Filing a whiplash claim for injuries incurred during a car accident is often the only claim needed to collect fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and rehabilitation if the person causing the accident is insured or if you carry uninsured motorist insurance. A whiplash injury incurred during a car accident is the result of the head, neck and shoulders being forcefully thrown forward beyond normal extension and then jerked back. Whiplash can often become a long term injury or lead to chronic neck pain.
Include All Medical Treatments
You may not discover you have whiplash until one or two days after the accident which is why it is important to not make statements about injuries at the time of the car accident. If your head and neck were thrown forward during an accident, you should see a doctor immediately even if you are not experiencing pain.
When filing a whiplash injury claim with an insurance company you want to include all medical expenses for both physical and psychological treatments related to the injury. Whiplash may involve injuries to neck ligaments and muscles, spinal discs, and possibly the brain if the hyper-extension and hyper-flexion was forceful enough. You can also include rehabilitation medical expenses in your claim.
There may also be medical expenses for treatments for depression or memory loss due to your whiplash injury. You will have to be able to prove all medical expenses are related to your injury. When under a doctor’s care, it is important to make sure the doctor keeps a very detailed report of your injuries and treatments.
Include Other Expenses
When you file a whiplash injury claim with an insurance company, you will also want to include non-medical injury related losses. The reimbursement can cover lost income, loss of normal functioning, and inability to lead the same life you led before the accident. You can claim pain and suffering too, but it is often necessary to file a lawsuit to get full and fair compensation.
Consult an Attorney
If you suffer a whiplash injury, you should consult an attorney for a couple of reasons. An attorney can insure that all of the correct steps are taken to document the accident in terms of police and insurance reports. The attorney will advise you concerning proper documentation of medical expenses and how to best respond to inquiries related to the accident.
If the insurance company refuses to pay a fair compensation for your whiplash injury, it might be necessary to file a lawsuit.
