What Does Whiplash Mean, and How Can a Muncie Personal Injury Lawyer Help?

October 30, 2024

Car crashes are an unfortunate fact of life in Muncie, where 1,967 collisions took place in 2022 alone. Muncie car accidents can inflict a number of grievous injuries, among them whiplash, for which compensation may be available when somebody else is to blame.  Moreover, the amount that you obtain could increase significantly if you hire an attorney.  What does whiplash mean, and how can a Muncie personal injury lawyer help?  Join us as we explain the merits of retaining skilled legal assistance for automotive injuries. 

What Is Whiplash? 

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury of the neck that occurs when the head is thrown backwards and forwards violently in a way that recalls the cracking of a whip, potentially damaging the muscles, ligaments, nerves, bones, and discs and resulting in such symptoms as: 

• Pain, stiffness, or restricted motion in the neck 

• Shoulder, upper back, or arm tenderness 

• Numbness or tingling in the arms 

• Dizziness 

• Fatigue 

• Headaches radiating from the base of the skull 

Whiplash injuries can range in severity from mild to extreme, with some instances healing over a period of days and others demanding more intensive medical intervention that could involve the use of oral pain medications, injections, electrical stimulation, or physical therapy. 

The Challenge of Whiplash Injury Claims 

While sports injuries, falls, and other traumatic events could lead to whiplash, the condition is predominantly caused by rear-end car crashes, which are the most frequent kinds of two-vehicle accidents.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, whiplash is very common, with around three million cases in the United States each year, accounting for over 65 percent of bodily injury claims nationwide.   

Nevertheless, the high rate at which these claims are brought can pose a challenge to motorists who are looking to be fairly compensated for whiplash injuries stemming from Muncie car accidents.  Insurance companies may be likely to express skepticism when they encounter “yet another” allegation of whiplash, so much so that they may decide to offer pennies on the dollar to claimants who cannot produce strong proof of their legitimacy.   

Consequently, some victims could find it hard to pay for the care that they need for their whiplash injuries, especially if they are already having trouble making ends meet because of them. 

What a Muncie Personal Injury Attorney Can Do for Your Case 

This is where a knowledgeable Muncie personal injury attorney can make a difference.  A lawyer with years or even decades of experience handling whiplash injury claims will be better equipped to meet a jaded insurance adjuster on a level playing field, fending off the tricks and tactics that would otherwise be deployed to minimize the value of your claim. 

Your attorney will begin by launching a comprehensive investigation into your whiplash injury and each of the parties who contributed to it, establishing valid claims against them all within the time allotted by law, and moving swiftly to amass the materials to build your claim.  This will include securing evidence that details the liability of the defendants, the nature of your whiplash injury, and the losses associated with it, like your: 

• Past, present, and future bills 

• Lost wages 

• Diminished earning capacity 

• Pain and suffering 

• Psychological anguish 

• Mobility limitations 

• Loss of consortium (if applicable) 

After putting together an airtight case against the individuals and entities who harmed you, your lawyer will enter into negotiations with their insurance carriers.  When forced to confront the extent of your damages and the depth of the insured’s guilt, a sensible adjuster may be convinced to tender a generous settlement rather than risk a worse verdict at trial.  It is a key reason why the wrongfully injured receive 3.5 times more on average with attorneys than they would without them. 

Many personal injury cases are resolved outside of the courtroom, though a trial may be unavoidable when you are contending with a stubborn insurer who refuses to act in good faith.  If that should happen, it will be critical to partner with a seasoned Muncie personal injury lawyer.  Whereas plaintiffs who represent themselves in court lose about 96 percent of their cases, plaintiffs with professional representation are favored to win.   

And if your attorney can manage to convey everything that you have lost to a receptive jury, you might be able to recover the resources necessary to become whole again.  

Reach Out to Our Muncie Personal Injury Lawyers 

Hensley Legal Group has been fighting on behalf of honest Hoosiers just like you since the firm first opened its doors in 1998.  If you have been seriously hurt through no fault of your own, reach out to our Muncie personal injury lawyers to explore your legal options.  

You can schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Muncie personal injury attorney by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form today.