An average of 20 per cent of people involved in a car accident sustain whiplash injuries.
It is the most common injury amongst road traffic accidents.
If you have suffered a whiplash injury, it is advisable to seek the legal assistance of a personal injury solicitor.
Your solicitor will be able to establish whether or not you are eligible to receive compensation.
Many people who have suffered a whiplash injury instruct a 'No win, No Fee' solicitor to pursue their claim.
What is whiplash? Whiplash is any injury to the soft tissue, and is usually an injury to the head or neck.
How long do I have to be eligible to make a claim for whiplash? You can still make a whiplash claim even after other injuries occur such as a head injury as well as repetitive, long-term neck damage.
There's no set time to whiplash recovery.
It could take a long time, and if you've had to be signed off work, or had to pay for any medical expenses, then you should also be compensated for any 'out of pocket' expenses too.
How do you I know if have whiplash? An X-ray will be able to confirm the symptoms or a medical assessment carried out by your GP.
Neck, arm, shoulder pain, dizziness, headache,loss of memory, depression, ringing ears and trouble concentrating are all symptoms that your doctor can diagnose as being a whiplash injury.
Any medical notes or certificates that have been written by your GP should be filed with your claim.
What is required from me when making a claim for whiplash?

• The date and time the accident happened
• The details of any witnesses at the time of the accident - these will go down as evidence to support your claim.
  
• Where did the accident happen
• Your quality of life after the accident.
  
• Any photographic evidence you might have that was taken at the scene of the accident, or of any injuries you have sustained.
  
• Make sure you keep a record or copy of any doctor certificates if you have been signed off work.
  You may be eligible to recover compensation for any financial loss you have suffered.
  
• Keep any receipts of any medical expenses you have had to pay out of your own pocket; you may also be entitled to compensation for any medical expenses that you have had to pay out of your own pocket.
  

What else do I need to know when filing a claim for whiplash?

• Witnesses at the scene of the accident have to be completely neutral to you they can not be a member of your family or friends.
  
• Make sure you take plenty of rest; whiplash can be quite painful if strained.
  
• Do not make up a false witness that was not at the scene of the accident.
  His or her story may not match up with yours and you will be committing an illegal offence.
  Besides getting yourself into a lot of trouble, you claim will also be denied.
  

How much compensation could I expect to receive? The amount of compensation you can receive for a whiplash injury is split into the following brackets:

• £750 to £2500 for minor cases where a full recovery can be made within 1 year
• £2400 to £4250 for cases where you can make a full recovery within 2 years
• £4250 to £7750 for slow recovery of more than minor whiplash symptoms with pain for a number of years
• £7750 to £13750 for permanent symptoms

The amount of damages you are likely to receive for a whiplash claim will be assessed by your personal injury solicitor using the above as a guide, whilst taking all the other factors into consideration.