Woman claims after whiplash injury
A driver has made a successful compensation claim, after she was hurt in a car accident and suffered whiplash injuries.
The woman's vehicle was hit by another car which had pulled out of a side road. The vehicle, hit the front of the woman's car, which caused a heavy frontal collision.
The woman was shocked, distressed and had a neck twinge, but she was able to compose herself and deal with the aftermath of the accident. The police were called but as the incident was seen as a less serious accident, they did not physically come to the scene.
When the woman returned to her home, the neck pain had worsened so she visited the local hospital's accident and emergency department. A diagnosis of whiplash was made and she was prescribed pain killers and told to go home and rest.
However, as the next few days went past, the neck pain increased and she was unable to work. This prompted her to call an injury lawyer's firm, but she did not have legal cover and was concerned that this precluded her from making a whiplash claim.
No win no fee claim for whiplash
Injury law firms are able to help people file a claim compensation regardless of legal cover being in place. After consultation with the firm, an injury lawyer who specialises with road accidents was told to deal with the woman's claim on a 'No win No fee' basis.
Within a fortnight the firm had taken care of the necessary paperwork and had received an admission of liability from the insurers of the negligent party. The woman's accidental damage excess payable to repair her car was refunded to her immediately, along with 3 weeks loss of use at £180. The injury lawyer then turned their attention to the injury claim.
The woman needed to undergo a course of physiotherapy to help relieve the whiplash symptoms. The law firm helped to organise this for the injured woman.
After 4 months of the physiotherapy, the woman was progressing so well that after an examination by an orthopaedic doctor, reports came back to both the injury lawyer and the woman's insurer in regards to her condition and the likely recovery period. The cost of this evidence was paid in full by the insurers.
The award settlement agreed
The doctor's findings were that the claimant would recover from her injuries fully within 2 years. This evidence was discussed by the injury lawyer and the insurers and a final award of £3,500 was agreed in settlement.
Seven months after the accident, the claimant received her pain and suffering award along with payments for treatment and medication bills as well as financial assistance for the general inconvenience that she went through.
In addition to this, the woman had also received the benefit of cost free physiotherapy and was progressing towards a full and satisfactory recovery from her whiplash injuries.
A road accident specialist stated that whiplash is the most common form of injury that they deal with. Such claims account for 70 per cent of all compensation claims made following a road accident in the UK.
Despite the fact that most vehicles are now safer and better equipped than ever before, whiplash injuries still occur in great numbers. Drivers and motorists are being reminded that if they have suffered such an injury in a road accident they could be entitled to claim for compensation.
Updated on 17/11/2009