You sing along to music during your morning commute to work. Then, all of a sudden, a crunching-steel sound replaces your favorite beat, and your head and neck area jerks back and forth. You have just been in an accident where the motorist behind you rear-ended your motor vehicle — possibly due to careless driving.
These types of accidents in New York can easily lead to whiplash, which is a relatively common crash-related injury. A few tips may help you to protect your best interests financially after suffering this type of serious injury in a car collision.
What exactly is whiplash?
Whiplash refers to various injuries to the soft tissue in your back and neck area. These injuries might not result in the most severe symptoms following a car crash. As a result, many accident victims do not even realize they have suffered this type of injury immediately following their accidents.
However, the truth is that whiplash can cause you to have painful limitations and thus negatively affect your quality of life. Fortunately, you have the right to seek monetary compensation to address your injuries.
What notes should you take?
Documenting your whiplash injury properly is critical if you plan to pursue compensation for it. Examples of important information to record while at the accident scene include the following:
- Information on the location, date and time of the crash
- The name, phone number and insurance information of the driver who caused your accident
Contacting police is also a wise move, as a police officer will gather information about the crash from you and the other parties involved and then draft a report about the accident. Obtaining this police officer’s name as well as his or her badge number may be helpful for future reference.
What steps should you take after the accident?
Once you leave the crash scene, you may want to get the police report on your accident as soon as it is available. In addition, it may help to keep track of all medical records associated with your whiplash. These include the following:
- Diagnosis information
- Treatment information
- Medication information
You can find this information in your records from a hospital, chiropractor and physical therapist, for example.
Gathering information about the work you missed following your car collision may also be wise, as monetary compensation can help to address lost wages on top of your medical bills and any therapy you need if you prove to the court that your injuries were due to the negligence of the other driver.
