Whiplash!

[ShellyHall]

On Monday my Sister and I were involved in a car crash. I have suffered Whiplash and have bruises over my chest from the seat belt.

The pain in my shoulder/neck/back is getting slowly worse even though I am stuffing ibuprofen and paracetamol down my neck every 4 hours (as recommended by the Nurse in casualty). I am trying to do the exercises but it's not helping much. I have been told that you can feel the affects for months, has anyone got any experience of this.

People keep telling my to make a personal injuries claim against the driver who hit us. Has anyone got experience of this? I don't want any hassle of long drawn out arguements.

[WaldoMcFroog]

What happens is that the after the initial wrenching of the muscles in the crash, other muscles try and compensate to keep your posture normal. In turn, they become over used and stretched and that's why whiplash typically gets worse over a week or so. It absolutely can go on for months and even years in bad cases.

You need to have reported your injuries to the doctor (which, by the sounds of it, you have done). Whiplash is notoriously difficult to prove and my understanding is that most insurance companies will pay up without much arguement, unlike paying for the cost of your car.

I was involved in a similar incident a year ago and my insurance company spent an hour asking me about the accident before saying, 'So, you want to make a personal injury claim then?' My wife and I had some whiplash but nothing major and we do not believe in blame culture. Since our injuries were minor we felt it would be dishonest to claim compensation. The accident was no one's fault particularly, just one of those things, and everyone involved agreed on that. The insurance company were amazed and when I said 'I just want the money to replace my car' they said I'd have to speak to someone else. They just assume you'll make a PI claim!

Your situation might be very different, but personally, I would only make a claim if I were going to suffer long terms effects and/or need medical treatment. I would also be influenced by the circumstances - if it were genuinely the case of bad driving. After all, we all pay for it in the end in our premiums. Additionally, I despair of blame culture where you can't have an accident without someone having to pay for it.

[ShellyHall]

When the insurance company were informed they immediately gave our details to a Solicitor who is to contact us this next week to discuss whether we want to proceed.

The driver who hit us admitted fault and from the damage it's pretty clear speed was a factor.

I don't want to make a claim just because I can - although the pain is excrutiating. I'll think it over over the weekend.

[Jackson74]

I do not normally condone claiming (this day and age you can claim for anything) but if you have a legitimate injury caused by an accident that was not your fault, then claim.

My brother had neck probs for 12 months+ after his smash, totally the other driver's fault (but he was reckless). He eventually received �2,000+, about two years after accident.

[kick3m0n]

see a chiropractor about your neck. my friend suffered front to back and side to side whiplash injuries after a double impact crash and the only thing that helped was her chiropractor sessions. Before seeing him she was unable to move her head sufficientlly to allow her to drive, and nhs prescribed physio, home exercises and medication had failed to help. I'm not into this whole claim/blame culture, but maybe you should think about it, as chiropractor sessions will not be cheap and you may want to continue them for some time (my friend still goes every 2 - 3 months as she has permanent damage and this is the only thing which helps keep her pain free and mobile).

[chazza]

You can feel the effects for longer than months - my mother has felt it for 25 years so far!

[kick3m0n]

chazza - you are so right, it's been 12 years since my pals car crash.

[Solarjunkie]

Ouch. A good osteopath or chiropractor is worth their weight in gold. I got through my whiplash experience much easier than others I have spoken to.

In the short term, buy one of those curved pillows that support your head perpendicular to your shoulders, it made a big difference.

[WendyS]

I suffered severe whiplash in a motorway accident over ten years ago & despite using a neck collar for 3 weeks suffered problems for years afterwards. I now have arthritis in my neck (which may or may not be a result of the crash). One problem with making a claim against the driver is that sometimes the after-effects of such an accident can take years to make themselves apparent. I didn't bother with a claim in the end but wish I had sought help from a chiropractor or somebody - it might have made a difference, and I'm sure that the fees for assistance of this kind would be legitimate to claim on insurance. Hope you soon feel better.

[matzilla]

i was hit from behind and had whiplash.the insurance company paid out about 6 months after accident.i took the settlement at the time but wish i hadnt,still having pain and physio therapy 18 months later.make sure you are 100%o.k. before taking settlement