Whiplash is a neck injury that happens when the head is suddenly thrown forward and backward in a car accident. This quick motion can damage soft tissues in the neck such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Even a slower collision in  St. Louis, Missouri, can cause lasting pain, medical expenses, and time away from work. Insurance companies often downplay these cases, but our experienced St. Louis whiplash injury lawyers know how serious the impact can be on daily life.
If you have neck pain after a car accident in St. Louis, our lawyers can guide you through your options. Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers has helped injured Missourians since 1990 and is available 24/7. Call (314) 207-9996 for a free consultation.
Why Call Our Whiplash Injury Attorneys in St. Louis Today?
Whiplash after a car accident can leave you in pain and unsure of what to do next. Our skilled lawyers deal with these cases every day and can make the process easier.
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we’ve been helping people with whiplash injuries for more than 35 years. We take care of the legal side while you focus on healing.
Our firm is family-owned, and we treat clients the way we would want our own family treated. We’ll walk you through the process in plain language and keep you updated as your case moves forward.
Here’s what makes us different in whiplash cases:
- Full support: Medical coordination, insurance talks, and paperwork handled for you
- Decades of experience: Over $105 million recovered for Missouri accident victims
- Focused practice: We only handle Missouri auto accident cases
- Family-run: Brothers Paul and John Beck work directly on your case
- Free consultation: No upfront fees, and we don’t get paid unless you do
Insurance companies know we don’t back down. When attorneys Paul Beck and John Beck take on a case, we’re ready to fight for the full amount you’re entitled to.
What Whiplash Is and How It Happens
Whiplash is an injury to the neck that comes from a sudden back-and-forth movement of the head. The force of the motion stretches or strains the tissues in your neck, which is where the name comes from.
In a collision, your body moves with the impact, but your head lags behind and then snaps forward and back. That sudden movement can strain muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues in the neck.
People often think it takes a serious wreck to cause whiplash, but even a slow-speed impact can do it. Rear-end accidents are the usual cause, though any collision that snaps the head back and forth can bring it on.
It’s often called a “hidden injury” because scans like X-rays and MRIs don’t always show the damage. That can make it tougher for our experienced St. Louis whiplash injury lawyers to prove to insurers, but we know how to present the evidence.
Common Whiplash Symptoms and Treatments
One difficult part of whiplash is that you might not feel the effects right away. Pain and stiffness don’t always show up right away. It may take several hours, or even a day or two, before symptoms set in.
For that reason, doctors suggest getting checked promptly, even if you walked away from the scene feeling okay.
Typical whiplash symptoms include:
- Neck pain or tightness that worsens with movement
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Limited range of motion or pain when turning your head
- Dizziness or unusual fatigue following the crash
- Soreness in the shoulders, back, or arms
- Problems with focus or short-term memory
Treatment usually starts with a medical exam. Depending on your condition, the doctor might recommend physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, or other forms of pain care.
Following through on treatment is important not only for recovery but also for showing a record of your injuries. Depending on the severity, healing can take weeks or months.
What To Do After a Whiplash Car Accident
What you do right after the crash can have a big impact on your claim. Insurance companies look for ways to limit or deny payments, so it’s important to be cautious.
Step 1: Get Checked by a Doctor and Mention Neck Problems
See a doctor as soon as you can, even if you think you’re okay. Adrenaline can hide pain, and whiplash signs sometimes show up later. Let your doctor know you were in a car accident and report any stiffness, headaches, or soreness in your neck.
Don’t minimize what you’re feeling or tell the doctor you’re fine if you’re not. If you have pain or anything feels off, make sure to bring it up. This helps create a record that ties your condition back to the accident.
Step 2: Record Pain, Restrictions, and Daily Changes
Keep a short journal about how the injury affects your routine. Write down pain levels, activities you struggle with, and any days you miss at work. This helps show the impact goes beyond medical charges.
Hold onto receipts for medications, doctor visits, and other related costs. Take photos of bruises or swelling, and note travel to and from appointments along with any other expenses.
Step 3: Watch Out for Insurance Calls and Quick Payouts
The other driver’s insurer may contact you soon after the crash, asking for a recorded statement or offering money right away. Don’t agree before speaking with our experienced St. Louis car accident attorneys.
Adjusters are trained to ask questions that can be twisted later. Even saying something simple like “I’m okay” can be used against you if your condition changes.
Fast settlement offers are almost always low. They rarely cover future treatment, lasting pain, or the full value of your claim.
Proving Whiplash After a Car Accident
Whiplash is one of the harder injuries to prove in a car accident claim. Insurers are quick to question it because it rarely shows up on X-rays or MRIs. They often argue you’re exaggerating or that your pain has nothing to do with the crash.
We’ve handled many of these cases and know what evidence makes a claim stronger.
Medical Records, Provider Opinions, and ROM Testing
The first step is collecting all your medical records—ER visits, follow-ups, therapy notes, and any other care. We also ask your doctors for written opinions that explain your diagnosis and treatment. Range-of-motion testing helps because it gives measurable proof that your neck movement is restricted.
When needed, we bring in medical experts who can explain how the crash forces caused whiplash. They can testify that even low-speed impacts are enough to create this type of injury.
Connecting the Crash to Your Injuries
We also tie the accident directly to your symptoms. Police reports, witness accounts, and vehicle photos help show how the collision occurred. Even small fender benders can generate enough force to harm the neck, and we know how to demonstrate that link.
If you had prior neck issues, that doesn’t stop you from making a claim. Missouri personal injury law allows recovery when an accident makes an existing condition worse. We work with your doctors to explain how the crash aggravated what was already there.
Dealing With “Low Property Damage” Arguments
A common tactic insurers use is pointing to the lack of visible car damage. They argue that if your vehicle looks fine, you couldn’t be seriously hurt. That claim is misleading, but they repeat it often.
The truth is that the body takes impact differently than a bumper or frame.
A neck injury can be real and severe even when the car looks untouched. We counter with medical documentation and your provider’s diagnosis and make sure your side of the story is told.
Compensation You Can Recover for a Whiplash Injury
If your whiplash came from another driver’s negligence, Missouri law allows you to pursue payment for the harm you’ve suffered. The goal is to cover the losses caused by the crash and make up for what you’ve gone through.
Because you usually get one chance to resolve your claim, it’s important to consider both present and future costs. Insurance adjusters rarely explain the full scope of what can be claimed, but we make sure nothing is overlooked.
Economic damages are the costs you can put a number on:
- Hospital and doctor bills, including therapy sessions and prescriptions
- Future medical needs if your recovery requires more treatment
- Wages you lost while out of work
- Lower earning ability if you can’t perform your job the same way
- Extra expenses such as co-pays or needed medical devices
Non-economic damages deal with the personal effects of the injury:
- Physical pain and ongoing discomfort
- Emotional strain linked to long-term pain or limits on daily life
- Loss of enjoyment when you can’t take part in activities you once did
- Stress and frustration from living with the injury
If the other driver acted with serious recklessness, such as driving drunk, a court may also consider punitive damages.
When You Are Partly at Fault for the Accident
Don’t assume you’re barred from recovering damages just because you think you made a mistake. In Missouri, the law still allows you to pursue compensation even if you share some of the blame.
Missouri follows a “pure comparative fault” rule. What that means is your recovery is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. For example, if you’re found 30% responsible, your award is cut by that percentage.
It’s important not to admit fault to police or insurance adjusters. Let our experienced St. Louis whiplash attorneys sort out the facts and prevent insurers from pushing more blame onto you than is fair.
When to File Your Whiplash Injury Claim
Timing matters in these cases. Waiting too long not only makes it harder to build a strong claim but if you wait too long your won’t be able to file a claim.
In Missouri, you generally have five years from the date of the crash to file suit. While that sounds like plenty of time, starting early gives you the best chance of presenting solid proof.
There are exceptions. If the accident involved a government vehicle or property, then the deadline may be much shorter. That’s why it’s best to reach out for help as soon as possible.
Skilled Whiplash Injury Law Firm in St. Louis, MO
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we know whiplash can be much more than a short-term ache. These injuries often bring lasting pain, keep you from daily activities, and create real financial strain.
Brothers Paul and John Beck work directly with every client. You won’t get pushed from one person to another like at a large firm. When you call, you’ll speak with us.
Here’s what we take off your plate so you can recover:
- Communicating with doctors and treatment providers
- Dealing with every insurance company involved
- Collecting and organizing the evidence
- Pushing for the full amount you’re owed
- Managing deadlines and court filings
Don’t let an insurer convince you your whiplash isn’t serious or worth very little. Our award-winning Missouri auto accident law firm has secured over $105 million dollars for clients with these same injuries, and we know how to push back when insurers try to minimize claims.
Contact us online for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we win. Our results and reputation explain why clients trust us and why insurers take us seriously.
