Whiplash Injury Attorney

Have You Been Injured by Whiplash in a Car Accident?

Whiplash affects about 83% of people involved in motor vehicle accidents, making it the most common injury our whiplash injury attorneys see in these types of crashes. An increase in the quantity and frequency of these injuries over time is related to the fact that rear-end collisions have also increased.

The term “whiplash” is a colloquial and non-medical one. The mechanism of neck movement that describes the injury is called cervical acceleration-deceleration, while the family of symptoms and diagnoses that classify as this type of injury are collectively referred to as whiplash associate disorders or WAD. Whiplash injuries are poorly understood by medical community standards.

However, studies on treatment have reported success in recovery outcomes, and patients suffering from this ailment can often expect positive future outcomes. Still, the road to recovery for a traumatic whiplash injury can be a bumpy one, and some patients endure chronic residual pain for months or years, and others risk life-threatening late sequelae such as cervical artery dissection.

The dedicated team at Thompson Law is here for you following your accident or collision and whiplash injury. The Thompson Law team is made up of an experienced and tough group of litigators and legal experts. These tenacious legal professionals are prepared to stand up to the insurance companies and agencies that are keeping you from your maximum rightful settlement.

Your injuries, pain, and suffering are important, and you deserve the best whiplash lawyers on your side when the time comes to make your case. If you have suffered a serious neck, back, or whiplash injury, call Thompson Law right away. Our caring and skilled team of whiplash injury attorneys is standing by 24/7 to take your call and get to work for you.

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Causes of Whiplash

The most common causes of whiplash are auto accidents. Typically, this injury occurs at the end of the crash event and frequently results from rear-end collisions. The injury itself is a result of exceptional force being applied to the neck in such a way that the neck and head are forced outside of their normal range of motion. This hyper-extension can take the form of a forced “s” shape to the spine and an untenable force and weight load to the lumbar spine and cervical spine. This is what results in injuries to the muscle, tendons, and ligaments in and around the neck.

A few other causes of whiplash injury frequently seen by our whiplash injury attorneys include:

Regardless of how your injury occurred, a whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law may be able to help. Call us today for a FREE CONSULTATION to tell us about your accident, and learn how our law firm can assist you.

Diagnoses and Severities of Whiplash 

Whiplash is a non-medical term used to refer to injuries of the soft tissue of the neck. Medical diagnoses of the various conditions that are colloquially described as whiplash may include specific terms of cervical strain, sprain, or hyper-extension; for example, acceleration flexion-extension neck injury or soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury. After your accident, your doctor will conduct an exam to determine the scope and severity of your neck injury and classify it accordingly. The exam may include the following:

  • Observation of your movements and strength
  • Assessment of your alertness and focus
  • Inspection of your skin for bruises or abrasions
  • Touch and pressure on your neck to test local sensitivity
  • Questions about sensations in the body, such as tingling, numbness, etc.
  • X-rays
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Computed Tomography (CT) scan

Whiplash can often be self-diagnosed due to its signature symptoms. However, as with all health-related matters, it is always best to confirm injuries and ailments with medical professionals. Expert diagnosis results in a better understanding of the injury, leading to ideal healing and recovery strategy. In the context of personal injury claims, it is essential that you are checked out by a medical professional who can confirm the specific medical designation of your neck/back injury and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment.

An additional reason to visit with a healthcare professional if you suspect a whiplash injury after your accident is because whiplash can range in severity depending on a range of factors. The specific circumstances of the wreck or accident that caused the injury will impact the intensity of the injury. Help your doctor predict the best recovery strategy and set expectations for the course of treatment by sharing information about your accident and following their guidance. Factors that can play a role in the severity of a neck injury include:

  • The cause of the impact
  • The force of the impact that caused the injury
  • A prior neck or back injury
  • A history of head, neck, or back injuries
  • Position of the body prior to the impact
  • Multiple impacts from several angles

After the injury is sustained and the doctor has completed the examination, the severity of the injury in medical terms may be classified in a 0-4 graded scale developed by the Quebec Task Force on whiplash-associated disorders and adapted by the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Department of Neurological Surgery.

Grade Classification
0 No complaint about the neck. No physical signs
I Neck complaint of pain, stiffness or tenderness only. No physical signs
II Neck complaint and musculoskeletal signs. Musculoskeletal signs include decreased range of motion and point tenderness
III Neck complaint and neurological signs. Neurological signs include decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes, weakness and sensory deficits
IV Neck complaint and fracture or dislocation

When you suffer a whiplash injury in an accident caused by a negligent person or entity, you need strong legal representation to protect your right to compensation for those injuries. Call a whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law today for a FREE CASE REVIEW. We can answer your questions and help you understand your legal rights, with no obligation to hire our firm.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Symptoms of whiplash can range in intensity depending on the force that caused the injury, the particular physicality of the individual, the time since the injury, and other factors. Symptoms typically fall into 3 categories, and you may experience some, none, or all of these with your whiplash experience.

Pain                                                            Sensory                                 Cognitive                           
Neck Pain Neck Stiffness Concentration Problems
Shoulder Pain Dizziness Focus Problems
Low Back Pain Numbness in Arm Memory Problems
Arm Pain Numbness in Hand Sleeplessness
Hand Pain Ringing in Ears (tinnitus) Stress or Anxiety
Tempromandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain Blurred Vision Irritability
Tiredness Depression
Nausea
Sensitivity to Noise
Sensitivity to Light

If you were involved in any type of accident caused by another person or entity’s negligent actions and are experiencing these types of symptoms, you need a whiplash injury attorney to protect your right to compensation. Call one of our whiplash injury lawyers at Thompson Law today for a FREE CONSULATION. We can answer your questions, explain your legal rights, and have an attorney at our law firm start working on your case today.

At Thompson Law

We provide whiplash victims with dedicated and tenacious legal representation, ensuring that you get fair value for your claim. A whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law will build a strong case with supporting evidence so that you recover the money that you deserve.

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Whiplash Facts  

Who Does It Impact and Is It Preventable?

Prior to the popularization of the car, whiplash injuries were called “railway spine” because they were most frequently seen in train collisions. In the current day, car crashes are the most common reason for sustaining whiplash. Occurrence is extremely common – impacting 83% of people involved in car wrecks.

Prevention of whiplash is tremendously difficult. Adjusting the height and fit of your car headrest for you and your passengers’ height and stature can help mitigate the risk and severity of this neck injury. However, the minor successes illustrated in studies of improved head restraint systems are very insignificant – only about 5-10% improvement. More study and innovation are required and in development for multiple types of head restraints: standard, integrated, adjustable, active, and automatically adjusting.

  • Whiplash injuries can happen when a car travels at very low speeds, with medical sources citing 5 – 15mph as the minimum speed required to result in neck damage.
  • Females are more than twice as likely to suffer from whiplash as males when the cause is a motor vehicle incident, and they are more likely to suffer long term chronic injury from the whiplash incident.
  • Children suffer the same symptoms as adults, however, they are at greater risk for damage with whiplash injuries due to their muscles and ligaments being more pliable than adults’.
  • Rear-impact crashes are the most common type of crash to cause whiplash, as this type of accident most straightforwardly causes the rapid back and forth motion of the head and neck.

If you are the victim of a whiplash injury due to someone else’s negligent actions, call a whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law today for a FREE CASE EVALUATION.

Treatment and Recovery After a Whiplash Injury

In some cases, symptoms can be managed by home treatments to help with pain, discomfort, and disorientation. In others, doctors and chiropractors may prescribe specific medical treatments or therapies. Advised treatment is based on the severity of the neck damage, body composition and tolerances, age, health, prior or concurrent injuries, medications, and patient preferences.

Standard recommendations for treatment across the medical community include:

  • Ice applications for the first 24 hours
  • Cervical collar, with limited use (less than 3 hours at a time)
  • Gentle, active movement after 24 hours
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
  • Muscle relaxing medications
  • Physical therapy

Still, some disagreement exists in the medical community around whiplash, and particularly around the treatment that should take place in the first 24-48 hours after the injury is sustained. The core of the debate has to do with how much motion is advisable in this period. Some experts maintain a belief that wearing a soft collar and limiting movement protects the neck from further damage, while others suggest that some muscle movement is beneficial to a quicker and easier recovery.

Fortunately, for most people whiplash pain is corrected or resolved within a couple of weeks to a few months. Still, lingering pain may persist for longer. There is a lack of consensus in medical research as to the duration of symptoms and injury. Some studies have indicated that 25-40% of patients experience symptoms through the 1-year mark, and others indicate about 40% of patients experience pain past the 7-year mark. Around the measurables of these studies, there are a lot of remaining questions about what patients can expect in their journey to recovery.

Despite the ongoing scientific study, it is extremely important to trust the advice of your doctor and follow their guidance for your specific recovery, and it may be helpful to keep in mind that there is a chance that your injury may be more impactful and long-lasting than initially anticipated. While you focus on your health, turn to your compassionate and expert legal team at Thompson Law.

Your Thompson Law whiplash injury attorney and their legal team will fight the insurance companies and your accident’s at-fault parties for you. Their commitment to the optimum outcome and your maximum rightful compensation drives everything they do. Being patient with the recovery process and taking good care of yourself is essential. Protect your right to compensation for your injuries and call a whiplash injury lawyer at Thompson Law today for a FREE CASE REVIEW.

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(844) 308-8180

Financial Impacts of Whiplash

Over ten years ago, the overall economic burden of whiplash was estimated at $3.9 billion annually and over $29 billion if litigation was added in with the factors of medical care, disability, and sick leave. In today’s dollars this would be $4,825,728,506 and $35,883,622,228 respectively.

The secondary impacts that result from this type of injury are the ramifications to your life. Pain from whiplash can result in missed work and lost wages, adding financial strain on top of physical pain. Auxiliary injuries can occur as you strain other parts of your musculature system to avoid the pain in your neck.

Thompson Law understands how difficult it can be to return to life as usual after a serious accident. Our passion is in fighting for just compensation for our clients. See our track record of successful settlements related to whiplash and other related complications and injuries.

Traumatic head injuries, closed head injuries, permanent brain injury, spinal cord injury, quadriplegia, and other skull and spine damage can interact and intertwine with whiplash injuries from an accident. If you or someone you love have suffered harm in an accident, reach out to Thompson Law right away for the help and justice you deserve.

Call a whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law today for a FREE CONSULTATION. Protect your right to compensation for your injuries caused by another person’s negligence.

How Thompson Law Can Help You

Call Our Whiplash Injury Attorneys for a FREE CONSULT

Have you suffered a whiplash injury from a motor vehicle, workplace, slip, and fall, or another type of accident? Our whiplash injury attorneys truly understand the painful, frustrating, and expensive implications that these injuries can have on your body and your life.

An empathetic whiplash injury attorney at our firm is standing by 24/7 to speak with you about your accident and resulting injuries. The consultation is free, and there’s no fee unless your whiplash injury attorney recovers compensation for your injuries.

Whiplash injury attorneys no win no fee

When you reach out to the Thompson Law firm following your whiplash injury, we will assign a whiplash injury attorney and their team to guide you every step of the way through your claim and case process. You whiplash injury attorney will be able to examine and investigate every detail of the events surrounding your injury.

Armed with this information, your whiplash injury attorney and dedicated team of paralegals and legal assistants will go to battle for your best possible settlement and your highest rightful compensation. Our results speak for themselves, and our passion to seek justice for our clients is limitless.

Suffering a traumatic whiplash injury like this after a serious accident can make recovery and healing a full-time job. Take care, focus on your health, and leave the hard work of fighting the insurance companies and at-fault parties to your trusted whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law.

See What Clients Say About Thompson Law

Office Location: 3300 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75219

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I was rear-ended while pregnant so the last thing I needed was to deal with insurance companies regarding my claims, Dina, Jeff and Genesis were great. They always returned my calls and answered all my questions. I really recommend Thompson Law if you find yourself in a car accident.
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Personal Injury FAQs

Personal Injury

If you are injured in any type of accident, your first priority should be to seek immediate medical attention, even if you are not certain that you are injured. Seeking immediate medical treatment does two things: 1) it ensures injuries you sustained are diagnosed and treated; and, 2) it helps eliminate any doubt by the insurance company that your injuries were caused by the accident.

Often, the shock and adrenaline of an accident can mask symptoms of injuries, so making the mistake of skipping a medical examination can have profound consequences. By seeking prompt medical treatment, you protect both your health and your ability to seek compensation for your injuries with the help of your attorney.

If you were in a motor vehicle accident we have also detailed here what to do after a car accident.

A skilled personal injury lawyer is necessary to get full and fair compensation for injuries you sustained in an accident. Most defendants, whether individual drivers or commercial vehicle operators, are covered by liability insurance. Those insurance companies are not obligated to protect or take care of you. Insurance companies exist to protect the defendant (their customer) who caused the wreck. 

A personal injury attorney can help you obtain compensation for every category of damages to which you are legally entitled. These damages can include things like: medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain & suffering, punitive damages, loss of limb, diminished mental function, physical impairment, scarring or disfigurement, emotional or mental trauma, and loss of consortium (in wrongful death claims). Further, you may be entitled to future medical bills, future lost income, future pain and suffering, and other damages in severe injury cases.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage can help save the day if you are hit by an uninsured driver or if you are the victim in a hit-and-run collision. In short, UM coverage is an add-on coverage that drivers can add to their auto insurance policies that will protect them in the event that they are in an auto accident with a driver who either does not have insurance or cannot be located. You can contact your insurance provider to confirm whether your policy includes UM. If you do not have this coverage, the personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law recommend that you consider adding UM to your auto insurance policy today. 

Absolutely not. It’s important to leave the investigation to the professionals. They know exactly how to work a case to determine all of the facts and details.

Some of the most devastating injuries caused by careless driving happen to pedestrians. As a pedestrian, you have the same right to be free from injury and harm caused by the irresponsibility, error, or negligence of others as any motorist on the road. In is important to obtain the services of an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible if you are injured as a pedestrian. The right attorney will see that you receive the medical care you need, guide your damage claim process, and receive full compensation for your injuries.  

Typically, yes. If a family member is seriously injured or killed in an accident, or if the injured party is a minor child, then it may be appropriate under the law for a parent, spouse, relative, or legal guardian to file a claim or lawsuit on behalf of the injured or deceased party.  These types of claims are complex, and usually depend on the type of relationship involved, as well as the individual facts and circumstances of the injury. Calling the experienced personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law is step one to explore filing a legal claim on behalf of your loved one. 

If the other vehicle involved in your crash was an 18 wheeler or another commercial vehicle, call an attorney immediately. Companies who own commercial vehicles and 18 wheelers often have their own team of investigators who will arrive on the scene immediately working on the driver’s defense case. The sooner you involve an attorney of your own, the better your chances are of receiving compensation for your injuries and damages.

No. They aren’t trying to help you. They’re trying to protect their drivers and reduce their costs. That’s why they have a team of lawyers ready to flock to the scene of any accident. Don’t accept any form of compensation until you talk to your attorney. Most victims of 18 wheeler crashes sustain more injuries than victims of normal crashes, and can receive higher compensation as a result. Don’t let them fool you into accepting a smaller payout for your injuries and damages. Your injuries could require years of medications and surgeries, and the company will try everything to avoid making huge payouts. Call your attorney and let them do the negotiating on your behalf.

The best personal injury attorney has three major characteristics: Excellent customer service, cutting edge technology, and a willingness to take cases and win at trial. Ask your potential attorney about the client experience they offer, what kind of technology they use to make your life easier, and when was the last time they took a case to jury trial. Asking these types of questions will give you guidance on what kind of experience you can expect as a client and what kind of results you can expect at the end of your case.

Thompson Law has high ratings from clients for its emphasis on customer service, and its attorneys have achieved significant results on small, large, and complex cases alike. No matter if you have been involved in a minor car wreck or are dealing with catastrophic injuries from a rarer and more devastating event like a terrible workplace accident, dog bite, or an 18 wheeler wreck, Thompson Law can assist you.  

Yes! Thompson Law is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide free consultations. If you have been injured in a truck wreck or car accident, hurt in a slip and fall incident, or otherwise injured from the negligence of another person or party, give us a call any time at 1-800-LION-LAW. We can speak to you over the phone, chat online through our website or social media outlets, or arrange an in-person meeting at your convenience. Our team is ready to help! 

An insurance company will not pay medical expenses or other damages as they come due; rather, after they have accepted liability, the insurance company will make a one-time, lump-sum final payment only at the end of your case.  Dealing with medical expenses, and obtaining the proper medical care, after an accident can be tricky. But it does not have to be! Call the personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law, who can explain how to deal with the “day-of” hospital bills, how to continue to receive the care you need, and ultimately how to recover an appropriate settlement that takes care of your bills from the incident as well as fair and just compensation for you.

Let’s be honest: this isn’t a legal show on TV and your case will not settle in the next hour – or even tomorrow.  The true answer is: it depends.  We find that most cases settle within 7-10 months from date of incident; but the timeframe in your case could be shorter or longer depending on: the facts and circumstances of the accident; the length of time it takes you to complete medical treatment; and the character of the insurance company, or companies, involved in your case.  In the event that your case cannot settle pre-litigation and it becomes necessary to file a lawsuit, the litigation process alone can take 1 to 2 years due to the court system and legal process necessary to prepare for trial.  But because so much of the timeline depends on the facts and circumstances of your unique case, call Thompson Law today to discuss the personal injury claims process

Thompson Law Guarantee

Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.

State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.