Last updated 28 July 2025 We understand that it can be hard to picture what the claims process might look like, especially if you don’t have any prior legal experience. So, to help out, we’ve put together this case study based on a £5,000 compensation payout for whiplash and a back injury.
If you’d rather speak to one of our advisors, our team are here to help. Start your free consultation today by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Using the live chat feature
- Contacting us online
What Happened?
The claimant, Irene, was driving on a busy road in the North West of England. The driver in front of her hit the brakes suddenly, and as she was following the Highway Code, Irene had left enough room to brake safely.
However, the driver behind her failed to brake and instead rear-ended her car, causing her to lurch forward and pushing her car into the vehicle in front. This caused substantial damage to her vehicle, but it also resulted in Irene suffering from whiplash and a serious lower back injury.
The police were called to the scene, and no one else was hurt. Irene’s car was so damaged that it had to be removed from the roadside and sent to the scrapyard. Initially, Irene went home, but by the end of the day, the pain in her neck and lower back had become unbearable. She went to her local accident and emergency department and was diagnosed with whiplash and a back injury.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury, but it can also affect your shoulders and upper back. It’s caused by a sudden movement of the head, and the symptoms can last from a few weeks to over three years.
You may not know immediately if you’ve suffered whiplash because symptoms can take a few hours to start. Some of these symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Stiffness and difficulty moving your head
- Muscle spasms and pains in your arms and shoulders
Irene Contacted Legal Expert’s Car Accident Claims Specialists
Following the accident and her injuries, Irene was left with substantial pain and couldn’t work for almost a month. She’d also lost her car and was unable to get around without paying for a rental vehicle.
Irene then contacted us here at Legal Expert. One of our friendly advisors talked her through the claims process and helped her get in touch with our specialist road traffic accident claims department.
From there, one of our expert solicitors helped her make a successful claim for whiplash and a back injury, with all their work funded through a No Win No Fee arrangement.
What Did The Compensation Payout Include?
Irene’s compensation payout included both general damages and special damages. General damages are compensation aimed at your injuries and the effect that they’ve had on your quality of life, and Irene received £3,000 for the whiplash and lumbar spinal injury.
Then, our solicitors secured £2,000 in special damages. This covered the hire car that Irene needed, as well as the lost earnings she suffered from taking time off work.
How Long Does The Process Of Claiming Compensation For Whiplash And A Back Injury Take?
The specifics of a case determine how long the process of claiming compensation for whiplash and a back injury takes. While you may find similarities between our case study and your own circumstances, it is essential to note that every personal injury claim is unique. For example, the time it takes to settle a case might be influenced by:
- Whether or not the defendant decides to accept their liability for the accident and your injuries
- Disagreements over compensation during negotiations. Even in a scenario where a defendant accepts their responsibility, there may still be a lengthy series of back-and-forth offers over how much compensation for whiplash and back pain to offer
- If negotiations fail, then your case may need to go to court. While this is very rare, your claim might then have to wait on the availability of the court schedule
- Any ongoing treatment you’re receiving. In such cases, it may take longer to evaluate the severity and long-term impact of your injury
- The evidence you have given, or that needs to be obtained. Legal professionals will need to assess the validity of your evidence and may have to gather certain kinds of evidence on your behalf
If you are eligible to proceed with one of our solicitors, they will further explain how the nature of your case could impact the amount of time it takes to secure compensation. They will also ensure that you have the support you need throughout the whole process.
Speak with our advisors today to learn more about how to claim whiplash and back injury compensation. They have handled many similar enquiries, so they can give you the information you need going forward.
How Can Legal Expert Help You?
So, how can we help you? At Legal Expert, we believe that everyone deserves top-tier legal representation, no matter their financial status. We’ve already helped our clients secure over £80 million worth of compensation, and we’re ready to help you.
Our expert whiplash solicitors use No Win No Fee agreements to make their services available to everyone. This means that before they start working on your case, they’ll ask you to sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under a CFA, you:
- Don’t pay any upfront solicitor fees
- Don’t pay any continuing solicitor fees
- Don’t pay any solicitor’s fees at all if the claim fails
If your solicitor helps you secure compensation, then they’ll take a success fee for the work they’ve done. The percentage taken from your compensation for this fee is capped by law, which helps make sure that you keep the bulk of what you get.
We Are Experts In Whiplash Claims
Our solicitors have decades of experience in whiplash claims, and they’re ready to help. Get in touch with our friendly advisors today and start your free consultation by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Using the live chat feature
- Contacting us online
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for more information? Take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding whiplash claims.
Have Whiplash Claims Changed?
Yes, the way some claims are made in England and Wales has changed as per the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2013. Now, in certain circumstances, your claim will be made through a Government portal. A solicitor can still help you with this, and we suggest calling our team to learn more about these regulations.
What If The Other Driver Was Uninsured?
If the other driver was uninsured or untraceable, you can still claim for whiplash and a back injury. To do this, you and your solicitor would make your claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
How Do I Know If I Can Make A Claim?
You can make a claim if you were hurt in an accident that was caused by someone else acting negligently. Our team of advisors can give you more information when you get in touch.
Will I Have To Go To Court?
In some cases, you may have to go to Court, but most claims are settled outside of the courtroom. If you do have to go to court, our solicitors can use their decades of experience to put your mind at ease.
Do I Need A Medical Assessment?
You might be asked to undergo an independent medical assessment to prove that you have suffered whiplash. If you make your claim with one of our solicitors, they can help make sure that your assessment is as convenient as possible.
More Helpful Information
To learn more about making a personal injury claim, take a look at some more of our helpful articles:
- See our research into statistics on speeding fines in the UK
- Find out how to make a car accident claim as a passenger
- Use our whiplash compensation calculator
Thank you for reading our illustrative case study on claiming compensation for a whiplash back injury.
