Whiplash Compensation and Other Neck Injury Claims*

Types of Injuries | by Simon McGarr
A happy family used to illustrate the Whiplash claims article

Whiplash Claims

The Personal Injuries Board estimates that compensation for a minor whiplash neck injury (being one which heals within 12 months) would be a sum of up to €14,400. For a healing time of 2 years, their estimate is between €11,500 and €17,500. For injuries that do not heal, which studies suggest may be up to 20% of all whiplash injuries, the indicated range of compensation for whiplash claims is between €15,900 and €78,400.

Personal Injury Cases

Whiplash or a neck injury cases are a specific type of Personal Injury cases and can occur even without an “accident”; overuse of muscles, sudden sharp movement or posture problems may cause injury. However, the most common cause of serious neck injury is road traffic accidents, especially involving “whiplash” of the head and neck. Typically, this happens when your car is hit from behind. The consequences of whiplash may be severe.

They include:

  • Fracture
  • Neck Pain
  • Numbness
  • Paralysis
  • Muscle ache
  • Stiffness
  • Back pain
  • Shoulder pain

Whiplash and other neck injuries can last a very long time and be very debilitating. They can disrupt ordinary life, preventing the patient from doing usual household tasks or going to work. Whiplash is caused by the head and neck moving involuntarily backwards and forwards at speed. This injury often occurs when the victim is rear-ended, but also in a side impact accident. In addition, a seat-belt may cause injury to the neck where it crosses the chest diagonally.

If you suspect you have suffered whiplash or other neck injury, it is important that you seek medical attention, keep track of all your medical documentation, and seek advice from a personal injury solicitor. In order to progress your claim arising from your car accident, your solicitor will need a medical report from your doctor. When this is available you will be ready to apply to the Injuries Board for an assessment of the presumed value of your injury claim (or an authorisation to go to court).