Winter whiplash – personal injury claims
The Winter weather creates hazardous driving conditions every year, with ice and snow making it even more challenging. A study from car insurance provider Admiral revealed that November, December, and January have the highest reported car insurance claims. This is likely to result from the changing weather, the poor road conditions, and unprepared drivers.
Although you can take precautions to stay safe, by driving slower and remaining alert, there is a greater risk of experiencing an injury in a sudden impact crash.
So, what are the best steps to take if you find yourself injured in a road accident – and it wasn’t your fault?
The Winter road accidents stats
The Admiral study involved 2,000 drivers, and found almost a quarter of UK motorists have been involved in a car accident after driving in severe winter weather. With freezing temperatures, there is more danger – with one in ten motorists saying they have been involved in a car accident caused by black ice on the roads.
There are about 400,000 rear-end shunts (collisions) each year in the UK, accounting for 27% of all road traffic accidents. Rear-end collisions account for about 75% of all bodily injury claims in accidents – usually resulting from whiplash for the occupants of the vehicle that was struck from behind. Traffic collisions can also cause back strain, sprained shoulders, wrists and ankles, neck injuries and concussion. As it takes up to 10 times longer to stop on snow and ice than it does on dry pavement, it is unsurprising that the claims increase in the Winter months.
How do you know if you have whiplash?
If you have been involved in a serious car accident, you should call an ambulance or head to A&E immediately. If there is a minor injury, and you are experiencing extreme pain, discomfort, or any concerning symptoms, then get it checked by your GP.
One of the most common injuries in road accidents is whiplash, and it is one that should be treated quickly as it can result in long-term damage, chronic pain.
However, symptoms of whiplash can take longer to appear – even a day or two after the accident occurred. The symptoms of whiplash include stiffness and pain in the neck, back or arms, headache, dizziness, and/or nausea. If you start to experience these symptoms, you can contact an expert to help you with your whiplash injury claim.
Make a claim through the OIC
If you are aged over 18 and have been involved in an accident in England or Wales that was not your fault, you can make a claim through the OIC. This free service is available for anyone that has suffered a minor personal injury, even without legal help.
You will need to provide information about the accident including when it took place and where it happened. The OIC will then pass your claim on to the insurance company of the driver that is responsible for the accident. Then, you will need to appoint a medical expert to assess your injuries and write up a medical report.
After an investigation, if the accident is deemed to be the driver’s fault, a compensation offer will be provided which you can accept or decline. Once you accept the offer, payment will be arranged, and the claim will be closed.
Select a Whiplash injury claims expert
Dr Sahir Shaikh is a MedCo accredited expert, available to help patients make a claim without legal representation through the Official Injury Claim (OIC) organisation. He is the only medical expert in the UK to have completed Advanced training in Whiplash Injury Biomechanics from San Diego, USA.
If Dr Sahir Shaikh is the medical expert selected by MedCo, then you can book a consultation within 15 minutes of using the OIC portal.
To get in touch after making a claim, information about medical examinations and for other useful policy information you can visit https://www.d2expert.org.uk/drshaikh/
