woman patient telling her doctor about neck pain

New Port Richey, Florida Whiplash Lawyer

Neck injuries, such as whiplash, are commonly associated with auto accidents. They are prevalent in rear-end collisions due to the sudden force of your neck going back and forth on impact. Even seemingly minor auto accidents can result in whiplash injuries. However, neck injuries can occur from other types of incidents as well, including falls, sports accidents, and physical abuse. If someone else’s negligence caused a whiplash injury, it’s essential to speak with a skilled whiplash attorney in New Port Richey. Wendy Doyle-Palumbo is an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer. We understand how stressful a whiplash injury is, especially when dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Many insurance companies try to undervalue whiplash injuries, or they may even deny them outright. That is why you need a skilled New Port Richey whiplash lawyer who can fight for you.

Do I Need to Hire a New Port Richey Whiplash Lawyer?

While you are not legally obligated to have legal representation to pursue a personal injury claim, we recommend hiring a New Port Richey lawyer. When you retain Wendy Doyle-Palumbo, we will take the necessary steps to maximize your potential compensation.

When you have an attorney representing you, you don’t have to speak with the other party’s insurance company either. All communications will go through your attorney. That is important because we can better protect your rights. Insurance adjusters want you to give a recorded statement hoping that you will say something that places additional liability on you. If an attorney does not represent you, you should not agree to give the other party’s insurance company a statement. Also, you should not sign a release of claims without first speaking with an attorney.

How Doctors Diagnose and Treat Whiplash

If you have symptoms of whiplash, your doctor might diagnose it by discussing your medical history and doing a physical exam. In some cases, doctors may order diagnostic tests to rule out more serious issues as well, including x-rays, MRI scans, or CT scans.

Treating whiplash will vary from patient to patient. It depends on the extent of your injuries and what your symptoms are. In mild cases, you might need to rest, use ice packs, and take over-the-counter medications. In more severe cases, you may need physical therapy and steroid medications.

Insurance companies want to deny most recommended treatments for whiplash, claiming that it’s a soft tissue injury and therefore not worth as much as more severe injuries. However, whiplash can be debilitating and keep you from working, partaking in usual hobbies, or even handling everyday tasks without assistance. Don’t let the insurance company get away with making you feel like your injuries aren’t real. Contact an attorney for whiplash in New Port Richey to help you.

Are You Entitled to Compensation After a Whiplash Injury?

Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you could be entitled to compensation. If someone else’s negligence caused your whiplash injury, you might have the legal right to pursue a claim for your damages. However, Florida is a no-fault state for car accidents, which can affect your potential claim if your injuries result from a vehicle accident.

Potential compensation in a whiplash claim will vary, as no two accidents are alike. However, we see some common types of damages in these cases. Potential compensation includes reimbursement for:

  • Medical expenses to date;
  • Future medical costs;
  • Lost wages;
  • Loss of earning capacity;
  • Property damage;
  • Physical pain and suffering; and
  • Loss of consortium.

In select cases, you might be entitled to a punitive damages award. Courts reserve punitive damages for specific cases involving intentional acts or behavior that is egregious. For example, accidents involving a drunk driver might be eligible for punitive damages.

How a Lawyer for Whiplash in New Port Richey Can Help Your Case

The first thing we will do is start an independent investigation. We will obtain all relevant evidence, including police reports, security footage, medical records, etc. We may need to return to the scene of the incident to do a scene investigation. We will contact all witnesses and conduct interviews as necessary.

In some cases, it may be necessary to hire experts who can testify on certain disputed elements of your claim. For example, we may need to hire an accident reconstructionist if the other driver’s insurance refuses to accept liability or disputes the severity of the impact. If the insurance company undervalues your claim, we may need a medical doctor to testify as to the extent of your injuries.

If the responsible party denies liability or refuses to negotiate, we may need to file a lawsuit. Negotiating a settlement takes skill and experience. We know the insurance companies’ tactics to undervalue claims and avoid paying out what they owe. They often take advantage of unrepresented accident victims because they know you don’t know the legal system or how the claims process works.

Why Hire Wendy Doyle-Palumbo?

If you are searching for a whiplash attorney in New Port Richey, you are already aware you have numerous options to choose from. You may be wondering what sets our firm apart from any other New Port Richey whiplash lawyer. For one, we offer more individualized and personalized representation than many other firms.

Your case will get passed around to various attorneys with many large personal injury firms. It may take days before you get a response to your phone call or email. Many of these firms are looking to take on as many new clients as possible each month. That means they may encourage you to settle rather than take a case to trial because they want to close your file and move on to the next client.

Wendy Dale-Palumbo has a wealth of personal injury experience. She started as a paralegal with over 12 years of experience. She knows exactly how the entire litigation process works. You’ll never be just another case file in our system.

Contact a New Port Richey Whiplash Lawyer Today

Our top priority is fighting for the maximum compensation possible. If that means we need to prepare a case for trial, then that is what we will do. We have the skills, experience, and resources to take your case to trial if that’s what is necessary. Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation. Let us put our expertise to work for you and help ensure you get the maximum compensation possible.

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