Low-impact car crashes, also known as “fender benders”, happen everyday yet most people do not realize how much damage these kinds of collisions can do. Low-impact crashes are any vehicular crash that occurs under 10 miles per hour and typically do little, if any, property damage. The general mentality is “The car seems fine, then I’m probably okay to.” however this type of thinking can be a costly mistake.
The physics that are involved with high and low speed collisions are the same. Your car likely weighs about 2,000 pounds, if accelerated by an outside force within a short amount of time, the collision will exert a large amount of energy on you and your passengers. Although, there are many factors involved that determine the severity of a low-impact crash such as the angle that both vehicles collided at, and the type of vehicles that were involved. In the case of a low speed rear-end collision, the driver that is rear-ended is thrusted forwards and backwards rapidly with enough force to cause injury.
In many cases, the victims of low-impact collisions are not aware of their injuries until weeks or even months after the collision. Low-impact crashes can cause soft tissue damage to the tendons and muscles in the back, neck, and head (this is known as “whiplash”). Soft tissue damage may lead to pain and limited movement and could require therapy to treat. Low-impact crashes can also worsen pre-existing conditions, or cause previous injuries to recur. Crashes in any form pose an especially high risk to senior citizens, who are statistically more likely to be injured in a collision.
Low-impact crashes should be treated the same as any other crash. Always report a crash, even if there is little or no damage to your car. Seek medical attention as soon as possible after a crash and keep track of any expenses related to your injuries. Take photographs of the incident and gather contact information of witnesses and other parties that were involved.
If you have been a victim of a low-speed car collision, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to find out if your claim is valid.
