Personal Injury Lawsuit

Whiplash is a catch-all, commonly used word which encompasses a range of neck injuries, including cervical sprain and hyperextension injuries. Coined in the late 1920s from the snapping head motion frequently associated with neck injuries, the term “whiplash” is both visually descriptive and slightly misleading. To begin with, though the most commonly cited cause of whiplash is motor vehicle collision, similar damage to the soft tissues, muscles, and ligaments of the neck can also occur through other means. Not all are violent; though falls and sports accidents account for many whiplash injuries, the damage caused by repeated strain or stress is analogous to that caused by more well-known factors.

Whiplash in Bus and Car Accidents

Literally millions of motor vehicle accidents occur every year in the United States. Some involve only passenger cars, while others may involve public transportation vehicles such as buses. With the sheer amount of people on the road today, the odds of suffering whiplash in an accident are greater than ever.

A common misconception is that whiplash can only be caused in a high speed collision. Drivers believe that by maintaining cautious speeds, they can avoid the risk of neck injury. Nothing could be further from the truth. Studies show that even collisions which take place at a paltry 15 miles per hour (mph) can cause whiplash injuries - even if the victims are wearing their seatbelts.

Diagnosing and Treating Whiplash

If you have been in a car or bus accident recently, you should be on the lookout for symptoms of whiplash, such as a stiff neck, persistent headache, tenderness of neck muscles, inability to move the head, difficulty swallowing, burning sensations, or shooting/persistent pain in the neck, back, or shoulders. If you find yourself suffering from these symptoms, it’s a good idea to seek treatment immediately.

The good news is that, in most cases, whiplash injuries are treatable and reversible. The most common treatment is a supportive cervical collar which is worn for several weeks. Physical therapy, heat therapy, and/or muscle relaxants may also be used to restore range and ease of motion.

In severe cases, whiplash may involve damage to the brain, spinal cord, or intervertebral discs, and may require surgery or other medical procedures to repair. Catching the symptoms early can mean the difference between a full recovery and permanent injury.

For more information on bus accident-related injuries like whiplash, visit the website of the Williams Kherkher bus accident lawyers at http://www.bus-accident-lawyer.com.

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EXPOSED MYTHS ABOUT LAWYERS

If you have been injured, you will get only one chance to get the compensation you deserve. One of the most important decisions that you make in your lifetime will be the lawyer you chose to take on this task. That’s why I’m going to reveal some information about lawyers. That way you can have a better chance at making the right decision that will affect your life.

MYTH #1: EVERY ATTORNEY HAS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING.

The fact of the matter is experience and training differs greatly from attorney to attorney. Some attorneys may have years and years of experience drafting wills, handling probate, and shuffling papers in real estate transactions. Why would you want that lawyer representing you in your personal injury cases? If you have been injured, you do not want some paper pusher on your side!

Picking the right attorney can be as significant in your life as picking the right doctor to treat your illness or the right builder to build your house. The lawyer you hire for your personal injury case should have a track record of taking cases to court in front of live juries and winning. You should ask your prospective attorney many questions such as:

How many personal injury cases have you handled?

What percent of those cases resulted in settlement before a lawsuit was filed?

How many cases have you taken to jury trial?

Are you willing to take my case to trial?

What kind of results have you had in trial?

Are you going to PERSONALLY handle my case if it goes to trial?

What professional organizations do you belong to in order to improve your personal injury knowledge and trial skills?

Have you spoken at seminars for other attorneys on trial practice and personal injury topics?

What experts have you hired for your clients?

Do you advance expenses of litigation?

These are the kinds of questions you better be asking any lawyer you see. I welcome these questions from my clients.

Every professional needs experience, why let someone gain experience on your dime. Remember that the law profession is like any other profession when it comes to experience. When you need help, make sure it’s the best help available so you can get the most benefit from it.

MYTH #2: IF A LAWYER IS ON TV, HE MUST BE GOOD.

Unfortunately, just because a lawyer appears on TV commercials, does not make them qualified to handle personal injury cases. Please do not just rely on slick commercials. If a lawyer does not have the right tools and experience that you’re looking for, then don’t hire him/her.

If you do talk to a lawyer who advertises on TV, then ask him/her the very same questions you would any other lawyer. If all the lawyer had to offer was a slick TV commercial, do you want to trust the care of the most important decisions of your life to that kind of lawyer?

MYTH #3: ALL LAWYERS ARE SKILLED IN THE ART OF NEGOTIATING.

Unfortunately, this is not true. If you’ve ever dealt with a big corporation, you know they can be intimidating and play hardball. They do not mess around when it comes to losing money.

You need a lawyer who can negotiate from a position of strength. That means someone who prepares your case and is willing to file suit and go to trial if necessary to get you full and fair compensation.

The truth of the matter is, most personal injury cases are settled out of court. However, if you do not have a lawyer who prepares as if it will go to trial, you may not get the full value of your claim. A lawyer who prepares to go to trial can negotiate from a position of strength.

MYTH #4: ALL LAWYERS ARE PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THE CASES THEY HANDLE.

Absolutely wrong! Some lawyers have so many cases they don’t have a lot of time to devout to each client! Just try to get one of those busy lawyers to return your phone call, let alone a quick call from his staff. Some lawyers hire paralegals to do a lot of their work. This can be okay, but don’t you think you should be told up front if that is the case?

The bottom line is, no matter how big or small your case, it’s important to you! You need to have a lawyer on your side that is 100% committed to providing quality, personal service and detailed attention to your needs, a lawyer who will treat your case with the utmost important it truly deserves.

MYTH #5: YOU DON’T NEED AN ATTORNEY!

The insurance companies would have you believe that you don’t even need an attorney. Just think about that advise!?! The insurance companies are in business to make money. The less they pay you, the more money that is left for them. You have no experience negotiating the value of a personal injury case. The insurance adjuster makes his living paying the least amount possible.

Sure, the attorney is going to charge you a fee, but nothing in life, that is worthwhile, is free. An insurance industry study shows that claimants represented by an attorney receive more in settlement. Perhaps that is the real reason you need an attorney. Sure, there are some cases that are so small that an attorney may not be able to help. For instance, if you only had one doctor visit and you are absolutely fine, there may not be much an attorney can do. However, if you have a significant injury, you should get significant compensation. I believe that the experience a lawyer brings can result in better settlements in many cases.

MYTH #6: AN ATTORNEY CANNOT HELP IF I ALREADY HAVE AN OFFER.

You may be afraid to consult an attorney if you already have an offer because you think the attorney will take a portion of it as his fee. However, all attorneys do not charge the same. Although a common fee is 1/3 of the gross recovery and sometimes more, some attorneys in personal injury cases will agree not to take a fee out of the money already on the table.

In fact, if you already have an offer, you may be able to find an attorney who will be willing to work for a contingent fee only on the amount in excess of the offer you already have on the table.

THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO

IS WHAT TOO MANY PEOPLE DO - DELAY OR DO NOTHING!

Way too many people have wished they had acted sooner before important witnesses moved and could no longer be found, before delays or gaps in their medical treatment proved fatal to their case, before they said something or signed something that they should not have. Don’t let delay hurt your chance for full and fair compensation.