When a person is in a car accident, something known as whiplash sometimes occurs but is not felt until a day or two later.
Whiplash is when the head is forced forwards or backwards in an unnatural position upon impact of the vehicle against another vehicle or stationary object.
Whiplash is the damage of tissue in the neck and back, also known as a neck strain or sprain and can last for several months to several years.
Whiplash can even lead to surgery if not properly treated or if the pain continues without any relief.
If you sustain whiplash during a car accident and are not at fault you are entitled to whiplash compensation through the courts if you choose to pursue a claim against the party that was at fault for the accident.
When you are injured in a vehicle accident and you sustain whiplash, it is best to obtain an accident injury lawyer to help you pursue a whiplash compensation claim against the party who injured you.
An accident injury lawyer will know your rights according to the law and will help to build a case against the at fault party.
Furthermore, an accident injury lawyer will work on a contingency basis, which means the lawyer will not collect his or her fee unless they win the case for you.
It is in your best interest to file a whiplash claim through an accident injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident has occurred; this is because there is a statute of limitations, which is the law, regarding how much time between the accident and the filing of a claim can pass.
An accident injury attorney will be able to tell you what the statute of limitations for a whiplash compensation claim is, however, it is best not to wait too long to file your claim.
Dealing directly with the insurance company of the at fault party may not be in your best interest because they will try to pay you off with a lump sum amount of cash which is probably less than you won't be able to obtain through an accident injury attorney.
There is a cap on the amount of funds one can be seen from a whiplash compensation claim; however the accident injury lawyer will know what that amount is and be able to fight to get you that amount.
The amount included in a whiplash claim usually includes any medical bills, your vehicle repair, lost wages from your job and any pain and suffering you might experience during and after the trauma of the accident.
It is very important that at the accident scene you contact the police to make it official record of the accident and to help them determine who was at fault.
Even if you feel fine directly following the accident, you may have sustained whiplash that will show up in a day or two once your body relaxes after the initial jolt.
Whiplash is a serious medical condition that should not go untreated and once you have begun your treatment for whiplash, an accident injury attorney will be able to help you with your whiplash compensation claim.