Whiplash | Personal Injury Solicitors UK in Dorset

Car crashes are a terrifying experience – with the risk of catastrophic and potentially fatal injuries.

But the devastating effects of accidents on the road are not just limited to major incidents.

Even in a supposedly minor collision, your damaged car is likely to need costly repairs – assuming it isn’t written off completely. Similarly, injuries sustained in these accidents can still have a disproportionately negative impact on your life.

Victims of car accidents may be fortunate enough to walk away from the crash but still suffer injuries which require lengthy rehabilitation and costly treatment. Whiplash is among the most common – but that doesn’t make it any less serious.

If you have sustained a whiplash injury during an accident where somebody else was at fault, you may be unfairly burdened with unexpected costs, both financial and physical. Claiming damages from those responsible can help you to mitigate these challenges.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a neck injury which occurs when the head suddenly moves forwards, backwards or sideways. This can be common in car accidents, as the head restraint on your car seat offers only limited protection.

Whiplash can vary greatly in its severity. Some whiplash injuries will heal within just a few weeks but others can cause pain and limit movement for months or even years.

A chronic whiplash injury will typically last longer than 6-12 months and cause long-term pain. In these cases, the impact on your quality of life is likely to be significant.

If you are suffering from a chronic injury which arose from somebody else’s negligence, you deserve compensation to help you cope with how this has negatively affected your life. We can help you to achieve this.

Can I Make A Whiplash Claim

If the accident that caused your injury was somebody else’s fault and you were a driver or passenger in the vehicle involved, you can make a claim. This doesn’t just apply to cars –buses, coaches and taxis are also included.

You can also claim if you were injured by the crash as a pedestrian.

If you were driving your own vehicle at the time of the accident, you’re likely to have contacted your insurance company for assistance. But remember, you don’t have to use the lawyers your insurer recommends – you are free to choose a different solicitor.

Don’t worry if the other driver refused to stop after the accident (or they had no insurance) – you may still be able to make a claim. We can help you by putting in an application to the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB).

How Long Will My Whiplash Claim Take?

Many whiplash claims take just a few months to settle. However, timescales can differ, depending on how severely you were injured and whether:

the guilty party admits their part in the accident
the driver can be located, if your accident was a ‘hit and run’
you are claiming other damages on top of your injury, such as damage to your personal possessions.

How Much Can I Claim For My Whiplash Injury?

The exact sum will depend on how severely you were injured, as well as the impact it had on your life – including any consequences you are likely to experience in future:

Did you have a soft tissue injury and recover in full within a year?
Did you suffer a more serious, on-going problem where the pain is permanent or recurring?
Were you unfortunate enough to require surgery?

These differing experiences could make the difference between £3,000 and £22,000.

Our experienced solicitors will assess your case thoroughly and ensure that your claim properly reflects your injuries and all the costs you have incurred as a result.

Is There A Deadline To Make A Whiplash Claim?

Generally, the standard time limit is three years from the date of your accident. However, there can sometimes be exceptions.

Children – claims can be made on behalf of a child at any point until they are 18 years old. After that, you can claim for an injury that occurred in childhood until the age of 21.
Accidents abroad – time limits in foreign countries can be shorter than in the UK. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may still be able to make a claim under UK law.

The exact circumstances surrounding your whiplash injury may dictate the time you have to claim. It’s important not to delay – contact us right away.

How Much Will It Cost Me To Make A Claim?

A No Win No Fee agreement (also known as a conditional fee agreement) gives you security and peace of mind when making a personal injury claim.

We offer No Win, No Fee agreements so – in the unlikely event that your claim is unsuccessful – it will cost you nothing.

In the likely event that you win your case, you may have to pay your solicitor a limited success fee, which is capped at 25% of the compensation for general damages and past losses.

For Adrian Cormack, Partner and Head of the Personal Injury Department:

“I would recommend you to my colleagues, friends and family should anyone need advice and helpful service from Coles Miller Solicitors. Your service was excellent indeed.”

A pedestrian hit by a car wrote to thank Brian Parsons, Personal Injury Executive:

“I would like to express my thanks to Coles Miller and in particular yourself. I had received a letter from the driver's solicitor and I was not clear about some of the content. Believing I had no relevant insurance, I contacted Coles Miller. You suggested contacting my house and contents insurance provider. To my astonishment I did in fact have cover on this policy. Thanks again Brian for your excellent advice.”

"Thank you so much for sorting this out for me, especially so close to Christmas. I've really appreciated your support and also that of your team so much since embarking on this experience. I would most certainly recommend you and your team to anyone who finds themselves in the same predicament of a personal injury claim.

"Crispin dealt with our case and was excellent in every way throughout the whole process. From our first meeting to the end of it he kept us well informed and explained everything clearly to keep us updated throughout. He is a credit to the company and would definitely recommend him to friends and family in the future."