calculated compensation.
Whiplash Compensation Time Limits and Amounts
You have three years from the date of your accident or until your 21st birthday, if you were a minor at the time, to claim compensation. The amount you will receive takes account of the severity of your whiplash, the length of recovery time and lasting effects, whether you lost any money or had out-of-pocket expenses as the result of your accident. Your payment is also based on Judicial College compensation guidelines which analyse similar recent claims. Whiplash payments can range from around £800 for a mild case to more than £10,000 for victims who will suffer headaches and pain for the rest of their lives.
Contact The Compensation Experts today to find out more.
Am I eligible?
If you have been harmed physically in the last 3 years, due to someone else’s negligence, the short answer is yes.
Exceptions to this are for instance industrial disease or if you were a child at the time of the accident. In these cases you may have a longer period to claim.
Find out moreHow much could I claim?
As every injury is different, the amount of compensation paid out can differ case to case. Varying factors lead to the final figure. These include: extent of your injuries, loss of earnings, future losses and more.
Our dedicated team of experts will give you an indication of how much you could potentially claim for.
Find out moreHow does the process work?
We understand that when making a claim it’s important to know what to expect and when to expect it. That’s why we make the process as transparent & clear as possible.
Your solicitor will gather all the evidence and will notify the negligent party that you wish to begin claim proceedings. With your solicitor negotiating on your behalf, you will be up to date every step of the way.
Find out more