PORTLAND WHIPLASH
ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

We Handle Whiplash Accident Claims in Portland & Throughout Oregon

A severe whiplash accident can result in debilitating pain, emotional trauma, and significant financial setbacks. In most cases, whiplash injuries are associated with car accidents, typically rear-end collisions. If you have suffered this kind of injury in Portland, Oregon, as the result of a car accident, or someone else’s negligent or reckless act, you may be able to pursue compensation for your injuries, as well as pain and suffering.

The potentially life-altering impact of a whiplash injury should not be brushed off or underestimated. An experienced whiplash injury lawyer can investigate the facts of your case and guide you through the injury claim process. With qualified legal assistance, you can focus on your recovery and put this difficult time behind you.

At Johnston Law Firm, P.C., we take pride in advocating for the legal rights of Portland area whiplash injury victims. Our legal team’s diligent and compassionate approach to every case we take on has helped hundreds of families put their lives back together after a serious injury has occurred.

If you have experienced a whiplash injury, call Johnston Law Firm, P.C. or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation. Learn what our award-winning law firm can do for you!

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Common Symptoms of a Whiplash Injury

Within days of a car crash or other form of physical trauma, you may begin to develop whiplash symptoms. You should not take a whiplash injury lightly. If unaddressed, such injuries can lead to chronic, life-long pain.

Whiplash symptoms may include such things as:

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Concussions
• Blurred vision, double vision, or light sensitivity
• Tinnitus
• Difficulty sleeping
• Lower back pain
• Loss of range of motion in the neck
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Throat pain or a hoarse throat
• Difficulty or discomfort when swallowing
• Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms
• Tingling or numbness in the arms
• Burning or tingling in the neck, shoulders, or back
• Problems with memory or concentration

Clearly, a whiplash accident can lead to serious physical harm in addition to neck injuries. When facing such serious injuries, you need a knowledgeable and empathetic legal representative on your side. At Johnston Law Firm, P.C., we are adept at handling whiplash injury claims whether they resulted from a car accident or some other untimely incident. 

Causes of Portland Whiplash Injuries

Whiplash injuries most often occur when the head is quickly thrown backward and then forward with force. Regrettably, there are an estimated 3 million cases of whiplash in the U.S. each year. While Portland car accidents are a common cause of such injuries, whiplash can be caused by other types of trauma as well.

Car Accidents

Auto accidents are one of the most common causes of a whiplash injury. A serious injury can occur even in a low speed collision. When a car is rear-ended or hit from the side, the force of the impact can cause your head and neck to jerk violently, causing significant muscle and ligament damage – and possibly more.

Rear-end and other car accidents resulting in whiplash are often caused by:

• Distracted driving
• Drowsy driving
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding
• Inclement weather

Regardless of what caused your auto accident, it is critical that you address your whiplash injuries. Failing to do so may lead to prolonged physical pain and financial stress. An experienced car accident attorney can provide the support you need to evaluate your claim and pursue maximum compensation for what you have gone through.

Slip-and-Fall Accidents

When a person slips and falls, the impact can cause the head to rapidly jerk backward and forward. Thus, a significant fall can result in a whiplash injury much like a car accident.

While whiplash may not be the first type of injury you think of after a slip-and-fall accident, it should be taken into consideration when assessing the extent of your injuries. A whiplash neck injury after falling can result in long-term or even permanent damage.

Contact Sports Accidents

Football tackles and other sports-related contact hits can cause whiplash. In the same way that an injured person experiences whiplash in a car accident, high-energy contact sports can result in similar injuries. For instance, if a player is hit by 2 other players simultaneously from the front and behind, the impact can cause the spine and neck to undergo the same whiplash motion.

Physical Abuse

Sadly, when an individual is pushed, shoved, hit, or shaken, his or her head and neck may experience sudden, forceful movements that can cause whiplash. Unfortunately, whiplash is one of the injuries seen in shaken baby syndrome. This is a traumatic form of abuse that can result in serious brain injury after forcefully shaking a baby or toddler.

If you or a loved one has suffered physical abuse and is experiencing whiplash injury symptoms, please seek safety and medical attention as soon as possible. Additionally, a whiplash injury lawyer can help you build a case against your abuser.

Don’t miss out on these common personal injury mistakes.

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Potential Compensation in a Portland, Oregon Whiplash Injury Claim

If you suffer a whiplash injury because of someone else’s negligent, reckless, or intentional act, you have the legal right to hold that party accountable for what you have suffered. You may be able to obtain restitution for both your current losses and for the negative impact your injuries will have on your future well-being.

After sustaining a whiplash injury, you may seek compensation for such things as:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Physical therapy
• Rehabilitation services
• In-home care or assistance
• Medical transport
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Reduced quality of life
• Emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage

Compensation amounts in a whiplash injury claim depend on many critical factors. The severity of your whiplash injuries and your expected recovery period will have a large bearing on the amount of damages you are awarded.

Some whiplash injuries do not have a lasting impact and will heal completely within a relatively short period of time, not drastically affecting your daily routine. Other, more severe injuries, could upend your life for the foreseeable future, requiring extensive medical treatment and follow-up care. It is not in your best interest to rush into settling with the insurers. Rather, it is wise to seek legal advice and be sure of the full extent of your injuries.

How Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help You Successfully Resolve Your Whiplash Accident Case in Portland, Oregon

After a whiplash accident, your injury lawyer will assist you in several fundamental ways. He or she will explain your legal rights, work to investigate and build your case, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

Additionally, an injury lawyer can use his or her legal know-how and resources to assist you in building a robust whiplash injury case that will stand up to unexpected complications. Here are a few other aspects an attorney can help you with.

Professional Investigation into the Accident

Personal injury law firms often use their own professional investigators to document the accident scene and investigate the circumstances that led up to the incident. This may especially be the case when your whiplash injury was the result of a car accident or fall on someone else’s property. The investigator will likely review the police report, examine photographs and video footage from the scene of the accident, and interview eyewitnesses.

Furthermore, your attorney may hire professional experts, such as an accident reconstruction specialist, to establish the exact cause of your whiplash accident. Such a thorough investigation into what happened can help establish vital evidence in your favor.

Connection with Medical Providers

A seasoned whiplash injury or car accident lawyer will have a great deal of experience with medical providers. Having handled cases involving all manners of whiplash injuries, he or she may be able to recommend a particular doctor or specialist who has provided excellent results in previous cases. 

Your attorney can also assist you in handling your medical bills by informing the hospital or debt collector of any pending claims or litigation. Moreover, injury lawyers can work to reduce the amount of your medical debt.

Full Assessment of Your Damages

Calculating damages from a whiplash accident can be complicated. Before settling, it is critical to gauge the lifetime impact of your whiplash injury in order to pursue enough compensation to ensure that your financial needs are comfortably met for the long term.

A good whiplash accident lawyer will be able to take all factors into account, analyzing the extent of your physical and emotional injuries, your medical expenses, and lost wages. By establishing the monetary value of your claim, he or she can then help you pursue just and fair compensation.

Can Represent You in Court if Necessary

In most whiplash injury cases, insurance negotiations result in an out-of-court settlement. If – after repeated attempts – an amicable agreement can not be made, the case may go to trial.

Proving your personal injury case before a jury and against a team of attorneys representing the other party is no easy feat. It is inadvisable to go to court without well-practiced legal counsel on your side. 

Your accident lawyer will help you file your case and ensure that all necessary documents are submitted before the statute of limitations is expired. After a car accident, or another devastating incident, you should hire a whiplash accident attorney as soon as possible. When you do so, he or she has ample time to become familiar with your case and will be well prepared to argue on your behalf in court. 

Experienced court representation can ensure a more favorable outcome for accident victims. Having an attorney on your side can give you the confidence you need to pursue your personal injury claim.

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