- Whiplash Settlements Vary: Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP wants you to know that typical car accident settlement amounts for whiplash can vary widely, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on individual circumstances.
- Factors Impact Compensation: The severity and duration of the injury, its effect on daily life, medical expenses, long-term prognosis, and the quality of legal representation all play a significant role in determining whiplash compensation.
- Legal Representation is Vital: It’s crucial to have experienced car accident lawyers, like us at Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP, who can evaluate your case, guide you through the legal process, and ensure you receive fair compensation.
- Timely Action Matters: Acting promptly after a whiplash injury is essential, as delaying can affect the value of your claim. Seek medical attention, gather evidence, and consult us as your attorneys without delay.
- No Upfront Costs with Contingency Fee: When you choose Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP, you won’t need to worry about upfront costs. We typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay if we win your case, and we invest our time and resources to maximize your settlement.
Typical car accident settlement amounts for whiplash do not guarantee how much your own case may be worth, but they can give you an idea. If you’ve suffered a whiplash injury in a car accident, the award-winning lawyers at Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP, can evaluate the unique circumstances of your case and estimate the amount of compensation you may be entitled to through a lawsuit. We offer free, no-obligation consultations.
Quick Links
- Average Compensation for a Whiplash Injury
- Factors Affecting Whiplash Compensation Amounts
- Applying for Whiplash Compensation Caused by a Car Accident
- Legal Representation With Meirowitz & Wasserberg for Whiplash Compensation
- Schedule a Free Consultation With a Meirowitz & Wasserberg Car Accident Lawyer
Whiplash is an injury that occurs when the neck is forcefully swung back and forth in a manner resembling the cracking whip. This type of injury affects the cervical area of the spine, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and other symptoms. Whiplash injuries are common in car crashes because the sudden impact of a collision can thrust the entire body forward and back, which can be particularly damaging to the neck.
Typical car accident settlement amounts for whiplash should cover the damages you’ve suffered due to your injury, including medical treatment costs, lost wages, pain, and suffering. Unfortunately, because whiplash car accident claims are quite common, insurance companies often downplay their seriousness in order to reduce payouts. In many cases, they deny the value of whiplash claims altogether.
Though each case is different, understanding average whiplash compensation amounts can give you an idea of what to expect from your own claim. If you or your loved one has suffered a whiplash injury in a car accident, the experienced car accident lawyers at Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP, can estimate your likely compensation and help you navigate the legal claims process. There is no charge to have your case reviewed by a member of our team.
Average Compensation for a Whiplash Injury
A whiplash injury typically affects soft tissues, though it can also impact the vertebrae. Their severity depends on the impact of the collision and how much force the ensuing “whip” sent through the neck.
Average car crash whiplash payouts range from $10,000 to $50,000. However, this amount can increase or decrease based on your individual circumstances, including the effects of the injury on daily life and how long it takes to heal. Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all figure when it comes to whiplash settlements.
Factors Affecting Whiplash Compensation Amounts
Again, the amount you can receive as compensation for a whiplash injury after a car accident is not fixed and depends on factors unique to your case. Important factors include:
- The severity and duration of the injury – Whiplash injuries can range from minor to serious, depending on how the accident occurred. The more severe the injury, the longer it will take to heal and the higher the associated medical costs. High-value whiplash settlements tend to involve other injuries as well, such as broken bones and spinal cord injuries.
- Impact of the injury on daily life – Whiplash can also affect your day-to-day well-being, including social interactions and the ability to enjoy life. Whiplash injuries can be severe enough to prevent you from working altogether or putting in the same number of hours as before. Typical car accident settlement amounts for whiplash will be high if the injury has significantly lowered your quality of life.
- Medical costs associated with treatment – Whiplash treatments range from pain medication and physical therapy to surgery. Your total compensation should reflect the full cost of your treatment, including future medical bills incurred after you file a lawsuit.
- Long-term prognosis and any permanent damage – Your car crash whiplash payout will also depend on your doctor’s prognosis and the likely impact of the injury in the future. Cases involving injuries that cause long-term or permanent damage are likely to result in higher compensation.
- Quality of legal representation in your case – A skilled car accident attorney will start by calculating the damages you’ve suffered and informing you of your full legal rights and options. This will ensure that you are not taken advantage of and can make informed decisions. They will also gather evidence to substantiate your claim, negotiate a fair settlement, and argue your case in court if a meaningful settlement cannot be reached.
Applying for Whiplash Compensation Caused by a Car Accident
The sooner you file a claim after a whiplash injury, the sooner you’re likely to receive a settlement. Waiting too long to file can also create room for insurers to downplay the value of your claim. It also risks missing the all-important filing deadline set by the statute of limitations.
Steps to Take Immediately After an Accident
What you do in the hours, days, and weeks after a car crash can significantly impact your chances of receiving full and fair compensation for your whiplash injury. Here are some basic steps to take:
- Seek medical attention to have your injuries treated and documented.
- Report the accident so the responding officers can document the crash.
- Gather evidence, including pictures of the crash scene, notes on your daily pain levels, medical records, and receipts for related expenses.
- Avoid talking to insurers. If your own insurer calls, cooperate by providing the basic details and refer them to your attorney. If the at-fault driver’s insurer calls, you have no obligation to speak to them at all and should simply refer them to your lawyer.
- Avoid posting on social media about the accident, as insurers scour public posts looking for reasons to deny your claim.
- Consult an experienced car accident attorney to understand how much your claim is worth. This is the best way to make sure you know your rights and are not taken advantage of.
To learn more, listen to Sam Meirowitz, a founding partner at our firm, explain why you should speak to a lawyer before accepting a settlement offer from an insurance company.
Documentation and Evidence Collection
Without strong evidence, it’s easy for insurance companies to pressure you into accepting insufficient compensation. Try to gather as much evidence as possible before leaving the scene. Start by taking pictures and videos area, your injuries, nearby surveillance equipment, signs of intoxication, and anything else that may shed light on your accident.
Filing Insurance Claims and Understanding Insurance Policies
If you live in a no-fault insurance state, you’ll first file your whiplash car accident claim with your own insurer. In New York, for example, you must do so “as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event more than 30 days after the date of the accident.” But if you live in an at-fault insurance state, you’ll file directly with the negligent driver’s insurer.
To ensure you do not miss out on any compensation owed to you, it is important to understand how insurance laws work in your jurisdiction before filing. It is also essential that you do not miss the filing deadlines. Our attorneys are here to make sure you leave nothing on the table.
When and How to File a Lawsuit
When insurance companies are unwilling to fully and fairly compensate you for your injuries, you can file a lawsuit in court. A judge or jury will then evaluate the evidence from both sides, determine liability, and order a final compensation amount.
Meirowitz & Wasserberg is a nationally recognized, full-service personal injury law firm with the skills and resources needed to handle your case. We know how to prepare the legal paperwork, negotiate with insurance companies, and prepare for trial. Our top-tier legal team will stand by your side throughout the life of your case.
Legal Representation With Meirowitz & Wasserberg for Whiplash Compensation
Again, an important factor that will affect your whiplash compensation is the quality of legal representation you obtain. At Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP, we believe in the high quality of our legal services.
We have recovered over $360 million in personal injury settlements and verdicts, including through numerous car accident lawsuits. Our success in negotiating with insurance companies and confronting them in the courtroom is the result of years of hard work and tireless dedication to defending the rights of injury victims.
When you partner with our car crash lawyers, you can rest assured that your case is in capable hands. At no upfront cost to you, we will invest our time, energy, and resources in gathering strong evidence, expert testimony, witness statements, and more to maximize your neck injury car accident settlement. Because we operate on a contingency fee basis, you pay nothing unless we win your case.
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Schedule a Free Consultation With a Meirowitz & Wasserberg Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one are struggling with whiplash after a car accident, do not wait to pursue the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies may try to downplay the severity of your whiplash injuries in order to reduce your settlement. Our team will not let them get away with it.
Meirowitz & Wasserberg is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm made up of award-winning trial attorneys. We have successfully handled hundreds of car accident lawsuits and recovered millions on behalf of our clients. Call (212) 897-1988 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free case review.
