NY & NJ Whiplash Injury Lawyer

“Whiplash” refers to a soft tissue injury caused by a quick backward/forward flexion, a motion that often occurs in a rear-end car accident. Whiplash is both extremely common, being the most common non-fatal injury that occurs in car accidents, and extremely underestimated. If you have been in an accident or experienced some other trauma in Rockland County or Bergen County that may have caused this type of injury, it is important to seek treatment promptly and speak with a NY or NJ whiplash injury attorney.

The whiplash lawyers at Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. have dedicated the past four decades to fighting for the rights of individuals and families who have suffered because of someone else’s negligence. We help those who have suffered whiplash obtain the resources they need for recovery.

How a Whiplash Injury Occurs

According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash is a neck injury caused by a forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement. It is referred to as “whiplash” because the neck jerks forward like a cracking whip.

While car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash, this often debilitating injury can also commonly occur as a result of:

• Sports collisions
• Slips and falls
• Roller coasters or other amusement park rides
• Domestic abuse

In some cases, the effects of whiplash may be short-term, but in other cases, they can cause many years of pain and inability to participate in former activities.

If you have experienced an accident or other event that caused a whip-like jerking of your head, be on the lookout for symptoms. Some may occur immediately, but often there are no symptoms immediately. Be sure to seek medical attention if you experience:

• Headaches
• Stiffness affecting the neck, shoulders, arms, or upper back
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

Seeing a medical professional as soon as possible also increases the likelihood that you can document your condition accurately.

What kind of whiplash injury compensation is available?

As a personal injury, when a whiplash is caused by someone else’s negligence, the sufferer is legally entitled to be “made whole”. This means a whiplash settlement may include compensation for both out-of-pocket costs and non-economic losses.

Reimbursement for economic losses often includes:

• Medical bills, whether already incurred or reasonably expected in the future
• Rehabilitation or physical therapy
• Medications, both over-the-counter and prescription-based
• Lost wages and benefits

Reimbursement for non-economic losses can include compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional damage such as post-traumatic stress disorder
• Relationship damages like loss of companionship

It is the burden of the plaintiff to prove the extent of the economic and non-economic damages, and that they were caused by the whiplash injury. As a plaintiff, you can help by documenting all expenses as they are incurred, and even keeping a log of your pain. A whiplash injury attorney at KGG is here to help you demonstrate the seriousness of your suffering.

Whiplash From a Car Accident in NY or NJ

According to recent traffic accident data, there are more than 130,000 New York emergency room visits per year due to auto accidents. Across New Jersey, there were more than 250,000 traffic accidents in 2016 alone. Since whiplash injuries are the most common injury in non-fatal car accidents, it is fair to say they affect a tremendous number of New York and New Jersey residents.

For Rockland County and Bergen County residents facing a whiplash injury from a car accident, KGG understands the impact that this impairment can have. We are here to help maximize compensation.

Seek Treatment for a Whiplash Neck Injury From a Car Accident

It is important to understand the nature of a car accident and neck injuries in order to appreciate why early treatment is necessary. In a car accident, the impact is often sudden, without warning, and followed by a lot of chaotic activity. Immediately after a crash, endorphins kick in and can mask the immediate pain of an injury. A whiplash neck injury affects soft tissues like tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Unlike a broken bone which may cause immediate pain, the soft tissue damage in a whiplash injury may be masked by the rush of endorphins and not fully felt until the tissues swell hours or even days later.

Insurance adjusters and defense lawyers will look for ways to de-legitimize your claim and delayed treatment is one thing they point to. If you have been in an accident that may have caused a neck injury, do not try to tough it out. Seek medical attention – a doctor will know what signs to look for and will provide necessary documentation to validate your claim if the need should arise.

Consult a Whiplash Injury Lawyer in Bergen County or Rockland County

Whiplash is common but that does not make it simple. If you have suffered a whiplash neck injury in NY or NJ, seek medical attention and speak with a whiplash lawyer at KGG. We take fighting for the rights of the injured seriously.

Additional Whiplash Injury Resources

1. Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions: Whiplash, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whiplash/basics/definition/con-20033090
2. New York State Deparment of Health, Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Statistics: New York State Residents, https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/prevention/injury_prevention/traffic/county_of_residence.htm
3. New Jersey Department of Transportation, Crash Records: Crash Statistics, http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/accident/crash_statistics.shtm