How a Car Accident Settlement Is Valued for a Whiplash Claim in Georgia

What is the settlement value of a whiplash injury case in the Atlanta area? This guide discusses how Georgia personal injury lawyers value and prove neck injury and whiplash claims.

Key Points:

• The speed at which you obtain medical attention in whiplash injury cases can significantly influence the settlement value.
• Considerations for the settlement include the cumulative amount of past medical expenses, anticipated costs of future care, and the permanence of your injury.
• Severe whiplash injuries that result in permanent damage typically have higher values compared to recoverable sprains or strains.
• After a car accident, it falls on the victim to demonstrate the cause of the injury and its expected duration.
• In Atlanta, attorneys specializing in car accidents and insurance adjusters often rely on Jury Verdict Research to assess and negotiate case valuations.

Understanding Whiplash: A Quick Overview

Whiplash is a neck injury resulting from a forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, resembling the cracking of a whip. It primarily affects the soft tissues—muscles, tendons, and ligaments—of the neck. Car accidents, especially rear-end collisions, are a primary cause of whiplash. The sudden impact causes the head to jerk forward and backward abruptly. This intense motion can strain or tear the neck’s soft tissues, leading to symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. While many recover from whiplash with appropriate treatment, the injury can sometimes lead to chronic discomfort. Immediate medical attention after a suspected whiplash injury ensures optimal recovery and management.

Understanding the Medical Costs of a Whiplash Injury

Whiplash is often mistakenly downplayed by auto insurance companies because its a common injury that they deal with. It is known to be the most common car accident injury. Its significance should not be underestimated, especially by insurance companies, as the associated medical costs can soar into the thousands. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of potential medical expenses linked to a whiplash injury:

1. Initial Emergency Care: Immediately following the accident, victims might seek care in an emergency room or urgent care center. This can include costs for:
   • Triage and consultation
   • Imaging tests like X-rays or CT scans
   • Pain management medications
2. Doctor’s Visits: Regular consultations with primary care physicians or specialists can accumulate costs, particularly if multiple follow-ups are required.
3. Specialist Appointments: Depending on the severity of the injury, referrals to specialists might be necessary:
   • Orthopedic surgeons
   • Neurologists
   • Pain management specialists
4. Physical Therapy: Often recommended for whiplash victims to restore mobility and strength. This can involve:
   • Sessions with a physical therapist
   • Special equipment or tools used in therapy
   • Home exercise equipment or kits
5. Medications:
   • Over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatories
   • Prescription painkillers, muscle relaxants, or nerve pain medications
   • Costs associated with potential side effects or complications from medications
6. Imaging and Diagnostic Tests:
   • MRI scans to evaluate soft tissue damage
   • Electromyography (EMG) to assess nerve function
7. Alternative Therapies: Some patients explore alternative treatments for pain relief and healing, which can include:
   • Chiropractic care
   • Acupuncture
   • Massage therapy
8. Medical Equipment: Patients might need supportive devices like:
   • Neck braces or collars
   • Heat or cold packs
9. Surgical Interventions: In rare cases, severe whiplash might necessitate surgical procedures, bringing in costs related to:
   • Surgery itself
   • Hospital stays
   • Post-operative care and medications
10. Long-Term Care: Chronic issues from whiplash might require ongoing medical support, which can lead to costs associated with:
11. Periodic check-ups
12. Long-term medication or pain management
13. Ongoing physical or occupational therapy

Covering Costs When You’re Not at Fault: Auto Insurance Companies Should Pay

Whiplash, often a subtle injury, can easily go unnoticed by the at-fault driver’s insurance company, leaving them unaware of your pain and the related medical expenses. It’s not an injury thats first discovered at the accident scene. Insurance companies are going off of what has been identified at the accident scene. Typically, they might issue a check covering only basic damages, overlooking the comprehensive costs associated with whiplash. It’s crucial not to accept their initial settlement offer. Instead, ensure that all your medical needs and associated expenses are thoroughly addressed and compensated.

How Do You Get The Auto Insurance to Pay for a Whiplash Injury

To ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, it’s crucial to understand the necessary steps and provide adequate evidence of your injury to the auto insurance company.

Avoid Accepting the Initial First Check

As highlighted earlier, accepting and cashing the first check from the auto insurance company often implies settling for that amount, potentially forfeiting your chance to pursue additional compensation. Given that whiplash symptoms may not be immediately evident at the accident site, insurance companies might employ this strategy, hoping victims will accept the initial offer.

Receive an In-Depth Medical Exam

A medical examination provides the strongest evidence in validating the authenticity and origin of an injury. Merely stating symptoms isn’t sufficient to prove whiplash; the examination and associated medical reports must unequivocally indicate injury to the neck due to the forceful back-and-forth motion typical of such incidents. It’s advisable to undergo this examination within a week following the accident. Prolonged delays could lead insurance companies to doubt the accident as the injury’s cause. If medical experts don’t identify any injury, securing additional compensation becomes considerably challenging.

Prove That the Accident Was Not Your Fault

To maximize your compensation, once you establish that the injury resulted from the car accident. Then, demonstrate that the accident wasn’t your fault. While it might be evident that you were injured, the amount of compensation you receive largely hinges on proving the other driver’s liability. For this you should consider hiring a car accident lawyer. They can help collect the evidence to prove fault.

Accurately Calculate the Cost of the Accident

After establishing the injuries and fault, it’s crucial to detail the total financial burden of the accident. Many insurance companies might overlook or intentionally ignore these cumulative costs. Therefore, enlisting a lawyer’s assistance can ensure these expenses are accurately documented in a demand letter.

For car accidents resulting in whiplash, expenses can encompass medical bills, both immediate and future, lost wages, and potential future treatments or therapy. Additionally, consider compensation for pain and suffering, costs for physical therapy or chiropractic treatments, necessary medications, adaptive equipment, and any decrease in future earning capacity. It’s essential to document all these expenses meticulously and consult with a professional to ensure comprehensive compensation.

Historic Whiplash Settlement Values

The Millar Law Firm consistently analyzes surveys of case settlements and jury verdict outcomes from across Georgia to assess equitable case values. Our findings indicate that, based on reported settlements and verdicts from 2000 to 2020, the typical whiplash settlement in Georgia ranged from $25,000 to $35,000.

It’s noteworthy that the average whiplash settlement exceeded the median award. This discrepancy arises because the average incorporates the most extreme and catastrophic cases, often involving severe, permanent injuries from car accidents that necessitate surgery. In contrast, the median settlement reflects a broader spectrum, encompassing minor cases that might only require chiropractic or conservative treatments.

One Challenge Whiplash Victims Deal With: Lack of Insurance Coverage

In any personal injury case, having lots of evidence and proof is important. But if there isn’t enough insurance coverage, it might not help much. This means that how much insurance the other driver has matters a lot when trying to get money for injuries. In Georgia, the required car insurance amount is pretty low. However, there’s some good news for people with whiplash: the insurance that drivers must have in Georgia usually covers whiplash injuries. But if the driver who caused the accident doesn’t have car insurance, it can be really hard for the injured person to get any money.