Florida Whiplash Injury Lawyers

Whiplash Injury Attorneys Winning Compensation for Car Accident Victims in Florida

Whiplash injuries and other head and neck injuries are perhaps the most common injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, many injured individuals make the mistake of equating a common injury with a minor injury—and whiplash is one form of head and neck injury that can require an extended recovery time, coupled with the potential for missed time from work and extensive medical bills. Other types of head and neck injuries can be even more severe, and they could lead to chronic pain or traumatic brain injuries from which you may never fully recover. Our Florida whiplash injury lawyers at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. are here to provide advice and advocate for our clients throughout the Florida community.

The first piece of advice that we provide to all individuals who have been injured in a motor vehicle accident is to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if it seems that you have escaped the accident unharmed. In Florida, you must seek medical attention for your whiplash injury, or head or neck injury, within 14 days following the motor vehicle accident in order to protect your rights to recover damages from your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance carrier. Because whiplash is a type of injury that may not generate symptoms for a period of time following the car accident, or may initially manifest as only a minor sore neck, many injured individuals fail to seek medical attention for whiplash injuries that could eventually lead to a lasting problem.

Identifying a Whiplash or Soft Tissue Injury After a Motor Vehicle Accident

Whiplash injuries and other head and neck injuries often do not begin to develop for up to a full 24 hours following the car accident. Whiplash impacts the soft tissue in the neck, meaning that there are frequently no physical indications of the injury until the injured party begins to experience symptoms at a later time. The injury itself is sustained when an accident causes the neck and upper body to be rapidly thrust forward, and then abruptly backward again, or vice versa. Some of the initial symptoms of a whiplash injury may include:

• Neck pain
• Headache, usually in the back of the head
• Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
• Stiffness or inability to move the neck comfortably
• Numbness in the shoulders, arms, or hands
• Muscle spasms
• Shoulder pain
• Weakness or tingling sensations in the arms

While the most severe head and neck injuries will be immediately apparent, whiplash and other damage to the soft tissue of the neck, including neck strains and sprains, can be difficult to prove because there is often no broken bone, bruising, or other outward evidence that the accident caused the whiplash injury. Our neck injury attorneys in FL are experienced in advocating on clients’ behalf to help establish that the injury was actually caused by the car accident in question.

A doctor will typically identify the injury simply by evaluating the injured party’s symptoms following the crash. This is often necessary because the injury itself may not show up on an X-ray or MRI. Seeking medical attention as soon as possible after the auto accident can be critical in these cases, because the insurance company will often attempt to argue that some event occurred between the accident and the medical diagnosis to cause the injury.

Whiplash and other minor head and neck injuries are often highly treatable through:

• Chiropractic care
• Physical therapy
• Massage therapy
• Oral pain medications
• Trigger point injections
• Targeted exercises

More serious cases that do not resolve fairly quickly can result in a need for extensive and expensive medical care that calls for the assistance of a personal injury attorney.

Top Rated Personal Injury Attorneys Specialize in Whiplash, Head, and Neck Injuries

Attorney Charles Cartwright has 15 years of experience working for insurance companies, and he understands the strategies that they often employ when trying to avoid liability for the compensation that is rightfully owed to our clients. Anticipating these strategies in advance helps our attorneys position your claim for damages stemming from whiplash and other head and neck injuries to obtain the best possible results.

If you have been diagnosed with whiplash or a head and neck injury, contact the Florida whiplash injury lawyers at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. to discuss potential options for pursuing your right to compensation from the negligent or reckless party. We can also help you file a claim with your own insurance company to receive reimbursement from your personal injury protection (PIP) policy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Whiplash Injury

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Dedicated Car Accident Attorney About Your Whiplash Injuries

Even if you are uncertain about whether your case can lead to a justifiable legal claim for monetary compensation, our attorneys are here to act as a resource for any questions that you may have. We understand how confusing the legal system can be, especially if you are faced with a language barrier, and we offer authentic support for the members of our local community in Florida. Your first meeting with one of our Pompano Beach attorneys is free of charge, so contact our offices at 561-898-0497, or toll-free at 888-888-3903, to schedule a free consultation today. You can also fill out this online form, and a member of our legal team will reach out to discuss your whiplash injury case. We have our main office located at 813 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as an office in Pompano Beach, Florida.