Filing a Whiplash Lawsuit

Post-car accident symptoms can be painful and overwhelming. One of the most common injuries is whiplash. It can cost you weeks of pain and limited mobility, as well as the cost of medical bills piling up and time away from work.

The biggest things to know when filing a whiplash lawsuit? You’ll want to be sure you know and have the symptoms, collect key evidence, and stay on top of Arizona’s legal time limit to file.

Experienced Phoenix car accident attorneys from Gage Mathers can help you with compiling whiplash legal evidence and filing a whiplash lawsuit if you’ve recently been a victim. 

What Is Whiplash?

Many carpool lane crash causes, like speeding, distracted driving, or unsafe lane changes, can lead to rear-end accidents, which can be a major source of whiplash injuries. Of course, these types of injuries can still happen in any car crash.

The first step in determining whether you have a whiplash-related case is recognizing the signs of whiplash after a car crash. Whiplash is a neck injury that happens when the head is suddenly and forcefully jolted, which is especially common in high-impact crashes.

You may not know you have whiplash until hours or days later. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headaches
• Pain in shoulders and/or back
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Numbness 

It’s important to see a doctor if any of these symptoms show up. They can evaluate the symptoms and prescribe the proper treatment. Usually, recovery looks like plenty of rest and pain relief medication. 

In more extreme cases, some whiplash victims could need physiotherapy. Most of the time, recovery only takes weeks, but some people face long-term chronic pain because of whiplash.

What’s Needed to File a Whiplash Lawsuit?

Just like any car accident-related lawsuit, you’ll need plenty of evidence to build your case. This documentation can help determine two key things: who was at fault and how the injury has impacted your life.

Some of the most important forms of evidence include:

• Police reports: Provide an official record of the crash and initial fault determination.
• Witness statements: Back up your story of what happened.
• Medical records: Document your symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment while linking them directly to the crash.
• Photos or video: Capture the accident scene, any vehicle damage, and visible injuries.

The more your evidence you can gather from the start, the easier it will be to prove your claim.

Key Evidence Needed to File a Whiplash Lawsuit

Stay on Top of Deadlines

Time plays an important role here. Arizona law states you only have two years from the date of the crash to file your suit. If you wait too long, you could lose the chance to be compensated for the injuries and hardships you’ve endured.

This means the sooner you get started, the stronger your case can be. Acting quickly means evidence is preserved, witness statements stay fresh and your medical records can clearly link your injuries to the accident. 

You’re Not Alone

Car accidents and whiplash symptoms can be overwhelming enough. If collecting all this evidence and staying on top of deadlines yourself sounds like an extra headache, know that it doesn’t have to be. This is what the professionals are for.

Our trusted team of experts can help every step of the way. We will:

• Collect important evidence
• Handle the hassle of back-and-forth with insurance companies
• Build a strong case for trial, if necessary
• Advocate for you 

If you need to file a whiplash lawsuit, Gage Mathers is on your side. The most important thing is making sure you can focus on your biggest priority: your recovery.

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 24 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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