Whiplash can happen to anyone, no matter how safely you drive or conduct your life. Frequently associated with car crashes, whiplash is a type of neck injury. Many victims experience chronic pain that can adversely impact their lives for years.
Fortunately, if you find your neck bothering you constantly and need frequent care to manage your daily life, you’re not out of luck.
A San Jose whiplash lawyer at Golden State Lawyers, APC can help you get monetary damages for your trouble, regardless of how serious the injury is.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash is commonly thought to be associated with vehicle accidents, but other incidents can cause this neck injury. Some other causes of whiplash include slip-and-fall accidents, physical abuse, and sports injuries.
Regardless of how it occurred, whiplash can deal a number of injuries to its victims, including the following:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Decreased range of motion
- Blurred vision
- Aches in the shoulders, back, arms, and other nearby areas
- Fatigue and sleep disturbances
- Tingling, burning, and other abnormal sensations
- Cognitive and psychological difficulties
Whether you’re forced to take time off from work or have to pay out of pocket to see a specialist, whiplash can dThe teamatically affect your life. A San Jose neck injury lawyer can help you account for past, present, and future medical expenses and lifestyle accommodations when making a claim.
Be Wary of Insurance Companies
You should consult an experienced injury attorney before dealing with the insurance company.
That’s because insurance companies will use any reason they can to reduce the compensation they provide you. For example, insurance companies may point to a stereotype about whiplash victims that suggests they’re inventing their injuries.
The insurer knows that neck injuries aren’t always visually apparent, but it also knows that some people believe the false stereotype about whiplash. If the insurance company can successfully suggest that your injuries aren’t as severe as they actually are, you’re likely to receive too little compensation—or none at all.
Insurers may also try to pressure you into accepting a settlement offer that is far too low to cover all the damages you’ve suffered. When you allow your San Jose whiplash attorney to deal with the insurance company on your behalf, you will bypass these deceptive tactics and give your claim a better chance of success.
Comparative Fault for Neck Injuries
The insurance company or the party responsible for your injury may try to place some of the blame for your accident on you. In California, that can mean that you receive less compensation than you truly deserve.
That’s because California is a comparative fault state. The doctrine of comparative fault holds that multiple parties can shoulder the blame for an accident that injures someone.
If you are found partially responsible for the accident that gave you whiplash, the proportion of the responsibility you hold will be subtracted from your total compensation amount.
Statute of Limitations for San Jose Neck Injury Claims
Under California law, you have two years from the date of the accident that caused your whiplash to file a claim for compensation.
This law, formally called California’s statute of limitations, limits your ability to file a personal injury lawsuit after the deadline has passed.
Contact a San Jose Whiplash Attorney
If a neck injury has left you with physical pain, medical bills, and other hardships, the most effective way to get the compensation you need is by filing a personal injury claim against the person responsible. The law provides recourse for whiplash victims so they can get the care they deserve.
To help ensure that you get the proper amount of compensation, contact an experienced San Jose whiplash lawyer at Golden State Lawyers, APC. Give us a call at 408-279-4222 or contact us via the form below.