| Whiplash is caused when the muscles in the neck are | | | | many specialist claims companies dealing with whiplash |
| over extended, and is usually associated with road | | | | who can use their expertise to get the highest level |
| traffic accidents, the impact of the crash causing the | | | | of service and attention for your case and ensure |
| head to "whip" - hence the name. After a car | | | | you can get on with your life as normal as quickly as |
| accident - even at a relatively low impact speed - | | | | possible. This can range from arranging a replacement |
| you can start to experience whiplash at any time | | | | vehicle immediately to seeking compensation for the |
| from immediately after the accident to several hours | | | | injury you sustained as a result of your accident. |
| or even days later. | | | | You may not have thought of pursuing a claim for |
| Symptoms include pain and/or stiffness in the neck, | | | | your whiplash injury but the inconvenience and often |
| back and shoulder, headaches and dizziness. It's | | | | incapacitating effect of this injury can be extremely |
| important that if you feel any of these symptoms | | | | detrimental. |
| immediately following the accident you seek medical | | | | Compensation is not a free handout - it's a legitimate |
| assistance to ensure that you do not have a more | | | | payment that can alleviate the difficulties caused by |
| serious injury. | | | | what, in some circumstances, can be a very serious |
| In fact, it is extremely important to seek medical | | | | injury taking weeks, months and sometimes years to |
| advice if any of these symptoms appear, particularly | | | | attain a full recovery. It is awarded to compensate |
| if the pain is severe. Most of the time whiplash takes | | | | for pain, suffering and loss of amenity - which you |
| only a short time to recover from; however, in some | | | | have received through no fault of your own. |
| cases whiplash can be extremely debilitating and take | | | | A specialist company or specialist solicitor will have an |
| a long time to recover from, impacting on your work | | | | inside knowledge of the claims process and can |
| and other aspects of your life. | | | | ensure you provide the right information to the |
| If you have suffered from any injury following a road | | | | courts to help your case proceed as smoothly as |
| accident you need to notify the police - once done, | | | | possible. In many cases a specialist claims company or |
| the next essential step is to get the name, address, | | | | solicitor can guide you to a larger award settlement, |
| registration and insurance details of the other driver | | | | due to their intimate knowledge of the claims |
| as well as details for any witnesses to the accident. | | | | system. |
| These are particularly important if there is any | | | | The best advice is to get expert help as soon as you |
| dispute as to who caused the accident. | | | | possibly can - dealing with the claims procedures on |
| Next step is to visit the hospital or your doctor | | | | your own can be a complex business. With the |
| depending on how severe your whiplash injury is - | | | | advice of an expert you can ensure that you are |
| they can begin treatment immediately as well as | | | | inconvenienced as little as possible from your whiplash |
| diagnosing and recording the problem should you wish | | | | injury and can enjoy a quicker recovery without the |
| to pursue a claim for whiplash compensation. | | | | stress of pursuing a legal claim on your own. |
| If the accident was not your fault, then there are | | | | |