As well as being painful, whiplash can also affect your ability to carry out your job and enjoy day to day activities, and so the question you should ask is how much is your pain and discomfort worth in financial terms?
The amount of compensation you are entitled to depends on a number of variables, and the fact that after this you can make two types of claim.
Firstly you need to decide which method you will use to make your claim for whiplash , as you can claim directly against the insurer or use the services of a solicitor. If you take direct action against the insurer you will be compensated in line with the settlement agreement made with them, but may receive more if you claim with the help of an experienced solicitor.
If you decided to use a solicitor, then you can claim for two types of damage: general damages, or special damages.
General damages are encompass any damages which are physical pain or suffering experienced as a result of the accident, i.e. a neck injury relating to whiplash. When claiming for general damages you are also able to claim for any effect on your quality of life or emotional pain, which is due to the accident. In addition, psychological disorders such as depression which have come about as a result of the accident and subsequent events may also contribute to your settlement.
Special damages are to some degree predetermined as they relate to any losses incurred as a result of the whiplash and the accident which caused it.
The most common reason for payment of special damages is loss of earnings whilst recovering from an accident, which also takes into account any future loss of earnings. Special damages can also be awarded if it is necessary for you to pay for someone to care for you during recovery, if you need to have your vehicle repaired as a result of the accident, including any car hire expenses or if you have had to pay for medical attention.
If you are thinking of claiming for special damages then it is vital you keep a log of all expenditure and copies of receipts where possible.
This has shown that there are in fact no set amounts when it comes to claiming for whiplash, but that many features contribute to your settlement.
Want to find out more about whiplash payouts, then visit the Whats My Claim Worht site on how to choose the best compensation services for your needs.