Whiplash is a common neck strain injury, particularly common in car crashes. While some cases are relatively mild, many people experience long-term complications that detract from their quality of life. If a negligent driver in North Carolina caused an accident that left you with whiplash, you have the right to hold them accountable for your losses with the help of a whiplash lawyer.
The North Carolina attorneys of Kreger Brodish, LLP, are ready to discuss your legal options and help you pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. We want you to settle for more – more attention from your attorneys, more personalized legal strategies, and more than you would expect from a law firm.
Since 2010, our firm has fought negligent drivers and their insurers on behalf of injured people like you, recovering the money they needed to move on with their lives. Contact our Durham, Greensboro, and Raleigh offices today for a complimentary consultation and learn how we can help with your case.
Symptoms of a Whiplash Injury
Whiplash is often an invisible injury. While sometimes its symptoms are immediately noticeable, in other cases, they don’t appear until hours or days after a car accident.
Some whiplash symptoms include:
- Pain and aching – Whiplash patients often feel neck, shoulder, arm, and upper back pain. Some people experience headaches that start close to the neck, making it harder for them to sleep.
- Lost range of motion – After a whiplash injury, your neck might feel stiffer than usual. You might experience pain when moving your head from side to side.
- Neurological symptoms – You might feel dizzy or tired, and it could be more challenging to concentrate and remember things at home or work.
Long-Term Consequences of a Whiplash Injury
Some whiplash patients experience long-term effects, such as:
- Chronic neck, shoulder, back, and jaw pain
- Chronic headaches
- Tinnitus (ringing ears)
- Tingling or numbness in the limbs
- Vision problems
- Insomnia
- Weaker concentration and memory
The earlier someone begins treatment, the less likely they are to develop long-term effects.
Proving a Whiplash Injury Was Caused by an Accident
Working with our experienced and successful North Carolina whiplash lawyers is the first step to proving your injuries were caused by the accident you were involved in. As we build your case, we can examine the following different types of evidence:
- Medical records and testimony – Medical documentation can speak to your symptoms as well as suggest an underlying cause. Your lawyer can request medical records and treatment files. We can also ask your doctor, a third-party physician, or other health professionals to explain how the whiplash likely happened.
- Police accident reports – If the police responded to the accident, they likely made an accident report documenting their initial investigation. This document can provide helpful information and impartial evidence about what happened and who might be at fault.
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts – A reconstruction team can use data about the crash to determine how it happened, who was at fault, and how it led to your whiplash injuries.
- Photographic evidence – This can include dashcam video, photos or videos from bystanders, and security footage from nearby homes and businesses.
Your lawyer must also show how whiplash complications have affected your quality of life. We could use any of these types of evidence to do so:
- Statements from friends or family members who have seen the effects of your injuries
- Paystubs and income statements documenting your lost wages
- Medical testimony about your treatment and prognosis
- Reports from a therapist on how the injury affected your mental and emotional health
- Testimony from vocational experts on how the injury hinders your job performance
Your lawyer’s investigation should be thorough, not rushed. The more high-quality evidence we find, the better your odds of a favorable outcome.
Compensation Available for Whiplash Injury Victims
Most personal injury cases settle before going to trial. Even while pursuing a lawsuit, our attorneys can work to negotiate a fair whiplash settlement with the negligent person’s insurer. Depending on the specifics of the case, this could include money for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Rehabilitation costs
- Loss of earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring or disfigurement compensation
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of household services
- Property damage
Statute of Limitations for a Whiplash Injury Claim in North Carolina
Under North Carolina’s statute of limitations on personal injury actions, you have three years from the date of a car accident to file a whiplash lawsuit. If you file after the deadline passes, the court will most likely dismiss the case, meaning you’d lose your right to demand compensation in court.
Preparing a solid, convincing case takes time and effort. The sooner you hire an attorney, the more time they’ll have to prepare, and the better outcome you could have.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help with Your Whiplash Injury Case?
A whiplash injury is stressful enough. You deserve an attorney who can do the hard work for you while keeping you aware of your rights and up-to-date on the progression of your case. That is where our personal injury lawyers and support team come in.
While you focus on your recovery, we can handle every stage of the legal process, including:
- Evaluating your case and determining the full extent of your losses
- Investigating what happened and gathering evidence
- Filing insurance claims
- Writing demand letters
- Negotiating with insurers from a position of strength
- Representing you in mediation
- Arguing your case at trial if necessary
Contact the Whiplash Lawyers at Kreger Brodish, LLP, for a Free Consultation
Did you suffer whiplash in a car accident in North Carolina? The neck injury attorneys of Kreger Brodish, LLP, are ready to answer your legal questions during a free consultation.
Our founder, a former insurance adjuster, knows the tactics that these large corporations use to protect their profits. We’re ready to apply that knowledge to your case, which we’ll pursue at no upfront cost to you.
Reach out to our Durham personal injury lawyer today to get started. The free claim review is completely confidential and comes with no further obligations on your part.
