What Insurance Companies Say About Whiplash
The name assigned to neck strain received from the impact of a car accident sounds quite painful: whiplash. But the painful discomfort, disruption of normal life activities, and any other complications that follow can be excruciatingly difficult to manage.
If you live in a state that requires no-fault auto insurance, you can file a loss claim directly with your own carrier. In the event that you do not have that coverage option and your injury was the result of another driver’s fault, you will want to file an injury claim and an insurance claim for related losses if applicable to your company.
Other losses related to the injury may include:
• Mileage costs to and from doctor visits
• Loss of income due to interruption of work
Although the initial symptoms immediately after the collision may be minimal, increased pain and other progressive signs of the condition may take time to develop. While full symptoms can appear immediately after a car accident, they can also take hours or even days after the accident.
If you feel any of the following symptoms, to any range or extent, be sure to seek medical attention from your doctor immediately.
Symptoms of whiplash include:
• Painful muscle cramps
• Inability to turn the head partly or completely
• Increased pain in the neck area
• Headaches that start from the lowest part of the skull and move towards the forehead.
Seeing your doctor immediately after you feel the first signs of whiplash, no matter how minimal they may initially seem, is of the utmost importance. This is related to the prospects for full recovery, as well as your chances of receiving adequate auto insurance compensation. As soon as you get the diagnosis from a doctor who checks for whiplash, waste no time and write to the insurance company about your desire to file a claim. Of course, it is imperative to keep records of all expenses regarding loss and damage.
While whiplash is a painful reality that the sufferer must endure for some time, it should heal on its own with the help of the doctor’s instructions and your own pain management.
These suggestions will help in treatment:
– Immediately after feeling a symptom, place an ice bandage on the neck. Do this for a quarter of an hour every 3-4 hours for the first two or three days. As a result, swelling and tenderness should decrease.
– Ask your doctor to prescribe pain medicine.
– Ask your doctor if he or she thinks it is necessary to use a support collar.
– After the post-ice period, apply moist heat to the neck. You can do this by taking hot showers, lukewarm baths, or by placing a warm damp towel on the pain site.
For more information on filing an auto accident-induced whiplash insurance claim, contact an experienced independent agency that is connected to leading companies.