Thousands of people in the UK sustain injuries in car accidents every year. Injuries can vary in their degree of severity and may depend on whether the victim was the driver or passenger in a vehicle, or perhaps even a pedestrian, cyclist or other road user.
This post aims to discuss whether you might be entitled to any sort of compensation if you have been involved in a car accident, with particular reference to the types of injuries that you may have sustained.
Are you entitled to compensation?
If you or someone you love has been involved in a road traffic accident and you believe that another person is to blame, then you might be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries or losses. The amount that you could be entitled to will depend on several factors – these include any expenses incurred or earnings lost as a result of the injury, as well as the seriousness of the injury itself and the impact it has had on your life. In order for your compensation claim to have a better chance of succeeding, you should collect information about the accident, including the time, weather conditions and contact details of any witnesses.
What sort of injury have you suffered?
Injuries suffered in road traffic accidents can vary depending on where you were seated in the vehicle, or indeed whether you were even in the vehicle at the time the accident occurred. The most common claim from people who are injured inside a vehicle is for whiplash, which is an injury to the neck, shoulders or back that can occur as a result of sudden impact. Other potential injuries include internal bleeding, broken bones and brain damage. It is important to ensure that you receive medical attention if you have been involved in a road traffic accident. This will not only aid your recovery, but should increase your chances with any compensation claim made.
Whiplash injuries
Whiplash injuries are by far the most common type of injury suffered in a road traffic accident and usually happen when one vehicle hits the back of another. The impact can cause the head to be thrown backwards and forwards very rapidly, causing injury to the neck. Whiplash symptoms tend to develop several hours after the accident and can include difficulty turning the neck, headaches, dizziness and muscle spasms. In the most severe cases, whiplash can also result in a permanent disability.
To claim compensation for whiplash injuries and any costs or losses incurred as a result, which can be considerable if you need to take time off work, you will need to find a lawyer to take on your case who can assist you with your compensation claim. Most lawyers who do this type of work will operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means that you are not required to pay them if you lose your case.