If you were recently involved in a car wreck in Nashville and the incident has caused you to suffer from whiplash, there are multiple factors that will play a role in determining how much your injury claim will be worth. One of those factors is the extent of your injuries.
According to WebMD and the Mayo Clinic, there are multiple symptoms you might experience which can make your whiplash injury much more painful and harder to live with. Some of these symptoms include:
- Pain, decreased range of motion, and tightness in your neck.
- You might feel pain when moving your head from side to side and back and forth.
- Your muscles may feel tender.
- You might experience headaches at the base of the skull that radiate towards your forehead.
- Tingling or numbness in the arms.
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Sleep disturbances
- Depression
- Memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating
While some might only experience mild pain that comes and goes, others might suffer from migraines or pain that is consistent. And depending on how painful your injury is and the how it affects your ability to complete your day to day tasks are all taken into account when determining what your injury claim is worth. Aside from the level of pain you feel, the length of time you have suffered from this injury is also accounted in an injury claim settlement.
How long does it usually take to recover from a whiplash injury?
WebMD states that “recovery time depends on how serious your whiplash is.” While most individuals who suffer from it are able to recover in just a few days, others don’t feel any sign of relief until weeks or even longer as “everyone heals at a different rate.” You might find you have to take certain medications to help with your symptoms or event take time off from work if the injury affects your ability to complete your work duties. And once you begin seeing some sort of progress in your condition, you may need to start rehabilitation to help strengthen your neck muscles that weren’t being used while you were recovering.
So, you see, when you file a claim, whether it is through your insurance company or that of the at-fault driver, there are multiple factors they will look at before arriving at a settlement amount. Again, these include:
- The degree of your injury.
- The length of time it takes for you to heal.
- The impact the whiplash injury has had on your quality of life.
- The type of medical treatment you were required to receive and the period of time you received this care.
Now, once all of this information is taken into consideration, the insurance company responsible for handling the claim will determine what amount you should be paid for your pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, etc. Insurance policy limits do come into play so if you feel your injury is worth more than $2,000 or $3,000, you may need to file a personal injury claim against the negligent party who hit you. In the state of Tennessee, you can receive a maximum amount of $750,000 for non-economic damages which would be paid for things like pain and suffering and the negative impact your injury has had on your life [Source: Tennessee Bar Association].
You should also be aware that sometimes, these claims can take weeks and even months to settle as your treatments might be ongoing and you haven’t yet reached a point where you are truly seeing any progress. And if you elect to file a personal injury claim, it can take even longer as you will need to submit proof as to why you are demanding the amount you stated in your claim.
Because there is no set amount that a car wreck victim in Tennessee is entitled to for a whiplash injury, it is best you let Nashville, TN car wreck attorney George R. Fusner Jr. assess your case and help you determine what your injury is actually worth. Once this is done, then it will be easier to determine which course of action needs to be taken to recover this amount.
So, if you are interested in getting an estimate on what your auto wreck injuries are worth, contact our firm today.
You can reach the Law Office of George R. Fusner, Jr. at
7104 Peach Court
Brentwood, TN 37027
Phone- 615-251-0005
Fax- 615-370-8447
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