What Is the Average Settlement For Whiplash and Concussion?
Typical Car Accident Settlement Amounts for Whiplash and Concussion
While chiropractors are best known for treating bad backs, one of the most common reasons people see a chiropractor is actually after they’ve been in a car accident.
And some of the most common injuries people suffer in a car accident are whiplash and concussion. These can seem like minor injuries because sometimes, the symptoms won’t even present themselves for a few days or even weeks. But they can have long-lasting effects, which typically means medical treatment (along with some high costs).
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it isn’t just the pain and discomfort you need to worry about. In some cases, figuring out how to pay for your medical bills and lost wages can be the most difficult part.
If you carry the right car insurance coverage, you should be able to file a claim to be compensated for your injuries. And more often than not, that compensation comes by a settlement offer from your insurance company.
Settlements vary from company to company and case to case, but if you’re like most people, you want to have a good idea of what to expect.
In this article, we’ll discuss the average settlement for whiplash and concussion and which medical treatment options are available to you.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by sudden back-and-forth movement of the head and neck. It is a very common car accident injury—especially in rear-end collisions—but drivers and passengers can experience whiplash from a crash in any direction.
The sudden, severe motion can not only pull vertebrae out of alignment, it can cause inflammation of the surrounding tissues, dizziness, and numbness in your arms.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is far more serious than a simple “bump on the head.”
Characterized as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), concussions occur when the brain is jolted against the skull, causing damage to your brain cells.
The individual brain cells (called neurons) stretch and even break, depending on the severity of the accident. This leads to symptoms such as headache, difficulty concentrating, balance issues, and more.
Average Settlement For Whiplash and Concussion
Currently, Florida does not have any law, guideline, or standard to determine how much you are entitled to after a car accident. Instead, car accident settlements are determined by a judge or after negotiations between you, your attorney, and the insurance company.
The settlement amount ultimately depends on the insurance policies of those involved, the amount of medical attention needed, the nature of the accident, and more.
Why Are Car Accident Settlements So High?
Being offered up to $1 million dollars for your injury can sound exciting. But settlements aren’t meant to build up your video game collection or fund your next trip to Bali.
Your car accident settlement amount is designed to pay for the medical care that your injury requires.
Treatment for whiplash usually takes a few months before you are recovered. Your chiropractor will likely treat you with a combination of chiropractic adjustments, medical massage, and E-stim therapy once or twice a week until you have fully healed.
Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can have long-lasting effects on your physical and mental health. Symptoms such as memory problems, insomnia, irritability, and sensitivity to light and sound can have a lasting impact on your life.
Your personal injury attorney will negotiate with the car insurance company to end up with a settlement amount that both parties can agree on. Ideally, however, the amount should be enough to cover past and future medical treatment as well as compensate you for your pain and suffering.
How To Use Your Car Accident Settlement
There are many different medical treatments you can pursue following a car accident.
Traditional medicine usually involves medication, physical therapy, and/or surgery. But these treatments are invasive, expensive, and take a tremendous toll on your body.
Chiropractic care, on the other hand, works with your body to heal your injuries from the inside out.
Rather than focusing on treating your symptoms as they pop up, chiropractors work by relieving pressure on the nerves, muscles, and joints to let your body heal naturally.
Furthermore, chiropractic care is often much more affordable than traditional medical treatments, so you not only get more effective and efficient care, you get a bigger bang for your buck!
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Florida, it’s imperative that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
According to Florida law, you only have 14 days from the date of the accident to pursue medical treatment in order to use your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. If you wait longer than that, you will have to pay for any and all medical expenses through your health insurance policy or out of your own pocket.
Back On the Road to Recovery
Car accident injuries aren’t just disruptive to your daily lifestyle. They can lead to lifelong side effects that require constant medical supervision.
While a car accident settlement from your insurance company can help you pay your medical bills, it’s important that you’re receiving the right kind of care. Chiropractic adjustments can work wonders for your long-term health, without the risky side effects.
At Oviedo Chiropractic, we specialize in treating car accident injuries—including whiplash—and we will gladly work with your primary care physician to make sure your entire body is treated, from the inside out.
