Compensation for a Whiplash or Neck Injury

Being involved in a car accident happens to most people at some point in their life. Whiplash or neck injuries are very common when it comes to car accidents although there seems to be a stigma involved in claiming compensation for whiplash. Any accident involving the neck and shoulders can be painful and should be compensated for. Claiming compensation for an accident that was not your fault is your legal and civil right.

There are many different types of neck injuries and many are found in conjunction with back and shoulder problems. The most devastating cases may leave claimants very severely disabled and these claims may have a value of £86,500. On the lower end of the scale where claimants may only suffer a minor strain and only suffer for a few weeks the amount could be as little as £750.

Severe neck injury which is associated with incomplete paraplegia or with permanent spastic quadriparesis or where the injured person still has no movement in the neck and suffers severe headaches, the amount of damages awarded could be in the region of £86,500. The compensation awarded to someone with injuries which give rise to severe disabilities could be in the region of £38,175 to £76,350.

With injuries which cause severe damage to soft tissues and or ruptured tendons the amount you could be entitled too could be in the region of £32,000. The precise amount would depend the prognosis and the length of time during which the most serious symptoms are more bearable.

Fracture injuries or dislocations which cause severe immediate symptoms and which may necessitate spinal fusion could fetch in the region of £14,500 to £19,100. Fractures can leave markedly impaired function or vulnerability to further trauma and some limitation of activities.

Moderate cases involving whiplash or wrenching type injuries can result in cervical spondylosis, serious limitation of movement with permanent or recurring pain and stiffness with the possible need for further surgery. For this moderate case the amount you would be entitled to would be in the region of £8,150 to £14,500.
The type of injuries which may have exacerbated or accelerated some pre-existing unrelated condition but they may have made a complete recovery. The amount you may be entitled too could be in the region of £4,575 to £8,150. This will also apply to moderate whiplash injuries.

The more minor cases where a full recovery takes place within a couple of years the amount would be in the region of £2,550 to £4,575. For a complete recovery that takes a few weeks or months the amount would be £750 to £2,550.
If any of these describes your injury and you believe the accident was not your fault then you should claim compensation. Over 2 million people in the UK have accidents each year, and very few claim compensation. Seeking compensation for pain and suffering your civil and legal right and claiming compensation is very easy. The financial loss you would be compensated for could be due to loss of earnings or due to damages to your car or any other personal items. For very severe cases people may have to adapt their homes to deal with the injury permanently. Or they may have lost their job and are no longer able to work; stress depression and anxiety are all illnesses that may not have occurred if the accident had never happened. This is why it is ethically right that people should have the opportunity to claim compensation for their injuries however mild or severe they maybe.

No win no fee (Conditional fee agreements) were first introduced in 1995 when legal aid was still available for personal injury cases. The reason it was introduced was to give the people with incomes above legal aid eligibility limits the chance to fund personal injury litigation. People whose income was just about the limit were still finding it difficult to pay for a solicitor. This "no win no fee" agreement eventually became available to fund most civil cases and the consequence of this was that legal aid was abolished 2000. Contrary to popular belief there has not been a compensation boom, in fact the number of claims has dropped since this time.

So if you have damaged your neck and have suffered whiplash you should be seeking out an accident claims solicitor. Ignore the stigma attached, and find yourself a solicitor that offers free impartial advice and one that has years of experience dealing with accident claims.