Whiplash Attorney in Plymouth, Michigan

You’re driving or stopped while waiting for a red light to turn green when, all of a sudden, another car hits you from behind. The crash wasn’t that serious, but you notice pain or stiffness in your neck. This is what’s known as a whiplash injury and it’s considered the most common injury suffered by victims of rear-end collisions.  

While whiplash isn’t visible, it can cause a great deal of discomfort and make basic activities such as bathing, dressing, doing household chores, or even sleeping extremely painful and difficult. Even if whiplash is the only injury you’ve suffered in an accident, you should still consider seeking compensation for your medical expenses, potential loss of income, and other damages. That’s true even if you were at fault for the accident since Michigan is a no-fault insurance state.  

If you're struggling with symptoms related to a whiplash injury, contact Law Office of Kurt M. Schultz PLLC to get help. Our whiplash attorney in Plymouth, Michigan, understands the level of suffering this injury can cause and the impact it can have on your life. With us by your side, you won’t be alone on your road to recovery and can rely on our over 20 years of legal experience.  

What Is Whiplash and How Does It Occur? 

Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs due to a sudden and forceful head movement. The muscles and ligaments in the neck are so sensitive to trauma that any quick, violent motion can lead to damage. As mentioned earlier, whiplash is commonly caused by rear-end collisions. However, auto accidents aren’t the only cause of whiplash, as you may suffer this injury any time your head is jolted or shaken violently in one direction or another, causing muscles in the neck to strain and the ligaments to stretch beyond their normal range of motion. Common causes of whiplash include:  

• Car accidents, especially rear-end crashes 

• Sports, especially contact sports 

• Physical abuse  

• Roller coaster accidents 

• Falls, including slip and fall accidents  

• Dog bites  

While these are the most common possible causes of whiplash, the injury can happen in many other ways. 

Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash After an Accident 

Everyone experiences whiplash differently and the symptoms vary depending on the severity of the injury. In some people, signs of whiplash may appear immediately after the accident. For others, it may take days or possibly even weeks before they notice any symptoms. Either way, watch out for the following signs of injury:  

• Neck pain 

• Shoulder pain 

• Neck stiffness 

• Limited range of motion in the neck 

• Trouble turning the head 

• Numbness or pain in the arm or hand 

• Headaches 

• Dizziness 

• Tiredness 

• Irritability 

If you have been involved in an accident, even a seemingly minor fender-bender, it’s best to seek immediate medical attention. Sometimes, whiplash won’t manifest any symptoms for days or weeks. And the more days you go without visiting a hospital or doctor, the more you hurt your chances of obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled due to the lack of timely documentation of the injury.  

Seeking Compensation for Whiplash in Michigan 

Now that you’re experiencing pain doing everyday tasks and waiting until you recover to get back to work, you might be wondering, “Can I obtain compensation for my medical bills and lost income?” If you suffered whiplash in Plymouth or other parts of Michigan, then the answer is “As long as you have the necessary insurance coverage, yes.” That’s because Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, where people injured in auto accidents must go to their insurance provider to get compensation regardless of fault.  

Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which is mandatory in Michigan, will help cover your: 

• Medical expenses 

• A portion of lost wages 

• Transportation expenses to travel to and from medical appointments 

• Expenses for household services 

• Expenses for attendant care services 

The amount you can get for your whiplash injury depends on your expenses and the level of PIP coverage that you selected in your auto insurance policy. Under the no-fault law in Michigan, you cannot file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver unless you can demonstrate that you suffered a “serious impairment of body function” (MCL § 500.3135). In most cases, whiplash alone isn’t enough to meet this threshold.  

Whiplash Is Hard to Prove, But We Can Help 

While the pain and discomfort caused by whiplash can make your life considerably harder, the physical effects of the injury aren’t visible to the naked eye and sometimes may not even show on imaging tests. That’s because whiplash affects soft tissue. As a result, many people who have suffered whiplash and experience ongoing symptoms may have a hard time proving the injury and, subsequently, recovering compensation.  

At Law Office of Kurt M. Schultz PLLC, we understand what evidence to present and what arguments to use to prove a whiplash injury because our attorney has been doing it for over 20 years. We know how to deal with insurance companies to ensure that injured clients get adequate compensation for their damages and losses caused by whiplash.