Whiplash claim solicitors
Driving is an essential part of many of our everyday lives: getting us to and from work, taking our children to school, and even giving many of us our livelihood. Safety measures on our roads and in our cars continue to improve but the number of vehicles on the road means that, sadly, accidents are always possible.
No matter how careful or conscientious we are, crashes can often cause injury to ourselves or other road users.
Whiplash injuries are one of the most frequent results of road accidents.The severity of whiplash can range from light symptoms to longer-term issues that can affect physical and mental wellbeing.
If you've suffered whiplash as a result of a road traffic accident, we understand it can be a stressful time, which is why we're here to help. As well as focusing on getting better, you may be able to claim compensation to cover any loss of earnings and to make up for some of the emotional distress suffered.
We're here to answer all your questions on whiplash symptoms and we'll take on all the legal heavy lifting when it comes to making a claim. We can also help you find out how much compensation you could be entitled to after suffering your injury.
Start your claim online
Use our market leading calculator to start your claim online. It can give you an indicative claim valuation, plus confirm if you can manage your case online through our MyAccount customer account area.
Claim onlineWhat is whiplash?
Whiplash injury happens when the head is forced into a sudden forward, backward or sideways movement. This can stretch the soft tissues of the neck, causing damage or sprains. Whiplash pain is a frequent occurrence after car accidents. An abrupt shunt from the side, in front or behind can jerk the head and neck significantly.
Whiplash injuries are not only caused by incidents on the road but can also be as a result of a slip, trip or fall.
What are the usual whiplash symptoms?
It's important to remember that whiplash symptoms can be delayed and get progressively worse in the days and weeks after an accident. Frequent symptoms include:
- Neck pain and soreness.
- Stiffness in the neck.
- Difficulty moving your head.
- Headaches.
- Muscle spasms.
- Soreness in the shoulders or arms.
Less common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Pins and needles in your hands and arms.
- Memory loss or poor concentration.
- Tiredness or irritability.
- Dizzy spells.
How long does whiplash last?
How long does whiplash last?
The amount of time before your whiplash injury begins to improve can vary significantly. Recovery depends on the severity of the collision or fall.
For some people, their symptoms last only a matter of days or weeks. For others, pain can continue for months and leave the victim in continuous and serious discomfort.
How much do you get for a whiplash claim?
How much do you get for a whiplash claim?
The rules for making a small personal injury claim following a road traffic accident changed on 31st May 2021. The government has introduced a tariff for whiplash claims linking compensation awards to the duration of the injury. They are designed to reduce the number and cost of exaggerated or fraudulent claims plus reduce motor insurance premiums for drivers. The changes mean Compensation for soft tissue and whiplash injury claims is now fixed, banded by severity, and lower than before.
The new fixed levels of compensation for soft tissue and whiplash injuries caused in road traffic accidents are shown in the table below:
| Whiplash \ soft tissue injury duration (months) | Revised damages - whiplash only | Revised damages - whiplash including mild psychological injury |
| Not more than 3 months | £240 | £260 |
| More than 3 months but not more than 6 | £495 | £520 |
| More than 6 months but not more than 9 | £840 | £895 |
| More than 9 months but not more than 12 | £1,320 | £1,390 |
| More than 12 months but not more than 15 | £2,040 | £2,125 |
| More than 15 months but not more than 18 | £3,005 | £3,100 |
| More than 18 months but not more than 24 | £4,215 | £4,345 |
Law firms are rightly held to the highest standards of professional conduct in everything they do. That includes customer service. People starting a personal injury claim after an accident can often feel vulnerable and stressed by their experience - as well as being in pain. A key part of our job is to make the claims process as compassionate, efficient and unobtrusive as possible while our customers concentrate on recovery.
Kelly Affronti
Legal & Compliance Manager, National Accident LawFrequently asked questions...
No win no fee means you will only pay your legal team if your claim is successful and you are awarded compensation.
If you win your claim, your solicitor will typically make the following deductions from the compensation you are awarded:
- A ‘success fee' for winning the claim.
- The other side will usually be required to make a payment towards your legal costs and expenses but any shortfall may also be deducted from your compensation.
- The cost of the premium for any legal protection insurance you may have needed to ensure your claim is risk free.
You keep the rest and this will always be the majority of the compensation awarded to you. The deductions we list above will only be made when your compensation is paid. There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges.
When you talk to one of our personal injury experts, we can determine if you have the right cover and help you organise insurance before you make a claim.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to make a claim on behalf of a loved one. For instance, you can claim on behalf of your child if they were injured and under the age of 18.
You may also be able to claim on behalf of an injured person who's suffered head or brain trauma, or someone who has a pre-existing medical condition which means they are unable to make a decision themselves. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is in place to protect vulnerable parties and help people establish when a person lacks capacity to make their own decision.
If you are claiming on behalf of a loved one, it is important you have all the details of their accident and medical treatment. A personal injury solicitor will be able to take you through this and explain how the compensation claim process works in these situations.
If your loved one has died due to an accident that wasn't their fault, we understand how difficult it can be to cope. While we can't take back what happened, we can help you to claim compensation which may relieve some of the financial pressure you're facing.
Determining who was at fault will depend on where your accident happened. For example, accidents at work would be the fault of your employer; accidents on the road might be the fault of another driver, and accidents in public spaces would be the responsibility of the local council.
Once you have discussed the details of your case with one of our lawyers, they will be able to help you determine who was at fault for your accident.
How do I make a whiplash claim?
How do I make a whiplash claim?
Here at National Accident Law, we understand that suffering from whiplash symptoms is already a painful experience. That's why we want to make your process of making a compensation claim as simple and hassle-free as possible.
So, if you've suffered a whiplash injury and feel you may be entitled to compensation, simply fill out our claim online form to see if you can manage your case all online through our MyAccount customer area. Our expert, friendly team will do everything they can to help you.