How To Make a Successful Whiplash Claim
According to the Association of British Insurers, over 1,500 whiplash claims are made in the UK every day. Barely any of these claims go to court and are settled through negotiation and a compensation settlement instead.
Due to the high volume of whiplash claims, the government has tightened compensation laws with a fixed tariff system to reduce suspicious and fraudulent filing. Despite this, we want whiplash victims to know that they are entitled to their claim and we encourage you to file if the injury wasn’t your fault.
Ready to make a successful whiplash claim? Read on for everything you need to know, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experienced solicitors.
How long do whiplash claims take?
Before the Whiplash Reform Programme came into place with streamlined compensation grades for each type of whiplash, claims typically took four to nine months to resolve.
However, since the grading came into play in May 2021, the whiplash claims process is much faster. If you make a whiplash claim, you could receive your compensation award in just a matter of months.
It’s important to note that the duration of a whiplash claim depends on how easy it is to identify the liable party. For instance, complex whiplash cases may take over a year.
Rest assured that each whiplash case is assessed individually, and the more evidence you have, the quicker you’ll receive compensation.
How do whiplash claims work?
This is how our process works if you want to make a whiplash compensation claim.
-
Talk to us about your case
When you give us a call, one of our personal injury solicitors will talk to you about what happened. The more information you can offer at this point, the better. We will let you know whether we think you have a claim, and if so, we will proceed to the next steps.
-
We’ll help you gather the evidence
Evidence is arguably the most important part of making a successful whiplash claim. We will help you gather all the necessary evidence you need to support your case, including accident records, photos, witness statements, medical reports, and CCTV or dashcam footage.
-
We’ll submit the whiplash claim
Our friendly solicitors will submit your whiplash claim through the Whiplash Reform Programme portal if your compensation reward is less than £5000. If your injuries exceed this threshold, we will file the claim with the at-fault party’s insurer, like any other personal injury claim.
-
Medical assessments
Sometimes, we may require a medical professional to evaluate the severity and duration of your whiplash injury. The reports and findings from this will help us build your case and get the justice you deserve.
-
Receive your whiplash compensation
Based on the evidence we have provided and the medical report findings, an offer will be made — this will be your whiplash compensation payout. If you are happy with the amount, you will receive the money and begin to move on following the incident. The case may go to court if you’d like to dispute this amount.
What evidence do I need for a whiplash claim?
In any personal injury claim, the more evidence you can submit, the better. Your evidence will support you and help determine who is liable for your whiplash injury.
There are lots of different documents that can be used as whiplash evidence, including:
- Accident details: Photos, descriptions, and videos.
- Medical evidence: Reports, prognosis statements, and scans.
- Witness statements that support your claim.
- Proof of financial loss: Medical bills, lost wages, and travel expenses.
- Dashcam and CCTV footage for video evidence that strengthens your claim.
What is the average payout for whiplash claims?
For whiplash injuries and symptoms that clear within three months or less, the compensation payout starts at £240. This can go up to £260 if you have also sustained a minor psychological injury from the accident.
On the other end of the scale, if you have suffered from a whiplash injury for more than nine months but less than a year, you could receive £1,320 for whiplash alone and £1,390 for whiplash as well as minor psychological injury.
It’s important to note that these compensation amounts can increase depending on the injury’s impact on your life, any lost earnings from time off work, the future impact of your injuries, and more.
For a more detailed idea of whiplash compensation amounts, check out our dedicated whiplash grade pages:
What happens if someone claims against you for whiplash?
If you caused an accident that resulted in someone having whiplash, you’ll first be informed of the claim by your insurer.
Your insurer will then investigate the accident and review any evidence submitted. If you’re found to be liable for the whiplash accident, your insurer will negotiate a settlement based on the claimant’s injury, losses, and damages. This payout will usually follow the Whiplash Reform Programme’s fixed tariff system.
It’s also worth noting that your insurance premiums may rise on renewal if you’re deemed at fault.
Why choose Tylers Solicitors to represent your whiplash claim?
Our team of personal injury solicitors are proud to have over 14 years of experience in helping victims of road traffic accidents (RTAs) get the justice they deserve. Our no-win, no-fee solicitors are experienced in helping whiplash victims win the maximum compensation they’re entitled to.
Plus, thanks to our no-win, no-fee approach, you can make your claim immediately, knowing that you don’t have to pay us unless we win your case.
No matter how severe your whiplash injuries are, know that our team are here to support you and get you moving on with your life again
Get in touch with our legal experts today at 0800 699 0079.