person suffering whiplash injury

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries, often involving rear-end collisions. This type of injury can affect your neck, shoulders, and back, and it can be extremely painful.

A severe whiplash injury could prevent you from working and taking part in the activities you’re accustomed to for an extended period of time.

If you or a loved one have suffered whiplash in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical bills and other accident-related expenses. Under Oklahoma law, you may seek compensation from the at-fault party for the financial losses you’ve incurred as well as the pain and emotional anguish you’ve suffered.

The Oklahoma personal injury lawyers at Edwards & Patterson Law have spent more than three decades fighting for injured Oklahomans and helping them seek the compensation they need after serious injuries.

We’ve received recognition for our effort on behalf of our clients, including an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating.

Most importantly, our personal injury attorneys have won millions of dollars for our clients to help them rebuild their lives after an accident.

Every case stands on its own, but our results reflect our extensive experience helping injured people. We’re here to help after you’ve sustained a whiplash injury.

Get a free initial consultation with a member of our legal team of Tulsa personal injury lawyers by calling our Tulsa office, or you can visit our contact page.

We look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your Tulsa whiplash injury claim.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash injuries most often occur when you’re in a car crash, especially in rear-end collisions. The term “whiplash” comes from the way your head and neck are jerked forward, then snapped backward. The violent, snapping motion of your head and neck resembles the movement of a whip being cracked. Though whiplash injuries are most common in rear-end vehicle accidents, they can occur in other types of crashes as well. personal injury victim

How Can Whiplash Impact Your Life?

Whiplash injuries cause pain in two different ways. First, there’s the strain put on your body from the force of the car accident impact that caused your head and neck to move in a sudden, violent motion. Second, the motion of your head and neck puts additional strain on the muscles and tendons in your neck, upper back, and shoulders.

Taken together, whiplash injuries can take an intense toll on your body. That said, one of the most frustrating aspects of whiplash injuries is that they’re not always immediately apparent, especially right after the crash when your adrenaline is flowing. Many people don’t experience the full effects of a whiplash injury until hours, days, or even weeks after the initial accident. Here are a few signs and symptoms of whiplash to watch for if you’ve recently been involved in a car accident:

  • Pain when moving your head or neck
  • Pain in your upper back and shoulder pain
  • Numbness in your arms
  • Pain in your neck limiting your range of motion
  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in your ears
  • Memory problems
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Difficulty sleeping

What Is the Average Payout for a Whiplash Injury in Tulsa?

One of the most common questions we get from people who’ve sustained a whiplash injury in Tulsa is how much compensation they should expect to receive if they file a whiplash injury claim. The truth is that every whiplash injury is different. The amount you may seek will depend on many factors, including:

  • The severity of the whiplash injury
  • How much work you’ve missed as a result of your injuries
  • The medical evidence you have to support your injury claim
  • Whether you played any role in causing your injuries
  • The insurance policies available to compensate you.

Oklahoma law allows whiplash injury victims to recover compensation for a wide range of losses after an accident. Should you choose to file a claim for compensation, you may potentially receive money for:

  • The cost of medical treatment for your injuries
  • Any lost wages if you had to miss work due to your injuries
  • Your diminished capacity to work and earn a living if your injuries led to a long-term or permanent disability
  • The pain caused by your injury
  • Emotional anguish you’ve suffered because of your injuries, such as depression, anxiety, and a lower quality of life
  • Car repairs

Injured driver suffering from whiplash from car accident.One other thing to know about compensation for whiplash injuries is that you may be eligible to seek compensation even if you are found to have been partly responsible for causing your injuries. Oklahoma uses a modified comparative negligence rule for personal injury claims. That means you can receive compensation for your injuries as long as you do not bear the majority of the fault for the accident. For example, if you are found to be 20 percent responsible for your injuries, you could still receive compensation. But if a court awarded $50,000 in whiplash injury compensation, the amount you would be eligible to receive would be reduced by 20 percent.

How Long Does a Whiplash Injury Take to Heal?

Every whiplash case is different. While some people get better after a few days or weeks, people with more severe injuries may need extensive treatment for months or years before they fully recover. In the meantime, they could be in substantial pain and unable to work. Prompt treatment may help reduce swelling of damaged neck tissue and shorten the recovery time. Be sure to see a doctor right away if you think you have whiplash.

What is the Oklahoma Statute of Limitations for a Whiplash Injury Claim?

You have two years to file your claim. Whiplash injury claims, like other personal injury claims, are governed by the Oklahoma statute of limitations. Under this law, you have a two-year time frame in which to file your injury lawsuit. Should you not file your claim before that time has passed, you lose your chance to have your case heard in court. So, do not delay in contacting a personal injury lawyer to represent you.

Should I Get a Lawyer for a Whiplash Injury in Tulsa?

It’s a good idea to speak to personal injury lawyers as soon as you can after a whiplash injury to understand whether you have a valid injury claim. Even if your injury seems minor at first, these injuries may get worse over time, especially if you hold off on getting proper medical treatment.

If you’re having shoulder pain, back pain, or neck pain, get help right away.

A Tulsa personal injury attorney at Edwards & Patterson Law can help you pursue just compensation. We’ll investigate your claim, identify all the liable parties, and document your injuries to give you the best possible chance of recovering maximum compensation. We’ll handle all the paperwork and take care of all your legal communications so you can focus on getting better.

To speak to a knowledgeable, understanding whiplash injury attorney in Tulsa OK, call Edwards & Patterson Law at the phone number below today or visit our contact page to get a free case evaluation.

We’ve been helping victims of auto accident injuries for years, and we are ready to help you.
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