Auto Accident Attorneys in Royal Palm Beach FL sometimes represent clients who have experienced whiplash injuries, which are relatively common in a rear-end collision. Symptoms can be delayed, and that can lead the insurance company to be skeptical of the person’s claim. If the insurer refuses to pay or offers an unreasonably low amount, an attorney may be successful at producing a more positive outcome.
About Whiplash
A rear-end collision can result in injuries to the neck muscles, ligaments, discs, and nerves. The main symptom of whiplash is neck pain and stiffness, which can be severe and debilitating. The pain may radiate up to the jaw, and the person may suffer from headaches. The pain also can travel down to the shoulders, back, and arms. Numbness and tingling can occur in the arms and hands. The individual may be unable to work or do much of anything else during acute bouts of discomfort.
Why Insurers Deny Claims
The insurance company may deny the claim if the person did not seek medical attention for several days or longer. Often, someone expects neck pain symptoms to go away on their own, but that may not happen. Another reason for claim denial might be if the individual had already been dealing with back pain and had sought treatment before. A doctor must order diagnostic imaging such as X-rays and MRIs and confirm the results are consistent with a whiplash injury from a rear-end collision.
Long-Term Implications
Even minor whiplash injuries can take nearly a year to heal. Auto Accident Attorneys in Royal Palm Beach FL would expect the automotive insurance company to pay for lost wages when the person is unable to work as well as for medical expenses. The patient may benefit from physical therapy sessions and might need to take prescription pain relief medication during the most intensely painful episodes.
More-severe injuries may never fully heal. Even if a disability does not result, chronic pain reduces the quality of life. A person dealing with any kind of whiplash will want to schedule a free consultation with a law firm such as Slinkman, Slinkman, & Wynne P.A to learn how best to proceed.
