Whiplash is a common injury suffered in auto accidents in San Antonio, Texas. Whiplash describes soft-tissue damage to the muscles or tendons in the neck. If you have whiplash from a San Antonio car crash or another accident, you may be curious about how much you could receive in an insurance settlement or jury verdict for your medical bills and losses. The answer to this question depends on your situation.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury most commonly caused by car accidents. However, it can also be caused by falls, sports and other incidents, such as physical assault. It occurs when something jerks the head and neck rapidly backward and forward, whipping the neck around hard enough to stretch, tear or damage the soft tissues. Whiplash can cause many painful and debilitating symptoms, including:- Neck pain
- Stiffness or lost range of motion
- Shooting pains, tingling or numbness in the arms
- Back pain or tenderness
- Headaches
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Trouble concentrating
- Memory issues
- Trouble sleeping
Settlement Amounts Vary Significantly
It is not possible to estimate the value of your whiplash injury settlement based on average award amounts in prior cases. Insurance companies and courts in Texas do not assign damages based on average settlements. Instead, every personal injury settlement or jury verdict for whiplash is unique and tailored to the victim’s needs and losses. Some injured accident victims can receive $10,000 or less for their whiplash injuries. Others might receive around $5,000. Still other crash victims could receive substantially more than $10,000 if they have significant injuries, such as a serious spinal cord injury. The factors that go into determining a whiplash settlement amount include the level of the injury, the victim’s prognosis, how long he or she will need medical care, health, age, income, and more.Types of Damages Available
Although there is no average settlement for whiplash in San Antonio, you can get an idea of how much your claim might be worth with help from an attorney. An attorney can estimate the value of your case based on the compensable losses you suffered in the accident. A defendant may be financially responsible for many of your past and future damages:- Health care bills
- Long-term treatments such as physical therapy
- Medications or medical devices
- Lost wages and capacity to earn
- Property repairs
- Disability-related expenses
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages