Average Settlement Payout for Whiplash Injury?

If you suffer from whiplash injuries from a car accident in Montana, you understand how painful and debilitating this injury can be. While most whiplash injuries can dissipate within a week after an accident, many victims suffer from chronic pain and limited mobility for months. However, the claims process to obtain compensation for these injuries can be lengthy and challenging. The final settlement amount depends on numerous factors, such as duration and severity of pain.

What Is a Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs commonly in car accidents, caused by a sudden acceleration-deceleration force. The neck whips back and forward in an uncontrollable, unrestrained movement. As a result, injury occurs to the bones and soft tissues in the neck and spine. Patients who suffer from whiplash report painful, debilitating symptoms.

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Shoulder pain and stiffness
• Arm pain and weakness
• Dizziness and fatigue
• Headaches and jaw pain
• Ringing in the ears
• Back pain

Very severe whiplash cases can lead to behavioral and mental symptoms that last for months. These symptoms can include stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression, anger, drug dependency, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many whiplash symptoms can take up to a week to appear, and another week to dissipate. However, severe cases can last up to a year, causing the victim significant pain and distress.

Determining Factors in Whiplash Settlements

The amount of compensation you could receive in a whiplash settlement depends on the duration and severity of your pain, as well as the number of tangible expenses you incurred due to the injury. You may not know the extent of your injuries until days or weeks after your injury, and you will need a professional assessment to determine the damage.

Another contributing factor in whiplash settlements is the ongoing and immediate medical issues your injuries pose to you. For example, you may experience chronic pain and limited mobility as a result of whiplash. You may suffer damage to the highest vertebrae in your spinal cord, which can cause ongoing stiffness, tingling, numbness, and other symptoms.

In most cases, the more severe the injury, the higher the final settlement will be. However, you will need to prove that an at-fault party caused you harm, you suffered these injuries, and incurred damages because of the whiplash. For best results, obtain the services of a Montana personal injury attorney and visit a doctor to receive a professional evaluation.

Typical Settlement Amounts in Whiplash Cases

The amount of money you will receive as compensation for your whiplash case will vary based on your circumstances. You can claim damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, among other costs that your attorney can help you calculate. On average, cases involving mild to moderate whiplash could range between $2,500 and $10,000 in settlements.

For more serious whiplash cases, additional factors come into play. You may have to seek extensive treatment, such as physical therapy, which could add up over several months. In addition, your non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering and disability, may be more severe in serious whiplash cases. Your whiplash settlement could total over $100,000 if you experienced a severe injury.

Do You Need an Attorney for Your Whiplash Case?

If you suffered a whiplash injury, hiring an attorney to represent your lawsuit will provide numerous benefits for your case. An attorney can help you receive a medical evaluation for your injuries and connect with medical experts who can provide testimony on your behalf. They will have the resources and connections necessary to help you build a strong and compelling case to seek optimal compensation.

Due to the nature of whiplash injuries, many courts and insurance companies often write them off as nuisance injuries instead of debilitating ones. Whiplash injuries can cause significant distress to you and have an impact on your day-to-day life. If you have not yet sought an attorney for your whiplash case, contact one as soon as possible.