QUESTION
Can i be compensated for future damages from whiplash?
Asked on Jan 12th, 2014 on Automobile Accidents - Georgia
More details to this question:
I am a dental hygiene student who was recently tboned and has been diagnosed with whiplash(neck strain)...i will soon start clinicals and definitely need full use of neck, shoulder and back muscles. Will i be awarded damages?
3 ANSWERS
personal injury Attorney serving Jacksonville, FL
at
Phillips, Hunt & Walker
Update Your Profile
Yes. Essentially, insurance carriers try to negotiate every dollar they can, because every $100 means millions in the end to the Board of Directors.
Even in soft tissue injuries, those tissues stretch and scar, or cause corresponding pressure on nerves in the spinal cord, leaving behind permanent problems for some. I have had clients need surgeries years later because of a bulging disk and have their entire world collapse for what seemed inconsequential at the time. Insurance companies want you to settle as soon as possible and treat as little as possible. Attorneys matter. They change their gameplan when a lawyer is involved. It seems like your injuries are more serious.
For that reason - and the misinformation by TV lawyers and referral services- is why people should consult lawyers who take the time like on sites like this. Because of the economy, more lawyers are jumping into personal injury and should stick to what they know. Personal injury law REQUIRED knowledge about medical science and biomechanics (the forces on a body in a wreck) far greater and more specific than you'd think. The other side has doctors and millions on their side to say nothing is wrong or fight the claim.
If you have any further questions, feel free to email me- jmp@knowthelawyer.com. Check out our website- www.knowthelawyer.com. We'd love to help you. Our number is 800-6-know-law.
Answered on Jan 16th, 2014 at 9:02 PM
3 Awards
I am sorry to hear that you were injured. There are many, many factors that come into play in determining whether a person will be awarded damages after an accident and there is no way for me to predict whether you are likely to awarded damages without knowing more about your case. As a general rules, whenever a person is injured as a result of another person’s negligence (carelessness), the injured person may be entitled to compensation for (1) medical bills, (2) lost wages for missed work, (3) pain and suffering, (4) any permanent injury or disfigurement, and (5) inconvenience and loss of enjoyment of life.
Whenever you are in an accident, the first and most important consideration is getting whatever medical care you need. If you do not have health insurance or the means to pay for ongoing care, a personal injury attorney may be able to help you. For example, I have relationships with several local health care providers and have been able to arrange for my clients to obtain medical treatment at no cost to them, with the understanding that the client will reimburse the treatment providers once the case settles or we win at trial.
You should consult with a personal injury attorney who has experience handling car accident cases. An initial consultation is free, and an attorney will be able to tell you what steps to take next, with regard to the police, your insurance company, and the other driver’s insurance company (if any). In the meantime, please do not speak to anyone about the accident without an attorney present. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize the damages an injured party can recover and may try to get you to admit fault in the accident. Good luck.
Answered on Jan 13th, 2014 at 2:01 PM
In Georgia, soft tissue (whiplash, etc) damages are compensable. However, insurance companies are used to people trying to extract huge settlements from even the most minor of injuries. Many lawyers will not even accept soft tissue cases, but if your case has merit and liability is clear, you maybe able to recover damages.
If you would like a more thorough evaluation of your case, just give me a call. (404) 642-6333 is direct number.
Answered on Jan 12th, 2014 at 6:02 PM