How To Claim For Whiplash

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck, back or shoulders, most common among people who have been in a car accident. Injuries can range from being relatively minor to a chronic issue that causes a great deal of pain. Our solicitors may be able to help you claim whiplash compensation.

If you've suffered an injury to the neck, back or shoulders in a road traffic accident, contact our lawyers today on 0800 056 4110 for a free initial consultation. We'll advise you on whether we think you can claim, and the best course of action.

Alternatively, you can find more information in our guide on how to claim for whiplash below.

Whiplash Compensation FAQs

• What Is Whiplash?
• Can I Claim Whiplash Compensation?
• Can I Make A No Win No Fee* Claim For Whiplash?
• What's The Whiplash Claims Process?
• How Long Does It Take To Claim Compensation?
• How Much Compensation Can I Claim For Whiplash?
• Who Do I Claim Compensation From?
• Contact Us

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to your neck, back or shoulders. It usually happens because your body is held in place by your seatbelt, but your head isn’t. So when there's an impact, your head is thrown suddenly backwards, forwards or sideways, which can put a huge amount of strain on the muscles and ligaments of the neck, back and shoulders. Read more about the symptoms of whiplash, and the recovery process.

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Can I Claim Whiplash Compensation?

If you've been injured in a road traffic accident that wasn't your fault, then you could be able to claim compensation. If you're suffering from neck, back or shoulder pain, there's a chance that it’s a whiplash injury.

If you choose us to make your compensation claim, we'll instruct an experienced medical expert to examine you to confirm that the injury is whiplash, and report on the extent of it.

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Can I Make A No Win No Fee* Claim For Whiplash?

You may be able to make a No Win No Fee* whiplash claim, which means that if you win your case, your opponent will pay the majority of your legal costs. Any legal costs not paid by your opponent will be deducted from the compensation that you receive.

If your case isn’t successful, you can be assured that there is no financial risk and you won’t have to pay anything*.

Find out more about No Win No Fee* claims.

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What's The Whiplash Claims Process?

A typical whiplash claim goes through the following four stages:

1. Investigation. We’ll investigate every aspect of your accident to establish who was responsible for your injuries.
2. Medical examination and rehabilitation. We'll arrange for you to be medically examined and the expert will prepare a medical report and consider any rehabilitation support you'll need, and we can help you access it.
3. Compensation. After assessing your injuries as well as any financial losses you've incurred, we'll then present the claim to those responsible, and negotiate with them to get you the best possible award.
4. Conclusion. Your claim is resolved, and you receive compensation. The claim may need to be settled in court, but this is very rare, with most settling before a case reaches this stage.

Find out more about the whiplash claims process.

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How Long Does It Take To Claim Compensation?

The length of the claims process will usually depend on two things:

1. How serious your injuries are
2. Whether or not your opponent admits blame

For example, if you suffer a relatively minor whiplash injury, and the other party admits responsibility for the accident, then your claim could be settled in just a few months.

However, if you've experienced a more serious whiplash injury, with lasting chronic pain, your claim will take longer. Find out more about how long a whiplash claim takes.

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How Much Compensation Can I Claim For Whiplash?

The amount of compensation you can claim for whiplash depends on:

• The severity of your injury and how long it takes you to recover.
• Your injury’s impact on your work (loss of earnings) and day to day life.
• Any medical treatment and support you require.

As so many factors are involved, compensation amounts vary from case to case.

Find out more about how much compensation you could claim for whiplash.

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Who Do I Claim Compensation From?

In most cases, it's the responsible driver's insurer that you'll be claiming from.

If the other driver is uninsured, or untraceable – whether it was due to a hit and run incident, or them giving you false information - then it's possible to make a claim through the Motor Insurance Bureau, an insurance industry-funded organisation set up to help people in this situation.

Learn more about making a claim against uninsured drivers, or find out what your options are following a hit and run accident.

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Contact Us

If you have any more questions about how a whiplash claim works, or you'd like to discuss whether you'll be able to make a claim, call us today on 0800 056 4110 or email us to arrange a free initial consultation.

The above information relates to the law in England and Wales.

* Subject to entering into a ‘No Win No Fee’ agreement in conjunction with our Allianz Litigate insurance policy and complying with your responsibilities under its terms.

All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we’re associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you’ll receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.