Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in Fort Lauderdale motor vehicle accidents. When your head snaps backward and forward in a crash, the soft tissue of your neck can sustain significant and painful damage. Yet, insurance companies often dismiss whiplash injury claims as exaggerated or entirely made up by accident victims.
You need an experienced Fort Lauderdale whiplash injury lawyer who understands how painful and debilitating whiplash injuries can be, and who knows how to hold insurance companies accountable for paying the full value of your claim.
At Rosen Injury Law, our Fort Lauderdale injury litigators have nearly 20 years of experience protecting the rights of car accident victims and helping them secure the maximum compensation possible. Let us help you with your whiplash injury claim.
Call (954) 787-1500 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.
Understanding Fort Lauderdale Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash occurs when your head suddenly jerks forward and then backward in a whip-like motion. This movement can cause the muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues in your neck to stretch beyond their normal range of motion, leading to painful sprains and tears. In addition to soft tissue damage, your cervical spine can also suffer nerve compression, herniated discs, and joint injuries.
Whiplash can happen in various ways. However, the most common cause of whiplash injuries is motor vehicle accidents, especially rear-end crashes.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash injuries may not cause symptoms for 24 to 72 hours or longer because it takes time for the injury to become inflamed and painful. Common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Reduced range of motion
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches
- Shoulder and upper back pain
- Numbness or tingling in the arms and hands
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Depression
Whiplash injuries can be challenging to diagnose and prove. Unlike broken bones, whiplash injuries do not show up on standard X-rays, and even MRIs and CT scans do not always reveal the full damage. Medical professionals must rely mainly on your reported symptoms and range of motion assessments to diagnose whiplash.
Because of the difficulty in proving the existence and severity of whiplash injuries, insurance companies often dispute your claim. You need an experienced Fort Lauderdale whiplash injury lawyer to protect your rights and help you prove the full value of your damages.
Compensation Recoverable For Fort Lauderdale Whiplash Injury Claims
The compensation you can recover for a Fort Lauderdale whiplash injury claim depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries, the strength of your case, and the available insurance coverage or other assets to pay your damages.
In a successful whiplash injury claim, you can recover economic damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other financial losses and costs incurred due to your accident and injuries.
You could also recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other intangible losses and costs.
In rare cases, you may also be awarded punitive damages. However, Florida law permits punitive damages only when the defendant is guilty of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
How Insurance Companies Fight Whiplash Claims
Insurance companies use numerous tactics to deny or devalue whiplash injury claims. They often argue that your injury is not real because it does not show up on X-rays. They may also claim that you had a pre-existing neck condition that is responsible for your current symptoms.
Insurance adjusters may pressure you to give a recorded statement quickly after your accident, hoping you will say something they can use against you. They may also ask you to sign a broad medical release that allows them to dig into your entire medical history. Again, they are hoping to find something to point to that could be responsible for your current symptoms, other than your recent accident.
You must seek medical attention immediately after an accident, even if you do not think your injuries are severe. Whiplash symptoms may not appear for a few days after the injury. Being evaluated after a car accident helps protect your health as well as your right to seek compensation for damages.
Statute of Limitations For Fort Lauderdale Whiplash Injury Claims
A statute of limitations is a law that establishes a deadline for filing a claim to recover compensation in a personal injury case. If you miss your filing deadline, you will not be able to recover compensation.
Florida’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including whiplash claims, is two years. That means you must file your claim within two years of your accident, or you will lose your right to seek damages. However, there are exceptions to the two-year filing deadline, so you must promptly consult an experienced Fort Lauderdale whiplash injury lawyer to determine your filing deadline.
In addition to knowing your filing deadline, you should seek the help of a Fort Lauderdale whiplash injury attorney quickly so they can take fast action to preserve vital evidence before it is lost or destroyed. The sooner you contact Rosen Injury Law, the sooner our team can begin working to build your strongest case and help you secure the compensation you are entitled to.
How Fort Lauderdale Whiplash Injury Lawyers Can Help
Experienced Fort Lauderdale whiplash injury lawyers can carefully investigate your accident to identify all possible causes and all potentially liable parties, take action to preserve and uncover vital evidence, and build your strongest case.
Your Fort Lauderdale truck or car attorney can help establish all your current and future damages and accurately value them so you know what a fair settlement for your claim would be. They can negotiate with insurance companies to help resolve your claim as quickly as possible, and if a fair settlement cannot be reached, they can take your case to trial to demand the full value of your damages.
Your chances of recovering maximum compensation are much greater when an experienced Fort Lauderdale whiplash injury lawyer represents you.
Schedule a Free Consultation to Discuss Your Fort Lauderdale Whiplash Injury Claim
If you have suffered a whiplash injury caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. At Rosen Injury Law, our Fort Lauderdale whiplash injury lawyers have the experience, skills, and resources to protect your rights and help you secure maximum compensation for your claim. Let us help you.
Call (954) 787-1500 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation with one of our Fort Lauderdale whiplash injury lawyers to discuss your claim.