10 Jan The symptoms of whiplash and how to claim compensation for an injury in Ireland
Whiplash injuries are one of the most common personal injuries suffered by victims of car crashes in Ireland and is one of the most common reasons for claiming personal injury compensation. If you have been in an accident and are suffering from whiplash, you may be entitled to compensation.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck and back, and is often referred to as a neck strain or neck sprain. The most common cause of whiplash is by a severe jerk to the head following a rear collision car accident, where one vehicle rams into the back of another. Whiplash injuries can occur in car accidents of any speeds.
Whiplash injuries can involve a very minor sprain that heals within days or weeks or they can in extreme cases cause long lasting pain and permanent disability. Sometimes a neck strain can irritate or aggravate a pre – existing condition that may or may not have been treated before the accident. These can include disc lesions, spondylosis, osteoarthritis, spondylolisthesis.
What are the symptoms of Whiplash?
The symptoms each individual can experience vary based on the severity of the injury, but some of the most common symptoms include:
- Stiffness of the neck
- Reduced movability of the head and neck
- Difficulty concentrating
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Lower back pain
- Headaches
- Irritability
How to obtain proof for whiplash claims in Ireland?
It is difficult to determine the presence of whiplash injuries by medical diagnostic tests. The first proof to begin with are medical records, such as records of trips to doctors and physiotherapists and their reports in relation to your injury. A personal injury solicitor will also recommend that you be assessed by whiplash injury medical specialists.
The defence may often request an examination by an independent medical specialist, so a personal injury solicitor will advise you as to the best conduct for these examinations.
How much is compensation for whiplash injuries?
Compensation for whiplash and all personal injuries is based on a number of factors. Factors influencing your compensation claim include pain and suffering, loss of earnings and medical expenses. Minor soft tissue injuries where a full recovery is expected can pay compensation up to €15,700.
More severe whiplash injuries involve permanent damage to the structure of the neck and discs, resulting in serious loss of movement or need for surgery. These claims can have payouts from €44,600 up to €77,900.
For more details on calculating the compensation value of your personal injury claim and surrounding factors, please download our free ebook.
