Whiplash is the name given to soft tissue injuries that result from a sudden jerk of the back and neck. It’s named after the snapping motion required to crack a whip. Whiplash is the most common injury sustained in car crashes and it is widely associated with road accidents in general.
There is a common misconception that whiplash isn’t all that bad. However, it varies in severity and symptoms can be quite excruciating at their worse. Recovery can take from weeks to years and on rare occasions, for the rest of your life.
The sudden jerk of the neck can result in several common symptoms. It can take several hours for the symptoms to manifest following an accident.
Neck pain
Neck stiffness
Pain in shoulders and upper back
Headaches
There’s a common misconception in Northern Ireland that whiplash claims are inherently frivolous and are fuelling a culture of compensation. Several special interest groups and individuals fuel this rhetoric and there isn’t much basis in it. In fact, whiplash claims are decreasing year on year and have been for a while. Safety technology innovation has meant a slow but steady decline in the number of whiplash claims.
If you have suffered symptoms associated with whiplash following a road traffic collision, don’t allow yourself to be put off pursuing your right to compensation. Personal injury claims contribute to a fair and just society and if you were injured through no fault of your own, you deserve to be put back into the position you were in prior to the accident.
Those with whiplash injuries have three years from the date of their accident to claim. If the accident occurred whilst you were a minor, the three-year period begins on your 18th birthday. If the time limit is missed it is very likely that your case will become statute barred and you will not be able to claim.
To learn more, visit: How long do I have to make a personal injury claim in Northern Ireland?
The level of compensation awarded in a whiplash claim depends on several factors. There are too many to go into in this article. If you would like to know more about how whiplash claims are valued, read our blog entitled Whiplash: How much compensation could I get?
McCartan Turkington Breen provides a range of payment options that are tailored to the specific type of case and the client’s unique circumstances. To begin, we offer a free initial consultation where a solicitor can discuss the available options with you. For instance, you may be eligible for Legal Aid or legal expenses insurance, which would require only a small premium payment if your claim is unsuccessful.
Unlike in England and Wales, no win no fee arrangements are not available in Northern Ireland. The regulating body for all solicitors, The Law Society of Northern Ireland, do not permit conditional fee arrangements, otherwise known as no win no fee.
No solicitor in Northern Ireland can offer you a no win no fee arrangement without potentially breaking the law.
If you would like to know more about conditional fee arrangements and why they are unavailable in Northern Ireland, visit: No win no fee claims.
Our decades of experience with thousands of whiplash claims have led to an exceptionally high success rate. As no win no fee arrangements are not possible in Northern Ireland, our successful clients keep all of the compensation awarded for their pain & suffering whilst their legal fees are covered by the defendant.
McCartan Turkington Breen specialises in whiplash compensation claims. If you have suffered from whiplash in the past three years, contact us for a free no-commitment consultation or visit Road Traffic Accident Claims.
McCartan Turkington Breen Solicitors has one of the most active personal injury claims departments in all of Northern Ireland. A substantial amount of the cases that this department deals with involve whiplash compensation.
Our Belfast based personal injury claims department is so well regarded, that it is currently ranked in the top band in the prestigious Chambers Guide. We’re one of only two law firms in Northern Ireland to achieve this. Every year, Chambers & Partners name the top ranked law firms all over the world. These rankings are the most thoroughly researched and independent on the market. Each one is assessed by a dedicated team of experienced researchers using an unrivalled research methodology, which includes tens of thousands of one to one interviews every year.
Additionally, we have been named as a Best 40 Law Firm in Northern Ireland. The list is compiled following a period of rigorous research into many firms across the jurisdiction by market research specialists, Statista. Statista is known for conducting the research that informs the prestigious The Times Best 200 Law Firms list that pertains to legal practices in England and Wales.
First and foremost, you must seek any medical help that is required. If you have already done so, you should speak with one of our whiplash claims experts as soon as possible. We offer free initial consultations and can advise you on what you can expect if you choose to pursue whiplash compensation. Contact us today.
If you would like to know more about our services, visit Whiplash Claims to learn more.
