You have recently been in a car accident. Maybe you were rear-ended and the damage was minimal, so you exchanged insurance information and drove home. The following day you wake up with a stiff neck and back pain so severe you don’t know if you will even go to work.
Whiplash may take days to show up after the events of a car accident, no matter the severity of the crash. A car going as slow as 14 miles an hour may jerk you around enough upon collision to cause considerable amounts of damage to your body. If you have been in a car accident and already exchanged insurance information, is there anything you can do about your newly-discovered medical problems? Contact our law offices at Knutson + Casey today to speak to a dedicated Minneapolis whiplash injury lawyer who will discuss what legal options you may be able to take.
For many people, if they feel that the damage to their car is minimal and the accident wasn’t severe, they won’t bother getting medical attention after a car accident. Unless the injury is evident almost immediately after the crash, they don’t schedule a visit to a medical doctor after.
Whiplash is a unique injury in that it may take hours or even days to present itself. Your body may be so full of adrenaline and nerves from the accident you don’t feel anything until you are back home. A whiplash injury is a trauma to the neck or back caused by rapid and sudden back and forth jerk movements to your head. The most common perpetrator of whiplash is getting rear-ended. If you experience any of the following symptoms in the hours or days following your motor vehicle accident, you may have whiplash:
If you experience any of the following, it is vital you visit your doctor as soon as possible. It is recommended you do this as soon after the crash as possible, as the earlier your doctor identifies the cause, the faster the treatment. Additionally, proven medical records help to build evidence for your personal injury claim.
Minneapolis is a “no fault” state, meaning you do not have to prove liability before filing a personal injury lawsuit. There are only 12 states in the United States who have no fault statutes currently. This requires all citizens to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance and personal injury protection insurance.
The insurance requirements do not prevent you from filing a lawsuit, however. For any damages not covered under the at-fault party’s insurance, you may file for compensation. There are specific conditions your case must meet before filing for additional compensatory damages, including:
If your whiplash injury meets this criterion, your criminal defense attorney will begin building your case and proving the other party is liable for your direct damages. They will begin to gather evidence such as medical records, traffic camera footage, and eyewitness accounts.
Your personal injury claim covers both physical and mental damages. When reviewing your case, your Minneapolis whiplash injury lawyer will help you navigate which options best encompass the extent of your injuries. They will even help come up with an accurate financial number.
Possible damages you may claim include:
Your whiplash injury may lead to many trips to the doctor and missed days at work. Your pain and suffering is unique to your specific injury, and the team of Minneapolis whiplash injury lawyers at Knutson + Casey is here to help you get fair compensation.
Call Knutson + Casey to begin the fight for your rightfully owed damages today. Our team has many years of experience and will immediately begin investigating the circumstances surrounding your whiplash injury. We will utilize police reports, medical examinations, time-sensitive traffic camera footage, and more to build up your defense and get you the most possible compensation afforded.
We know deeply the trauma a car accident may bring into someone’s life, and we are here to help with the complications you face. Let us focus on bringing your case to justice while you focus on recovering with family and friends. For a free consultation today, give us a call at (507) 344-8888 or send in our contact form.