When someone is injured in a seemingly minor collision with minimal property damage, a popular insurance defense tactic is to say that such minor impact could not have caused the plaintiff’s injuries. But no amount of expert testimony and excuses can change the fact that severe injuries often result from minor impact.
Speed and Motor Vehicle Collisions
Many people assume that the greater the speed and impact, the more serious the injuries sustained. While this may be true, it is not always the case. In the case of an automobile wreck with major or minor impact, common sense says that but for the car crash, the victim would not have suffered the injuries they did.
When a crash involves vehicles that are traveling very slowly and little or no property damage occurs, victims can still suffer significant injury and pain, particularly whiplash and other neck injuries. Although automobile bumpers may be built to withstand up to a five mile-per-hour crash without damage, the reality is that when the bumper doesn’t crumble and absorb the force of the impact, more of the crash is felt by the occupants, who are thrown forward with a severe jerking motion that causes necks to snap and backs to twist.
Injuries Can Manifest Later
What may appear to be minor injuries in the first few days and weeks after the accident can turn out to be serious injuries down the road. Some serious injuries that can occur after car crashes involving major as well as minor impact include:
- Whiplash
- Herniated discs
- Lower back and neck pain
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injury
- Headaches
- TMJ disorder
Never Underestimate Your Injuries
It’s very important that an individual exposed to impact as a result of a motor vehicle accident – no matter how insignificant the impact may seem to have been – be examined by a medical professional as soon as possible. When dealing with your body and related trauma, it is generally always better just to be safe and get checked out.