Whiplash is a painful injury that happens when the head snaps back and forth suddenly, damaging the soft tissues of the neck and upper back. While it is primarily associated with rear-end collisions, it can also happen due to slip-and-fall accidents, assaults, and sports accidents. Whiplash can cause excruciating pain and limited mobility, putting significant financial stress on a victim due to medical expenses and missed time at work.
In North Carolina, individuals with whiplash have the right to demand fair compensation if someone else is responsible for the injury. However, pursuing a whiplash injury claim can be complicated. Insurance adjusters often try to downplay the seriousness of whiplash to deny claims and save money. An experienced North Carolina whiplash injury lawyer can help.
If you suffered a whiplash injury in Raleigh and someone else is to blame, the seasoned attorneys at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., can take on the insurance company and demand they pay you the money they owe you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Steps to Take After a Whiplash Injury
Knowing what to do after an accident is critical to your physical, mental, and financial well-being. Take the following steps to protect your health and lay the groundwork for a strong whiplash injury claim:
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Visit a doctor for a thorough examination. This step might seem obvious if you are in severe pain, but it is essential even if you feel a minor ache. Like many injuries, whiplash symptoms may not appear until hours or days after an accident. Failure to diagnose the injury as soon as possible may extend your recovery time or cause further damage.
Furthermore, if you wait too long after the accident to see a doctor, the insurance company may argue your injury happened for an unrelated reason. Visiting a medical professional promptly can prevent disputes about whether the accident directly caused your injury.
Gather Evidence
Building a solid whiplash injury claim requires convincing evidence that another party’s negligence caused the accident that led to your injuries and losses. While a lawyer can conduct a more thorough investigation on your behalf, you can help them get started by:
- Contacting authorities for an official accident or incident report (e.g., police, store management, etc.)
- Photographing the accident scene and any visible injuries
- Gathering contact information for any witnesses
- Writing down your recollection of the incident while it’s still fresh in your mind
- Collecting your medical records and bills
An experienced Raleigh whiplash injury lawyer can collect additional information to support your case for maximum compensation.
Hiring a Whiplash Injury Lawyer
Don’t attempt to handle your whiplash injury claim alone. Insurance adjusters work hard to minimize payments to claimants, often by taking advantage of the fact that many accident victims don’t know what their claim is worth and are desperate for money to pay their immediate needs.
When you hire an experienced whiplash car accident lawyer, the insurer will understand they are dealing with someone with the knowledge, skills, and resources to take them to court and win. Having a lawyer in your corner may compel the insurance adjuster to offer a fair settlement that covers the full extent of your losses early on, saving everyone the time and expense of drawn-out legal proceedings.
