How do I claim compensation for wiplash injuries in a road traffic accident that was not my fault?

Several months ago I suffered a wiplash as a passenger in a car driven by a friend. My friend stopped at a set of traffic lights which were on red when we were hit from behind by another vehicle. I did not feel injured at first, but a few hours later the back of my neck started to cause me pain. I went to the local accident emergency hospital and was diagnosed with a wiplash injury. My neck is still very stiff and I am suffering from headaches and I wish to claim for wiplash injuries

Whiplash / Wiplash Injury Solicitor Response

To claim compensation in the UK for a passenger whiplash you should consider the following steps:

1. Be aware that whiplash is very commonly misspelt as wiplash

Whiplash is very commonly misspelt as wiplash. Using the correct spelling on the internet you will find a lot of information about treatment and symptoms.

2. Consider who is responsible for your UK road traffic accident that caused your whiplash injury

Your claim for compensation will be made against the driver who was responsible for the car accident which caused your personal injury. Here it seems very clear that the driver of other vehicle was at fault and so responsible for the collision.

See our car accident claim article to see how to prove legal responsibility for your RTA.

Wiplash Injury

3. Consider the severity of your whiplash injury

From the whiplash injury symptoms you have described – initial neck pain coupled with ongoing stiffness and headaches it seems your whiplash is quite nasty.

In England and Wales the law requires the driver responsible for your RTA to pay the majority of your legal costs in making a claim, in addition to your compensation, so long as your personal injuries are beyond the small claims limit, which at the time of writing is £1000.

See examples of compensation amounts for whiplash injury for accidents predating the 31 May 2021. Following this date not only did the small claims limit increase for road accident claims to £5,000, but also the amount of compensation recoverable for whiplash was greatly reduced.

4. Choosing the best whiplash injury solicitor to make your claim

To maximise the amount of compensation you receive you should use a specialist road traffic accident solicitor to make your claim.

Click personal injury lawyer to see how to choose the best specialist solicitor to make your claim.

5. Free online legal help with your whiplash / wiplash injury claim

We offer free online legal help and our solicitors answer any question you may have concerning making a whiplash / wiplash injury claim.