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Denver Whiplash Injury Attorneys

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April 5, 2023 Personal Injury

Denver Whiplash Injury Lawyer

Whiplash is one of the most common spinal injuries people suffer, but many people don’t really understand what it is or how serious it can be. An estimated three million people in the United States suffer from whiplash injuries annually. These neck injuries can have tremendous physical and financial impacts on accident victims, with mounting medical bills to treat chronic pain, lost wages and sick leave, not to mention the months or even years of physical suffering.

While television shows and other pop culture sources have sometimes implied that whiplash is a “made-up” injury that can be used to file frivolous lawsuits, in fact, whiplash is potentially a very serious medical condition.

If you have suffered whiplash in a car crash or other accident, contact an experienced Denver whiplash injury lawyer knowledgeable in Denver whiplash injury laws to discuss your options. Fuicelli & Lee is committed to pursuing full, fair, and complete compensation for every client. Please call Fuicelli & Lee at (303) 444-4444 for a free case evaluation.

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What Is Whiplash?

The actual name for the neck injury, popularly known as whiplash, is neck sprain or neck strain, depending on the severity. The injury is caused when the soft tissue of the cervical vertebrae (neck) is strained or damaged, which can cause symptoms from stiffness and headaches to cognitive and emotional damage.

The name whiplash probably comes from the way the injury occurs. It generally involves the head whipping in one direction and then another very swiftly and suddenly, like a passenger in a car that is struck from behind. In fact, car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash injuries. Sports injuries and falls that cause the victim’s head and neck to make a violent whipping movement are other common causes of whiplash.

The neck injury occurs when muscles and ligaments in the neck move beyond their normal ranges, which can strain or tear. Whiplash may also damage the discs between the vertebrae.

What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash Injuries?

While whiplash isn’t regarded as a catastrophic injury, it can have effects on your life and ability to perform normal daily tasks that are limiting, even debilitating. Neck pain is the most obvious symptom of a sprained neck, but often there are associated symptoms, such as

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Shoulder pain
  • Back pain
  • Loss of range of motion in the neck

In severe cases of whiplash, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other head injuries may result. Some of the less common whiplash symptoms include:

  • Cognitive impairment
  • Memory loss
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Depression

The symptoms of whiplash often appear within days after the injury. But sometimes symptoms don’t appear until several weeks later or they may worsen over time, giving insurance companies an opportunity to assert that the victim is making the symptoms up.

If you have suffered whiplash in a car accident in Denver, talk with a Denver whiplash injury lawyer as soon as possible; they can help negotiate with your insurance company so you can be fully compensated for your neck injury.

What Is the Prognosis for Whiplash?

Many people are able to recover from whiplash injuries within a few months. However, at the onset, there may be significant lost time at work or loss of normal daily activities. The initial treatment typically involves prescription painkillers or muscle relaxants; physical therapy is often the main treatment.

In some cases, however, there may be long-lasting effects and residual pain for which no treatments exist. Many times, people who experience whiplash start to heal, only to aggravate the injury. According to the Physician Partners of America, studies indicate that 50% to 60% of whiplash injury victims develop long-term symptoms that last for several months or years, including chronic pain, headaches, muscle spasms, and a limited range of motion.

Why Whiplash Symptoms May Return:

  • Incomplete Healing – If the soft tissues, ligaments, or muscles in the neck do not fully heal, pain can return, sometimes months or years later.
  • Scar Tissue Formation – As the body heals, scar tissue can develop, leading to stiffness and recurring discomfort.
  • Underlying Nerve Damage – If whiplash affects nerves in the neck or upper spine, symptoms like pain, numbness, or tingling can come and go.
  • Chronic Whiplash Syndrome – Some people develop long-term symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating, which may return intermittently.

If you experience any degree of whiplash, seek prompt medical attention to prevent further complications and ensure proper recovery.

What Should I Do After a Whiplash Injury?

With any injury, taking care of your physical health is the most important thing. Be sure to carefully follow all the advice and procedures your doctor or physical therapist prescribed. However, with the potential for financial loss between the lost wages, sick leave, and potential for long-term pain, you also need the advice of an experienced Denver personal injury attorney.

How Can Denver Whiplash Injury Attorneys Help Me?

Whiplash pain can chip away at your quality of life. You don’t need to suffer in silence. If you were involved in an accident and suffered injuries to your neck, contact our Denver personal injury lawyers. Even if your symptoms didn’t appear until days or weeks after the accident, consulting with an experienced lawyer may increase your chances of recovering fair compensation for your medical bills or other expenses.

Here’s how our personal injury lawyers can help you:

Investigate your car accident

Our Denver personal injury attorneys have experience investigating accident scenes. We can gather information, talk to witnesses, and discuss your care with your physician, physical therapists, and others.

Identify all sources of compensation

Colorado is an at-fault auto insurance state. That means drivers in Denver and throughout Colorado who suffer injuries in a motor vehicle accident that wasn’t their fault can seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance coverage to pay for all of your accident-related expenses, you can either file a claim for the excess expenses through your own insurance policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or you can talk with an attorney about filing a lawsuit in your personal injury case.

Determine the value of your damages

Most people don’t realize the full extent of damages they suffer from a car accident that results in a whiplash injury. Our Denver personal injury lawyers will review your medical records and other documents to determine the full extent of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering so that you can obtain fair compensation for your damages.

Negotiate with the insurance companies

Knowing the value of the damages you suffered gives our Denver personal injury lawyers bargaining power when dealing with insurance companies. Insurance adjusters are notorious for low-balling accident victims when it comes to settlement offers. Never take a settlement offer from an insurance company without first talking to a lawyer.

Take your case to court

Some insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement until they are faced with a car accident lawsuit. Most will settle before the case goes to court. However, our Denver personal injury attorneys are experienced and proven trial lawyers who have secured life-changing settlements and verdicts for clients. Insurance companies know that we won’t settle for anything less than you deserve. If the at-fault party’s insurer refuses to offer you a fair settlement, we are prepared to take your case to court.

Recovering Damages in a Denver Whiplash Injury Lawsuit

Whiplash injuries can have a lasting impact, often leading to chronic pain, reduced mobility, and expensive medical treatments. If your injury resulted from someone else’s negligence, Colorado personal injury law gives you the right to seek financial compensation for the losses you have suffered.

Many personal injury victims underestimate the true cost of their injuries, especially when future medical needs and lost earning potential are considered. At Fuicelli & Lee, our Denver personal injury attorneys fight to ensure our clients receive the maximum compensation they deserve.

When you pursue compensation in a personal injury claim for whiplash, the damages you can recover generally fall into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover the financial losses directly related to your injury. These damages are typically easier to calculate because they come with clear documentation, such as medical bills and pay stubs. They include:

  • Medical expenses – Coverage for medical treatment, including hospital visits, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and rehabilitation.
  • Future medical expenses – If your whiplash leads to long-term complications, you may need ongoing care, such as pain management and therapeutic care.
  • Lost wages – Compensation for income lost while recovering from your physical injuries.
  • Loss of earning capacity – If severe injuries impact your ability to work in the future, you may be entitled to damages for reduced earning potential.
  • Property damage – If your whiplash resulted from a car accident, you may also recover compensation for vehicle repairs or replacement.

Non-Economic Damages

Not all damages come with a price tag. Non-economic damages compensate for the physical and emotional toll of your injury. These losses can be harder to quantify, but they are just as important.

  • Pain and suffering – Compensation for the physical pain and discomfort caused by your injuries sustained in the accident.
  • Emotional distress – Many personal injury clients experience anxiety, depression, or PTSD after a traumatic accident.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life – If your whiplash prevents you from participating in activities you once loved, you may be entitled to damages.
  • Loss of consortium – If your injury affects your relationship with your spouse, you may be able to claim compensation for the impact on your personal life.

Navigating the legal process of a personal injury lawsuit can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with chronic pain, missed work, and mounting medical expenses. Our team at Fuicelli & Lee understands the challenges personal injury victims face, and we are committed to helping you recover maximum compensation for all your damages.

Is There a Deadline for My Whiplash Injury Case?

Colorado’s statute of limitations sets strict deadlines for personal injury lawsuits, meaning you must file your whiplash injury claim within a specific timeframe or lose your right to seek damages.

If you suffered a whiplash injury in a motor vehicle accident, the deadline for you to take legal action is three years. If you suffered whiplash in an accident that did not involve a motor vehicle, you typically have two years to take legal action.

Whiplash injuries often don’t seem so bad after a car crash or other accident, and many people avoid seeking medical attention only to find their symptoms worsen with time. These injuries can be long-lasting and unpredictable. While some injuries heal quickly, others lead to chronic pain, recurring flare-ups, and lasting mobility issues. Insurance companies often challenge whiplash claims, arguing that symptoms are minor or unrelated to the accident.

Waiting too long to be treated and seek legal help can make it harder to prove the connection between your injuries and the accident, so seek medical attention and legal help as soon as possible.

Fuicelli & Lee puts the power of an experienced personal injury law firm behind your case. Our Denver personal injury attorneys fight for the best possible outcome for all our personal injury clients. Contact us today to start your claim before time runs out.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

Many personal injury victims worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer, but most Colorado personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing upfront, and your attorney only gets paid if they win your case. The fee is typically a percentage of your personal injury settlement or court award.

At Fuicelli & Lee, our Denver personal injury attorneys believe that financial concerns should never prevent someone from seeking justice. We offer free consultations and only collect fees if we successfully recover compensation for you. If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact our personal injury law firm today to learn how we can help, without any financial risk to you.

Contact the Denver Personal Injury Lawyers at Fuicelli & Lee

Fuicelli & Lee is a personal injury law firm committed to helping individuals and families who have suffered injuries or wrongful death recover the compensation they deserve. While no amount of compensation may restore you and your life to the way it was before the accident, full, fair, and complete compensation can give you the time and resources you need to heal and move forward.

If you or a loved one has sustained a neck sprain in an accident, our Denver, Colorado personal injury lawyers can evaluate the details of your case, determine if negligence was a factor, and decide whether you have the grounds for a legal claim.

Our legal team is committed to pursuing full, fair, and complete compensation for every client. For a free consultation, please call (303) 444-4444 today.

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