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How to Sue for Whiplash after a Car Accident in Arlington

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries. Even in low-speed collisions, you can suffer whiplash injuries that can leave you with excruciating pain and discomfort, potentially for the rest of your life. If you discover that you suffered whiplash after a car accident, it might not be too late to talk to a lawyer about getting compensation for your injuries.

Because medical bills, scans, rehabilitation, and other results of a whiplash injury can be expensive, it is important to take your car accident injury case to a personal injury attorney. An Arlington car accident lawyer at The Queenan Law Firm may be able to take your case and help you get the compensation you need for your whiplash injuries. Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation on your car accident case.

Whiplash Facts

The condition we call “whiplash” is actually a collection of injuries to the various parts of your neck. The neck consists of groups of muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and other tissue that work together to keep your head upright and let you look around. Whiplash injuries and many other neck injuries usually affect more than one of these systems. This means that “whiplash” is not one, clear, specific injury, but rather a collection of muscle strains; tendon sprains; and injuries to the bones, discs between the bones, and nerves.

Whiplash is often caused by a sharp, quick, back-and-forth motion of the head. When you are involved in a car accident, you may be suddenly pushed by the other car (or suddenly stopped by the car in front of you). Your body is usually restrained by a seatbelt, but your head is free to move. This often means that your head takes a second or so to catch up with the movement of the rest of your body. That quick bobble-head motion can put severe strain on your neck. While headrests or “head restraints” work to limit how far your head will move during a crash, they can only do so much.

Whiplash is often treated with pain killers, physical therapy, massages, and other treatments. These may be effective for some to help alleviate temporary pain, but may not help everyone in the long-term. Around 10% of whiplash patients continue to suffer neck pain and other symptoms for the rest of their lives. Many neck and back injuries, especially spinal cord injuries, can leave lasting effects.

One of the most important things to know about whiplash is that the effects are not always immediate. Many times, those suffering from whiplash injuries do not feel neck pain immediately after an accident. When you’re involved in a car crash, your body reacts by pumping you full of adrenaline to numb the pain and give you the extra energy and time to get to safety. Additionally, whiplash injuries often take some time to “set in.” Victims typically do not notice whiplash symptoms until the next day. This does not mean it is too late to get compensation.

Settlements for Whiplash Injuries

Car accident claims can compensate you for any injuries the accident caused. Even if it takes until the next day for your whiplash symptoms to appear, you may still be able to get compensation. If the car accident is what caused your whiplash, the other driver can be held responsible. As long as you were not involved in another accident or some other strenuous activity between the car accident and when you noticed the injury, it should be simple enough to link the whiplash to the car accident.

In Texas, you should always be entitled to file a lawsuit for personal injury, regardless of your auto insurance. Some auto insurance policies do limit your ability to sue for injuries, so make sure to talk to an attorney about your policy. Whether you take your case to court or file for a claim with the insurance company, your goal is to get sufficient payments from the insurance company to address your needs.

Hiring an attorney is the best way to ensure you get what you are entitled to. Because car insurance companies want to keep their costs low, they may not offer settlements that cover all of your needs. Additionally, certain types of damages, such as compensation for pain and suffering, may be unavailable without first filing a lawsuit. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand what your case may be worth and help you get a settlement that covers your needs.

Arlington, TX Car Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Arlington, bring your case to an Arlington TX personal injury lawyer at The Queenan Firm. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling car accident and other personal injury cases, and helping our clients get settlements for their injuries. Call (817) 476-1797 today for a free consultation on your car accident injury case.