Whiplash Claims

Whiplash is the most common injury caused by car accidents. If you’ve suffered from one, you could claim compensation.

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What is whiplash?

Whiplash is the most frequently sustained injury in road traffic accidents in the UK. But this isn’t the only way it can be caused.

Any sudden movement of the head and neck can cause a whiplash injury. This can happen during certain contact sports and slips and falls.

Whiplash affects the soft tissues – the ligaments and tendons – in the neck. The neck can suffer from sprains and strains in the same way body parts like ankles and wrists can.

Making a whiplash claim

If you’ve been involved in an accident that caused a whiplash injury, you could be able to make a claim for compensation.

You could claim compensation for whiplash if you were hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault and happened in the last three years.

It’s possible to claim if you were the driver or a passenger in a car that was hit by another vehicle. You can also make a claim against the driver of the car you were a passenger in if they were responsible for the accident.

The government has introduced new laws around claiming for whiplash, including setting up an online portal, which you use to claim yourself. But we are still here to offer assistance and help you make a compensation claim.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

Whiplash can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on how severe the injury is.

Some of the most common whiplash symptoms include:

  • Neck pain
  • Neck and spine stiffness
  • Headaches
  • Muscle spasms
  • Tenderness around the neck, shoulders and top of the spine

There are other symptoms that are more rarely experienced, including:

  • Concentration and memory problems
  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in your ears
  • Problems sleeping

Some symptoms could be a sign you need to visit your doctor or call 111, as they could be a sign of nerve damage. These include:

  • Severe pain despite taking painkillers
  • Tingling or pins and needles on either one side or both sides of your body
  • Problems walking or sitting upright
  • Your arms or legs feeling weak
  • Feeling like an electric shock passing through your neck and back

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  • In these cases brain damage, if any, will be minimal.
  • Where a good recovery has been made but symptoms such as poor concentration and memory problems continue.
  • Where ability to work is reduced and there is a risk of epilepsy.
  • The injured person is very seriously disabled and is dependent on others.
  • Epilepsy has been caused as a consequence of the injury.
  • Affecting the ability to cope with life and/or work or affecting relationships with family and friends.
  • The injured person largely recovers within two years.
  • Injury causes effects that cause significant disability for the foreseeable future, or permanently.
  • In consequence of defective permanent waving etc. where effects are dermatitis or hair loss leading to distress and effects on social life.
  • Where hair has been pulled out leaving bald patches, or stress-induced alopecia with full recovery within two years.
  • Resulting in pain and temporary interference with vision.
  • Permanent impairment of vision in one or both eyes.
  • Total loss of sight in one eye and reduced vision or other problems with the other eye
  • Total loss of sight in one eye only.
  • Mild tinnitus with some hearing loss
  • With noise induced hearing loss, or moderate to severe tinnitus, or noise induced hearing loss alone.
  • With noise induced hearing loss
  • With or without associated problems such as tinnitus, dizziness or headaches.
  • With or without the speech being affected, or tinnitus.
  • Full recovery with no surgery required.
  • Where recovery is complete after surgery
  • Injuries requiring a number of operations and/or resulting in permanent damage.
  • Simple fracture of the cheekbone, which will fully recover without surgery.
  • Simple fracture of the cheekbone requiring some reconstructive surgery, but with full recovery and little or no cosmetic effects.
  • Serious fractures causing lasting effects such as burning/prickling sensation or an element of disfigurement.
  • Requiring immobilisation but recovery is complete.
  • Serious injury causing permanent damage, such as difficulty eating or opening the mouth.
  • Very serious multiple fractures requiring prolonged treatment. Permanent effects such as severe pain, restricted eating.
  • Assessed per tooth.
  • Single tooth only.
  • Extends over a number of years, including significant deterioration of overall condition of the teeth.
  • Where full recovery takes place between nine months and one year.
  • Fractures or dislocations which cause severe immediate symptoms and chronic conditions, leading to impaired function or limitation of activities.
  • Injuries usually involving serious fractures or disc damage leading to disability, such as substantial loss of movement or loss of function in one or more limbs.
  • Caused by asbestos
  • Varying levels of respiratory disability and reduced lung function (1-10% and in excess of 10%)
  • Severe pain and impairment of the pleura (lung lining) or the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity), affecting function and quality of life.
  • Causing respiratory disability attributed to asbestos exposure.
  • Causing permanent damage, impairment of function, physical disability and reduction of life expectancy.
  • Such as soft tissue damage causing considerable pain but recovery almost complete within two years.
  • Such as frozen shoulder causing limitation of movement and discomfort for up to two years.
  • Causing pain in shoulder and neck, aching in elbow, weakness of arm and hand.
  • Involving damage to the brachial plexus and resulting in significant disability.
  • Temporary or permanent disability as a result of a fracture.
  • Such as strains, sprains, disc prolapses and soft tissue injuries.
  • Such as disturbances of ligaments and muscles causing backache, or compression fracture.
  • Injuries causing severe pain and disability, including impaired bladder, bowel and sexual function.
  • Resulting in significant or permanent disability
  • Most elbow injuries such as simple fractures, laceration and tennis elbow, not resulting in permanent damage or impairment.
  • Injuries causing impairment of function but not involving major surgery or significant disabilty
  • Injuries such as deep lacerations, soft tissue wounds or crush injuries, all recovering within six months.
  • Resulting in impairment of grip or reduced mechanical function. Partial amputations resulting in deformity.
  • Injuries such as a thumb being severed and re-attached, leaving it with little use, amputation of the tip or at the joint of the thumb. Nerve damage or fracture resulting in impaired grip or dexterity.
  • Amputation resulting in very little use and weak grip.
  • Amputation due to crush injuries, or loss of a significant part of the hand due to traumatic injury.
  • Serious injury resulting in extensive damage to both hands, effectively leaving them with little use.
  • Caused by repeated vibration, damage to hands including impaired grip, dexterity and frequent pain.
  • Such as an uncomplicated fracture with full or virtual recovery.
  • Injuries resulting in significant permanent disability, but some useful movement remains.
  • Injuries causing some permanent disability, such as persistent pain and stiffness.
  • Resulting in complete loss of function in the wrist, for example when an arthrodesis has been performed.
  • Such as a broken femur, tibia or fibular
  • Serious fracture or injuries to joints or ligaments, scarring, instability and lengthy treatment required.
  • Fractures where a full recovery is not made.
  • Loss of a leg below the knee
  • Loss of a leg above the knee
  • Both legs being lost above the knee, below the knee, or where one leg has been lost above the knee and the other below.
  • Torn cartilage or meniscus, laceration, twisting and bruising. May be full recovery, or continued aches and pains.
  • Injury or damage causing mild disability or continuing pain, discomfort or limited movement that may require future surgery.
  • Fractures, joint or ligament damage causing constant pain, impairing movement and agility. Requiring prolonged treatment, the injured person will be prone to osteoarthritis.
  • Including fractures where there is full recovery within two years.
  • Significant injury but any permanent disability is not major. Injury may require a hip replacement.
  • Such as extensive fractures resulting in substantial disabilities.
  • Simple metatarsal fractures, ruptured ligaments.
  • Displaced metatarsal fractures resulting in permanent deformity.
  • Fractures to feet resulting in restricted mobility and /or considerable continuing pain.
  • Crush or multiple fractures to two or more toes, resulting in permanent disability.
  • Undisplaced fractures, sprains and ligament injuries.
  • For fractures and ligament tears resulting in moderate disability, such as difficulty walking on uneven ground or on stairs.
  • Injuries involving long periods of treatment, long period in plaster and some permanent disability.

Simply fill in our form below and we’ll call you back at a time to suit you.

Or talk to our team on:
0808 271 6198

There are other types of compensation you could be awarded through your accident such as loss of earnings or damage to property. The estimates given here are simply for your personal injury claim.

First4Lawyers' solicitors will be able to give you the best idea of the amount you should expect from your individual injury.

It is important to keep in mind that every case is different and the advice and estimates you'll be given, once your case has started, will be tailored specifically for your case.

Treating a whiplash injury

In most cases, whiplash will get better on its own – usually within three months of sustaining the injury.

You should take painkillers to help with the pain you’re experiencing. The NHS also advises continuing to do your usual daily activities, adding that it may cause some pain but it will speed up your recovery, making it better for you in the long run.

Don’t use a neck brace or cervical collar, as these keep your neck from moving, which can prolong your symptoms. It’s also not advised to rest your neck for long periods. Keeping it moving naturally is the best way of recovering from whiplash.

If it doesn’t start to feel any better after a few months, though, you should see your doctor. They may refer you to a physiotherapist or a pain specialist.

How much whiplash compensation will I receive?

Whiplash can result in varying amounts of compensation, depending on how long your symptoms last. The laws around whiplash compensation changed on 31 May 2021. As a result, you can now claim less than you could have previously.

A recovery within three months can see compensation of up to £240 awarded, while a recovery within a year could receive £1,320. A recovery that takes between 18 months and two years can see compensation of up to £4,215 awarded. First4Lawyers and our legal experts are still here to help you claim the compensation you're entitled to.

You could also receive compensation for any money you’ve had to spend as a direct result of your accident. This includes medical treatment, travel to and from healthcare appointments and a repair or replacement for any property damaged in the accident.

It’s also possible to claim compensation for lost earnings if you haven’t been able to work because of your injury.

To find out more about what it’s possible to claim for a whiplash injury, just give us a call or start your claim online.

How can I fund a whiplash claim?

In most cases, you’ll be able to make a whiplash claim on a No Win No Fee basis. This means you won’t have to worry about paying for your claim upfront, letting you focus on feeling better.

The other great advantage of a No Win No Fee whiplash claim is that there’s no legal fees to pay if your claim is not successful. That means there is no financial risk to you when it comes to pursuing justice for the injury you’ve suffered.

You will pay your solicitor a success fee if you are awarded compensation. In whiplash claims, this will be 30% of your final compensation amount plus VAT.

Your solicitor will make you aware of what they charge at the beginning of the claims process, so you’ll never face any surprise costs.

Only pay a fee if you receive compensation

Where we offer No Win No Fee services for road traffic accident claims typically customers pay 30% + VAT of the amount recovered by our solicitors, although this will be subject to your individual circumstances and the actual fee may be less than this. Success fees are common practice and they were introduced when the law changed in April 2013. This amount is higher than the normal 25% on all other personal injury claims because of changes introduced through the Civil Liability Act 2018.

How long do I have to make a whiplash claim?

Most people will have three years to make a whiplash compensation claim. Despite this sounding like a long time, it’s advisable to start your claim as soon as possible.

The sooner you begin the process, the sooner you’ll receive your compensation, which could help if you can’t work.

It could also be easier to get hold of some evidence to support your claim. This could include CCTV footage, dash cam footage from any witnesses and police reports.

Not everyone faces a three-year deadline, though. A child who has suffered whiplash can claim at any point until their 18th birthday, at which point the three-year time limit kicks in. This means they have up until their 21st birthday to claim compensation.

And if you’re claiming on behalf of someone who lacks the capacity to claim for themselves, you won’t face any deadline at all.

Who will I claim against?

Most cases of whiplash are caused by car accidents. This means that another driver will be responsible for you suffering whiplash.

In these cases, you will then claim against that driver’s insurance provider.

If you were hurt in a fall, who you claim against will depend on where and how you were injured. For example, if you tripped on an uneven pavement, you could claim against the local council responsible for its maintenance.

Your solicitor will explain the process of claiming and who will be held responsible. If you have any questions about how it works, they’ll be happy to talk you through everything.

How can First4Lawyers help?

Here at First4Lawyers, we are dedicated to helping people who have been hurt in accidents that shouldn’t have happened. We’ve helped thousands of people just like you – injured through someone else’s negligence or carelessness.

You are legally entitled to justice for a whiplash injury that wasn’t your fault. And we can help you get it.

With First4Lawyers, there’s never any obligation and you only begin the actual process of claiming once you’re happy to go ahead.

You can discuss your case with us and find out if you have a claim for free. Just give us a call, request a call back or start your claim online and we’ll get right back to you.

Suffering from whiplash isn’t just something you have to put up with. You can take action to get the compensation you’re entitled to.

Road Traffic Accident FAQs

Can passengers claim compensation?

Yes, if you’re a passenger who has been involved in a collision on the road and suffered injuries through no fault of your own, then you’re entitled to make a claim for compensation.

I was hit by an uninsured driver. Can I claim?

Yes, you can make a claim if you were hit by an uninsured driver.

With the help of our panel of solicitors, you can claim through the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB).

Backed by every motor insurer in the UK, the MIB is a scheme set up to help compensate victims of accidents caused by uninsured and untraced motorists.

How much can I claim for a road traffic accident?

It depends on the type and severity of any injuries sustained.

For those inflicted with minor brain or head injuries, they could receive between £1,940 and £11,200. At the other end of the scale, severe leg injuries could see compensation between £48,080 and £119,210, whereas loss of an arm may mean an award of between £84,310 to upwards of £120,270.

For further examples see our compensation calculator.

Is there a time limit for making a claim?

Generally speaking there is a limit of three years to start a claim, starting from the date of your accident. If you were under the age of 18 when you had your accident, you have until your 21st birthday.

How long will a claim take?

The length of time it will take to make your claim depends on your individual circumstances.

Every case is different, so it’s very difficult to say at the early stages how long the process will be from start to finish.

Once your solicitor has completed their initial investigations into your case, they will be in a better position to advise you on how long the process is likely to take.

To give you a very general idea:

  • For a personal injury claim like minor whiplash, for example, the process could be completed in about six months. But in more complex cases, such as claims involving a trip, slip or fall, it could take over a year to be settled. The process could also be longer if the defendant disputes your claim.

  • Claiming for a work accident could be between six and nine months. But if the injury is more severe, or there are legal complexities, it could take longer.

  • Medical negligence cases tend to take longer as they can be complex with multiple factors and evidence.  A rough estimate would be 18-26 months.

You can contact one of our advisors to discuss your situation.

Why choose First4Lawyers?

Whether you want to make an accident and injury claim, or need a solicitor for personal or business law matters - our friendly team are here to help, 24/7.

Free initial consultation

Our fully trained legal advisors are happy to offer initial guidance and advice for free

No Win No Fee*

No Win No Fee solicitors - you don't pay a penny up front when making a claim

No pressure

We offer advice with no obligation.  We never cold-call or apply pressure to our customers

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