Were you in an accident that caused you to have a whiplash injury? If so, you likely have some questions about how whiplash can play into a personal injury lawsuit.

What Is Whiplash? 

Whiplash can occur anytime someone's head and neck are forcefully moved back and forth due to an impact. This often happens in a car accident when someone's vehicle comes to a complete stop from a very high speed, but it can happen in other types of personal injuries as well. 

What Are The Signs Of Whiplash

Many people experience the effects of whiplash in different ways. However, there are some common symptoms that you are likely to see. The first one is going to be a lot of pain in your neck due to the impact and your head rocking back and forth quickly. You are also likely to lose some range of motion in your neck due to the injury. Beyond those symptoms, people often experience pain in other areas of the body as it radiates down from the neck. 

How Do You Prove That You Have Whiplash?

It is always best to meet with a doctor for a professional diagnosis when you suspect that you are suffering from whiplash. They are going to take your personal observations about your injury and do some additional tests to confirm if you have whiplash. There can be muscle strains and sprains, bulging and protruding discs, and other damage that can be seen to identify that you are actually suffering from whiplash. 

Expect your doctor to take x-rays or have you get an MRI to find out what is happening underneath the skin. These images can be used to help prove your case in court and that the injury actually exists. 

How Do You Receive Compensation For Whiplash?

Much like any injury, whiplash is something that you can seek damages for in court with a personal injury lawsuit. The amount of compensation that you receive will depend on how serious your whiplash injury is and the effects that it has on your life. For example, a whiplash injury that is predicted to heal very quickly will pay out differently than an injury that causes permanent damage. 

Your personal injury lawyer will use their experience to determine what is considered fair compensation for your whiplash injury. A settlement offer will be made to the responsible party's insurance provider, and they can either accept or reject it in mediation. If you are not satisfied with what you are being offered for compensation, you can take your case to court to have a formal trial. 

Contact a personal injury compensation lawyer for more information.