subject: Whiplash Solicitors [print this page] If you suffer whiplash in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, you need to seek advice from a specialist whiplash solicitor. This is because you could be entitled to compensation for the injuries you have sustained as a result of another driver's negligence. A solicitor will be able to suggest whether this applies to you, and if so, what action you should take next.
How Can A Whiplash Solicitor Help?
Victims of personal injury have a legal right to claim compensation for the pain, suffering and financial losses they have incurred due to another person's negligence. This right extends to those who have sustained whiplash in an accident for which someone else was responsible - for example, another road user, a pedestrian or the person driving the vehicle you were travelling in.
However, as with all personal injury claims, it is necessary to prove that someone else did indeed cause your whiplash injury. This process is known as establishing liability. With some road traffic collisions, it will be obvious which party is to blame. But occasionally the circumstances will be a little less clear-cut.
This is the first way in which a legal expert can help. Solicitors who specialise in whiplash claims will have a wealth of knowledge and experience, meaning they are best placed to advise whether or not you are a whiplash injury victim (ie. if another party is to blame.) Many legal services such as offer a no obligation consultation completely free of charge. This allows you to clarify your legal position without having to waste your time or money.
If you do have grounds to make a whiplash claim and you wish to proceed with legal action, your solicitor will then:-
-Begin the claim for you, handling it from start to finish;
-Liaise with the other side's insurance company;
-Obtain statements from you and any other witnesses;
-Obtain other evidence such as medical records or a police report;
-Arrange for a medical expert to assess your injuries and prepare a report;
-Negotiate a compensation settlement with the other side's insurance company;
-Ensure you get an appropriate sum of compensation that reflects your damages.
Choosing a Whiplash Solicitor
If you would like to make a whiplash claim, it is important to instruct a solicitor you trust and feel comfortable with. Most insurance companies will try to steer you towards a certain law firm. However, you do not have to use the legal expert they suggest. A whiplash claim relates to your own individual injuries, and it is therefore you who should choose your whiplash solicitor.