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How to Deal with Whiplash from an Accident

Whiplash suffered from a car accident is a compensable damage. While you want relief from the pain, the steps that you take to treat it could impact the viability of your personal injury claim.

Get Medical Help at the Scene

If you are feeling any pain at all at the scene of the accident, it is best to have an ambulance called and seek medical attention at the time of the accident. Although you may want to get on your way as fast as possible, there are benefits down the line if you get care immediately. There is a greater chance your injury can be better documented and if you have it treated and memorialized right off the bat, you can make the demonstration that your injury was caused by the accident.

What to Do at Home to Help

If you must do anything at home to treat your whiplash, above all, you need to be careful. Anything that you do to cause further damage may reduce the amount of your award since those issues were not directly caused by the accident. The best thing to do is to apply either heat or cold to your neck four up to 15 minutes, six times each day. In addition, over-the-counter pain medications can help control some of the discomfort. Any home treatment should be done while waiting for a doctor’s appointment that should be made immediately.

Retain an Attorney and Make a Doctor’s Appointment

You should immediately retain a personal injury attorney to represent you in any possible claim or settlement. If you have not done anything to treat your injury, the attorney will likely advise you to make a medical appointment as soon as possible, preferably within a week after the accident. The sooner you retain an attorney, the better since there are many things that need to be documented as soon as possible, including witness testimony and other facts. For purposes of proving damages, it is best to have your whiplash treated as soon as you can.