Tampa Car Accident Whiplash Lawyer
Whiplash is one of the most commonly diagnosed injuries following a Florida car accident. In many cases victims experience immediate acute symptoms such as pain or stiffness in their neck. For other victims, however, the symptoms may be slower to reveal themselves. And because whiplash often occurs in low-speed accidents, such as rear-end collisions, it is often mistakenly assumed these injuries are not that serious.
In fact, many whiplash injuries are quite severe and require extensive medical care and physical rehabilitation. Additionally, whiplash often produces chronic pain and suffering that is difficult to measure. If this describes your situation, our experienced Tampa car accident whiplash lawyer can advise and represent you in seeking compensation for your injuries and other damages. Anderson & Anderson is a full-service Florida personal injury law firm that has nearly 40 years experience assisting auto accident victims.
Is Your Whiplash a “Serious Injury” Under Florida Law?
In medical terms, whiplash is an injury caused by the rapid back-and-forth movement of a person’s neck. This produces an effect similar to the cracking of a whip, hence the term “whiplash.” Rear-end car accidents often cause whiplash for persons occupying the front vehicle.
It is not always immediately obvious when a car accident victim sustained a whiplash injury. Indeed, many victims do not report any noticeable symptoms until a few days after their accident. Some of the more common symptoms of whiplash following a car accident include:
- neck pain or stiffness;
- loss of range of motion in the neck;
- headaches at the base of the skull;
- shoulder pain;
- upper back and upper arm pain;
- fatigue; or
- dizziness
Severe whiplash can produce even more significant medical problems, such as blurred vision, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and cognitive impairment.
Under Florida law, a car accident victim must typically seek compensation under their own no-fault auto insurance. This “personal injury protection” coverage offers limited medical and lost income benefits regardless of who was at-fault for the underlying car accident. If a victim can demonstrate they sustained a “serious injury,” however, they can file a personal injury claim directly against the negligent driver or other third-party whose fault caused the accident.
Whiplash can qualify as a “serious injury” if the victim sustains a “permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability.” For instance, if you continue to suffer chronic neck pain due a whiplash injury, and your doctors reasonably conclude your condition will not improve any further, that can be sufficient grounds to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. You may also qualify if your whiplash exacerbated or aggravated a preexisting medical condition.
Contact Anderson & Anderson Today
It is always advisable to seek immediate medical treatment following a car accident, especially if you suspect you sustained a whiplash injury. And if you are diagnosed as such, your next call should be to a Tampa car accident whiplash lawyer who can advise you in protecting and asserting your rights under Florida law. Call Anderson & Anderson today at 813-251-0072 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation.
