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Whiplash is one of the most common injuries suffered by people in road accidents. Also, it is one of the easier to fake - merely braking suddenly can produce a whiplash injury, which can then be exploited for a hefty insurance claim. In fact, a number of criminal gangs exploit their insurance companies for money by staging "accidents", which are "witnessed" by other members of the same gang. Even people who suffer from genuine accidents try to maximise the amount they can get out of their insurance companies, by applying for claims such as "reduction of enjoyment" apart from medical bills, foregone wages and caregivers' bills. The UK government pays over £1.5 billion annually as payouts for whiplash injury claims. At least this amount is paid again to solicitors handling these cases, bringing the total cost of whiplash claims to over £3 billion annually. Thanks to the combination of these factors, insurance companies and the government can be extremely tight-fisted when it comes to paying up for whiplash injury claims. If you think you may be suffering from a whiplash injury, it is best to get it diagnosed by a doctor as soon as possible. First of all, your health is at stake - you may have suffered from injuries that are not classed as "whiplash" but are serious enough to require medical attention all the same. Secondly, your insurance company will want definitive proof that you have, indeed, suffered from a whiplash injury of severity that warrants filing an insurance claim. Rather than appealing to your insurance company directly, it is best to consult solicitors who specialize in whiplash and other car accident claims. Most solicitors offer a free initial consultation, and their own fee becomes a part of the insurance claim you make. If they judge your case to be weak, they will advise you not to make the claim rather than risk losing money on legal expenses. While appealing for whiplash injury compensation, you can appeal for General Damages - a sum that is decided according to the extent of your injury and the consequent medical costs - or for Special Damages. Special Damages include earnings lost due to injury, caregiver's bills, car repairs and many other costs that go with a car accident and injury. Alternatively, you can go in for a settlement with your insurance company. If you do choose out-of-court settlement with your insurance company, be careful of two things: 1. Identify whether you are to receive a lump-sum payment or payment in instalments
2. Make sure that there are no clauses stating that no further payments will be entertained on this claim. This clause will make things very difficult for you if medical complications crop up in future. Whiplash is an injury that is ignored by many survivors of car accidents, but can lead to spondylitis and herniated discs - among other complications - later on. Make sure to get proper treatment and compensation as early as possible.
A claim for whiplash injury can be extremely difficult to place in the UK, without proper guidance. Filing whiplash compensation claims is best left to solicitors who specialize in this task.
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