A low-impact collision usually means a crash at speeds under 10 or 15 mph, often with little visible damage to either vehicle. Despite the name, these accidents cause real injuries more often than people expect. They also tend to produce some of the most heavily disputed insurance claims, because adjusters use the minor vehicle damage to argue the injuries must be minor too.
Contact an auto accident attorney at Drafahl Law Firm to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Call us at (314) 300-6260.
Vehicle Damage Is Not the Same as Injury
The most common misconception about low-impact crashes is that if the car is fine, the people inside must be fine too, but of course, that’s not always the case. Bumpers are built to absorb low-speed hits without much visible damage. The force from the collision doesn’t disappear, though; it still travels through the car and onto the people inside it. In a low-speed rear-end crash, the car gets pushed forward, the body moves with the seat, and the head snaps back and then forward.
That motion is often what causes injury, and it can happen in a crash that leaves almost no mark on either vehicle. Several other factors affect how badly someone gets hurt, like whether the person saw the impact coming and tensed up, which way their head was turned, their age, and any prior injuries.
Common Injuries in Low-Impact Collisions
A few injuries come up often in low-speed crashes, including:
- Whiplash: The rapid back-and-forth motion strains the muscles and ligaments in the neck. The pain often does not fully develop until a day or two after the crash.
- Soft tissue injuries: This could include pulled and strained muscles in the shoulders, back, and neck that do not show up on an X-ray but can cause pain for weeks or months.
- Concussions: A concussion can occur even in low-speed accidents, and they can also occur even if you don’t hit your head. The same motion that causes whiplash can jostle the brain inside the skull and cause a concussion.
- Back injuries: A low-speed impact can aggravate a disc, especially in someone who had existing wear and tear in their spine but no symptoms before the crash.
- Bruising and seatbelt injuries: Even at low speeds, the seatbelt can leave bruising and soreness across the chest and shoulder.
Most of these injuries do not appear on diagnostic imaging, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Why Insurers Fight Low-Impact Claims
Insurance companies often handle low-impact cases with similar approaches. The argument is that there wasn’t much damage, so there can’t be much injury. The adjuster may suggest the pain is exaggerated, that it existed before the crash, or that the claim is opportunistic. This means that sometimes, even in “minor” crashes, it’s necessary to work with a personal injury lawyer who can help you build a strong claim.
What It Takes to Prove a Low-Impact Injury
Because these cases often come down to credibility, what happens in the first few days is particularly important.
- See a doctor right away, even if pain seems mild. A medical record from the same day or the next day connecting the symptoms to the crash is the most valuable evidence in this type of claim.
- Stay consistent with treatment. Skipped appointments or refusing to do physical therapy as directed is a sign to insurers that your injuries aren’t that serious.
- Keep notes on your symptoms. Pain fluctuates, and you sometimes forget how you’re feeling as time passes. Make sure you keep a record of the pain you experience and how it’s affecting your life.
- Be careful what you tell the adjuster. Saying “I’m fine” on a recorded call early in the claim could end up being used against you. Injuries from low-speed collisions are real, and making sure they’re well-documented is important.
If the insurance company refuses to take the injury seriously, a car accident attorney can help.
Call today at (314) 300-6260 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.