Whiplash Injury Compensation in Kentucky | The Schafer Law Office

Whiplash Injury Compensation in Kentucky

Back Surgery Kentucky motorists, please listen to this. If you have been in a car accident, you may remember feeling pain on your neck after the incident. During car accidents, some of the most common injuries that passengers are likely to suffer from involve the neck or back. Neck injury is caused by a sudden movement of the head sideways, forwards or backward. This is referred to as whiplash. The impact as the head suddenly moves may damage tendons and ligaments in the neck.

How do we differentiate tendons from ligaments?
Not sure what the difference is between tendons and ligaments? They are similar but have different purposes. Tendons are the sturdy, fiber-rich bands connecting our muscles to the bones. Ligaments, on the other hand, are fibrous tissues that connect two bones together at a joint.

How do you know you have whiplash?
The symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, and tenderness over neck muscles. Note that these symptoms may not develop right away. It can take six to 12 hours after an accident before you start to feel any of them. This means you might have driven for hours before you noticed something is wrong with your neck. You are likely to finish any errands the day of your accident but might hurt in the following days. Tests and scans aren’t usually required when diagnosing whiplash. You will need to describe your symptoms to your general physician. Make it a point to visit your trusted medical professional, who then will examine your neck. The range of movement you can do with your neck is likely to be assessed as well. Your doctor will likely take an x-ray, computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to see if they can locate your injury.

 

Tips to recover from whiplash
The good thing with whiplash is that it eventually gets better on its own or after you have had basic treatment. Here are few tips to recovering fast from whiplash:

  • Move your neck little by little instead of keeping it stationary with a neck collar or brace.
  • Take painkillers to help relieve you of pain.
  • Follow your treatment plan. Be honest with your physician about symptoms you are feeling so you can be properly advised.

As a Kentucky whiplash Attorney, I would like to remind everyone to put safety first. In the event that you get involved in a car accident, immediately go to a doctor to get checked out. Consult with your doctor and if you feel legal action is necessary, consult with a car accident attorney in Kentucky.

Why are whiplash cases so difficult in Kentucky?
There are a number of factors. Some include:

  • There are no tests that easily show a whiplash injury.
  • Someone can easily fake this injury because the complaints are subjective.
  • Insurance companies have been successful in denying these claims.
  • There is often little property damage involved in the accident.
  • The accident victim thought the pain would go away so they didn’t go to the doctor.
  • When they did go to the doctor, they went to someone that did not have the expertise in this type of injury.
  • Juries are suspicious of what they cannot see.

 

Average Whiplash Settlements in Kentucky in 2022
How can an accident victim with a whiplash injury get a reasonable settlement for their injury? Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee an outcome. What you can do is take steps that will give you the best chance for a satisfactory outcome. Some of these steps are:

  • Get checked out by a qualified doctor immediately!
  • Follow your care plan.
  • Document your complaints and take pictures of the damage to your car.
  • Be careful what you say to the insurance company.
  • Speak with an attorney who concentrates on car accident cases to answer your questions. Most give a free consultation.
  • Be completely honest about your pain and injury.

As a Kentucky whiplash lawyer, I know that being in an auto accident is no joke. It’s even harder when you’re suffering from an injury that is hard to prove. That’s why it’s so important to get checked out by a qualified doctor and document everything you can. Just remember these steps and this will help you and your case.

For more information contact the Louisville personal injury lawyers at The Shafer Law Office today!

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