Low Impact Car Collisions Can Lead To Serious Injuries

Not all traffic collisions happen as a result of driving at high speeds. For example, speed is not a factor in 75% of all fatal motor incidents. However, even slight collisions have the potential to cause significant injury to the occupants.

All car accidents, including the minor ones with slight property damage, can be frightening. 

What Are Low-Impact Car Accidents?

Low-speed crashes are referred to as “low impact collisions.” They occur when a car collides with another car or an object at a low speed, often less than 15 mph. 

They are at times also known as “fender benders.”

Low-impact car accidents usually result in minimal property damage, if any at all but could result in significant injuries to passengers and pedestrians. 

Some examples of low-impact collisions include backing up into another car when reversing from a parking spot, bumping the vehicle in front of you after a sudden stop, or side-swiping a parked car, a guard rail, or any other object.

Here’s a list of the most common cause of low-impact collisions.

• Driving when drunk: You’ve probably heard this a thousand times, but it’s worth repeating. Intoxication causes millions of accidents around the world since drivers are often unable to concentrate while driving.

• Distracted driving: It is the most common cause of fender benders. Distraction may be because of activities like small talk with passengers, talking or texting on the phone, wearing makeup, looking at the mirror to confirm you look great, and so on.

• Insomnia and Stress: Not getting enough sleep either from long driving periods, insomnia or stress has the same effects as intoxication.

• Impatient driving: Your responsibility on the road is to drive safely and courteously so that traffic does not come to a halt. Whenever you change lanes abruptly, fail to stop at red lights, and break other rules, you risk causing an accident.

• Unfortunate Occurrences: Accidents like tire blowouts, an animal springing from nowhere, potholes, and so on could cause minor accidents.

• Accidents associated with the elements: Rain, fog, dust, hailstones, and even wind can reduce visibility. They could also affect the grip of the tires and road, making a driver lose control of the vehicle.

Is It Possible For My Car To Be Damaged In A Low-Speed Collision?

Your car could be damaged either by a head-on collision, rear-end collision, or T-bone collision.

When an impact occurs at the front of the car, either in the middle of the front dimensions, it is a head-on collision. 

On the other hand, a rear-end collision occurs when a car collides with another vehicle going in front of it while failing to maintain a safe distance, inflicting damage to both the front and rear of the vehicle.

Lastly, a T-bone collision happens at road intersections when one car collides with another on the side, damaging the middle stirrup, central parallels, and doors.

Low-Impact Collisions: How Serious Can They Be

Apart from being held liable for causing damage, low-impact collisions can have other consequences. For example, just because an accident occurs at a slow speed does not rule out the possibility of serious health repercussions. 

Soft tissue injuries such as strains, sprains, rips, and whiplash are common in low-impact car accidents.

Some serious injuries commonly associated with low-impact collisions include:

Neck Injuries

Because the head and neck move faster than the cars colliding, whiplash and neck injuries are common in low-impact collisions.

Whiplash occurs when a person in a stationary car is struck from behind by another vehicle. The neck may become hyperextended as a result of the rapid rear impact. 

As a result, the occupant’s torso is pushed forward by the seat, while the head and neck are pushed back.

As the body readjusts, the head and neck go into hyperflexion.

Worsening Pre-Existing Situations

Injuries can happen to anyone involved in a low-impact collision, but having a previous injury puts you at a higher risk. 

For example, consider the following scenario: you have a minor neck ache. If you’re in a low-impact car accident, the power of the collision could strain your neck muscles, worsening your pain.

Other Body Injuries

When a low-impact accident happens, people can find themselves in awkward and vulnerable positions. Depending on their posture, drivers could easily sprain their arm muscles, legs, and even their head.

Imagine a driver backing out of a parking spot then bending to pick something absent-mindedly. Because of the position of their body at the point of impact, they are at higher risk of harm to the head during a collision.

Is it Necessary to Hire a Lawyer After a Minor Car Accident?

Attorneys do not just represent victims of serious, high-speed, or fatal incidents. They also represent people who have been harmed in all types of accidents, including low-impact collisions.

If you experienced a personal injury such as torn ligaments, bone breakage, whiplash, cervical injury, and so on, a lawyer could come to your rescue. This is especially because some minor injuries could become worse with time.

If a low-impact accident aggravated a pre-existing injury, you might also require legal assistance with insurance discussions. 

For example, a vehicle insurance company will want proof that you were injured in the accident and that you weren’t injured before the accident happened.

You may, therefore, need a lawyer to help navigate this area, especially without injuries that show up on an x-ray. You may think you’re alright, but are you? Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell for sure.

Make sure you gather documentation as proof of injury. After that, get yourself the backing of a proficient attorney from our injury law firm.

Give us a call on 708-460-9300, so we can help you navigate through the complex and rigorous legal process. 

Rest assured that our team of trained and professional legal experts will do everything they can to earn you your rightful compensation!