St. Louis Lawyer for Whiplash Injuries
Missouri personal injury attorneys seek damages for painful neck injuries
Automobile manufacturers have improved vehicle safety enormously in the last few decades. Innovations such as airbags and crumple zones have given motorists and their passengers more protection. Yet, a vehicle crash is still likely to inflict harm, especially if it occurs at highway speeds. A common injury suffered by auto accident victims is whiplash. This type of injury is often serious but can be difficult to prove, since it is not objectively diagnosable. Not all personal injury attorneys are adept at handling these cases. At the Guirl Law Firm, we understand how debilitating these injuries can be. Our St. Louis lawyer for whiplash injuries will fight aggressively to obtain the compensation you deserve.
What is whiplash and how is it caused?
Whiplash is a collection of injuries resulting from a single cause. In most cases, the cause is the rapid, violent movement of the head, first in one direction and then in the other. Whiplash often occurs in car accidents, when a traveling vehicle decelerates abruptly due to a collision or when a resting vehicle is rear-ended, causing it to lurch forward. Ironically, whiplash is sometimes due to a malfunctioning airbag injury or to seatbelt issues.
Victims of public transit accidents can experience whiplash due to sudden stops. When a person falls down, the impact can cause a torqueing of the neck that produces whiplash.
Common symptoms of whiplash
Whiplash affects soft tissues in the neck and back, which can include muscles strains and tears, torn ligaments and cartilage and nerve damage. These conditions can produce painful symptoms, such as:
- Inflammation
- Diminished range of motion
- Headaches
- Tingling, numbness and weakness in the extremities
Whiplash injuries vary in severity, depending on the force the victim sustained. Mild cases of whiplash clear up with time, but severe incidents can cause lasting and even permanent damage.
Serious complications from whiplash injuries
Violent whiplash can inflict injuries with long-term consequences, such as:
- Chronic headaches
- Chronic muscle and nerve pain
- Loss of mobility
- Chronic fatigue and weakness
- Moodiness and depression
These injuries can result in lasting disabilities that greatly diminish a person’s quality of life.
Evidence required for Missouri whiplash claims
In whiplash injury cases, we thoroughly investigate the accident to determine who might be held liable. We assemble physical evidence as well as testimony from potential witnesses to understand how the accident happened. Once we ascertain where fault lies, we are ready to make a claim for your losses.
The greatest problem with whiplash cases is that medical diagnostics may not clearly indicate the harm done and the pain the victim has suffered. MRIs may show signs of injury, but individuals with similar MRIs can have vastly different pain experiences. Therefore, attorneys must build a whiplash case based on circumstantial evidence, such as testimony from a variety of witnesses as to the changes they’ve observed in the victim’s mobility, activity level and lifestyle.
Settlements from whiplash claims
Some attorneys are ill-equipped or don’t want to spend the time necessary to establish a circumstantial case, so they encourage their clients to accept settlement offers that may be inadequate. Our firm takes an aggressive approach. We’re not afraid to take a whiplash case to trial, and this determination gives us the leverage to compel a reasonable and appropriate settlement.
Contact a determined St. Louis lawyer for a free whiplash injury consultation
The Guirl Law Firm in St. Louis represents clients who have sustained whiplash injuries throughout Missouri. Please call 314-391-2585 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. Our office is in St. Louis, but if you cannot travel, attorney James Guirl can come to your home or medical facility.
