A whiplash injury is difficult to prove, even when you do everything right. For most people, being able to prove the injury can be a life changing experience. In a case where money is involved, you should never settle for less than what you deserve. Whiplash is a serious condition, and should never be taken lightly.

1. Document the Crash

After a car accident, adrenaline takes over as your mind tries to process what just happened. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with everything in front of you, as your mind goes through past, present and future scenarios. In the middle of the chaos, it is important to still yourself and realize that every second counts. Once you have your bearings, the clock starts counting down and will decide the strength of your whiplash case.

If you’re able to, record and photograph the accident. As an individual, you want to be in full control of any media that proves you’re the victim. If there is a passenger with you that is unharmed, have them take the photos or video. Get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses in the area, as they are an invaluable resource in a court case. All of this should be done before help even arrives on the scene, and before insurance information is swapped.

With all that said, your safety and health comes first. Prioritize yourself, and then document the crash.

2. See A Doctor Immediately

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that is hard to identify without the help of a doctor. It doesn’t leave a mark, and will make your case harder to win without professional testimony. Going to a doctor after the accident will not only identify whiplash, but it can also find other injuries associated with the car crash. Pain and suffering are hard to reward when you don’t have a paper trail indicating that the car crash caused the injury. Don’t stop at home, don’t stop and get something to eat. Go to the hospital, and cast away any doubt that your injuries were sustained from the collision.

3. Follow-up With More Information

After the initial visit, follow-up with your primary care doctor. This will update them on your condition, and serve as a way to catch anything that was missed during the ER visit. The actual pain of whiplash can sometimes take days, or even weeks to fully materialize. Whatever new problems develop during this period can be blamed on the original injury caused by the car crash. To get the maximum possible payment in court, the timeline you present should include clear, concise facts about your original injury and the recovery process. Every whiplash case is different, but the proper method to secure information remains the same.

Wrap Up

Everything you do after a car accident counts. To get a positive result out of litigation, you have to know what steps to take. Payout from a whiplash injury can be massive when the right steps are taken to document it.