New Jersey Whiplash Attorney

man feeling distressed due to whiplash injury and holding the back of his neck

The highly esteemed car accident attorneys of Nagel Rice LLP have successfully handled a great many cases involving whiplash injuries during our 30 years in practice. If you have suffered a whiplash injury in a traffic accident due to the negligence or recklessness of another driver, you are entitled to compensation not only for medical expenses but for all other costs directly related to your injury.

The Advantages of Calling on Our Well-Respected Whiplash Attorneys

Among our clients and peers, our attorneys have a well-earned reputation for winning substantial damages — over a billion dollars in our three decades of practice. We are effective strategists and aggressive litigators prepared to offer you personalized, efficient service by:

  • Handling all communications with opposing attorneys and insurance adjusters
  • Filing all necessary paperwork in a timely fashion
  • Investigating the site of your accident 
  • Examining police records and medical reports
  • Investigating any prior history of similar misconduct on the part of the defendant
  • Interviewing any and all witnesses 
  • Consulting with experts, medical and otherwise, who may testify on your behalf

If you are located in New Jersey, contact Nagel Rice, with offices in Roseland or Manhattan, for a free consultation as soon as possible. We will only accept your case if we expect to win you the substantial compensation you deserve.

Whiplash, Though Common, Is a Serious Injury

The fact that whiplash is one of the most common traffic accident injuries does not make it any less painful or debilitating. The term “whiplash” describes the sudden motion of the neck forward and then back, causing injury to the neck, upper back, and sometimes even the brain (if it impacts the skull). 

In spite of the protection offered by seat belts and airbags, drivers and passengers of cars involved in accidents often suffer disabling whiplash injuries, especially if the car they are riding in is rear-ended. It should be noted that in rear-end collisions, the driver in the back is almost always held responsible since safe driving requires leaving sufficient distance from the car in front of you to accommodate sudden braking.

Symptoms of Whiplash Do Not Always Appear Immediately

While some whiplash victims experience immediate pain, immobility or numbness after a whiplash injury, some only develop issues a few days later. For this reason, it is important to file a police report and have a full medical checkup after the crash (even if you feel fine); it is also wise not to sign any insurance forms before consulting with one of our car accident attorneys.

Most whiplash cases resolve over a period of weeks or months with proper treatment –typically rest, temporary immobilization of the neck with a soft brace, painkillers (oral or injected) and/or muscle relaxants, and physical therapy targeting the affected region. Nonetheless, a significant percentage of whiplash cases result in chronic, incapacitating pain and ongoing restricted range of motion. 

In such situations, your doctor may find through diagnostic imaging tests (e.g. X-rays, MRIs or CT scans), that you have a serious complication, such as a fractured cervical vertebra, a herniated disc, a torn ligament or muscle, or nerve damage. It is even possible that you have suffered brain damage from severe whiplash, in spite of the fact that your head did not experience a direct impact.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

Symptoms of whiplash are varied and, as noted, may take a few days to appear. They include:

  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches starting at the base of the skull
  • Pins and needles or numbness in the arms
  • Restricted range of motion in the neck
  • Severe neck or upper back pain
  • Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms
  • Worsening of pain with neck movement

Whiplash injuries associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) may include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability or rage
  • Memory problems
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Sleep disturbances

Because the speed of travel affects the force of impact during collision, it also affects the severity of the whiplash injury. Since higher speeds require more distance between cars, a car that is travelling at high speed, often driving well above the posted speed limit, is more likely to be cited for liability than a car that bumps the car in front during a traffic jam. The speeding driver who causes you more harm is more likely to be held accountable.

New Jersey Is a No-Fault State

In no-fault states like New Jersey and New York, the law requires that your own insurance company pay for your medical treatment no matter who was responsible for the car accident. For this reason, all residents must carry personal injury protection (PIP), to cover any injuries that occur due to a car accident. 

The no-fault principle is designed to ensure that the injured party’s medical costs are paid promptly, without having to wait for time-consuming litigation to take place. No-fault insurance in New Jersey, however, is capped at a rather low standard and primarily covers only medical expenses (i.e. ambulance and emergency room bills, doctor bills, diagnostic tests, essential services, and physical rehabilitation), and lost wages.

Although it is crucial to have these costs paid while you are recovering for a whiplash injury, what about your pain and suffering and the other intangible losses you are experiencing?

Because at-fault insurance will not cover these, you need the sharp lawyers at Nagel Rice to file a lawsuit against the person responsible for the harm that has come to you if you are going to obtain all the damages you justly deserve.

Damages Nagel Rice Will Fight to Obtain for You 

Unfortunately, your whiplash injury may result in ongoing problems for you and your family beyond the scope of no-fault coverage. Our highly skilled whiplash attorneys will fight to win you damages for:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Permanent disability
  • Property damage (including car repair or replacement)
  • Psychological counseling
  • Inability to enjoy life

If the defendant’s misconduct has been especially egregious, our attorneys may be able to obtain punitive damages for you as well. 

Contact Nagel Rice’s Accomplished New Jersey Whiplash Attorneys Today

From our offices in Manhattan and Roseland, New Jersey, our lawyers are eager to help you in your time of need. We know that whiplash can not only interfere with your normal routine but may be life-altering. We will fight aggressively to ensure your future security in spite of your injury, and we will charge you no attorneys’ fees until we win your case. Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation.

Nagel Rice LLP helps their clients with their whiplash injury claims throughout New Jersey including Bergen County, Essex County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Passaic County, and Sussex County.