Not all accidents happen at high speeds. Many occur at lower speeds with no damage caused to the vehicles. Due to their light nature, one might conclude that low-impact accidents cause little injury at all. The reality is that whiplash symptoms are common and can be devastating to those who suffer them.
If you have been injured in a low-impact car accident, do not hesitate to call Kiley Law Group. You may be able to receive compensation for your injuries. All it takes is one call for a free consultation to get the ball rolling on your personal injury claim. We have over 40 years of experience helping our clients win over $500 million in damages.
Call us today at (888) 435-1321. Our team is available 24 hours a day to meet your needs, and there is no fee unless you win.
What Classifies as a Low-Impact Car Accident?
Plenty of factors can determine how a car accident is classified. For example, the types of accidents can range from high-speed collisions to low-impact fender-benders. Low-impact accidents are common and happen at speeds of 15 mph or lower. At that speed, the collision might not even leave a scratch on the vehicle. Still, this does not mean low-impact collisions rarely cause painful injuries.
According to the National Institute of Health, there is no connection between the speed of the vehicle and the severity of a person’s injuries. This means that there is no set speed or amount of damage to a vehicle that will determine the extent of a victim’s condition. Some crash tests found it is possible to sustain injuries at a speed of just 2.5 mph, while minimal damage might not occur until a speed of 8.7 mph.
There are several ways a low-impact car accident can happen. Several examples include:
- Swiping a parked car
- Backing into another car
- Rear-ending a stopped car
- Hitting a car that is turning
- Attempting to bypass stopped traffic
- Wet or icy roads that require more time to stop
- Obstacles or other animals that cause you to swerve
The Dangers of Whiplash
According to the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, there are over 3 million whiplash injuries every year in the US. Whiplash, even when caused by a low-impact car accident, can cause intense pain. Whiplash happens when a force is exerted onto the body strong enough to jolt the head and neck forward or backward. This sudden movement can strain or injure muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues. The nature of this injury can determine whether the symptoms are minor or severe.
Whiplash acts on the body differently from other types of injuries. You might feel it right after the collision, but some car accident victims may not feel any pain until days later. Adrenaline and shock can mask the symptoms for days or even weeks. Medical professionals call these symptoms whiplash-associated disorder or WAD.
WAD costs the US an estimated $2.7 billion each year. In the UK, WAD accounts for over 70 percent of all vehicle-related personal injury claims.
Physiological symptoms
Whiplash symptoms include:
- Back, neck, and/or shoulder pain
- Intense neck stiffness
- Limited head and neck movement
- Random uncontrollable muscle spasms
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Shoulder pain
- Arm numbness
- Back pain
Neurological symptoms
Occasionally, neurological problems may happen because of whiplash, including:
- Inability to stay focused
- Memory loss
- Insomnia
- Sudden mood changes
- Anxiety
- Depression
The Whiplash Controversy
It has been established that low-impact car accidents can cause little to no damage to vehicles. While this is good news, it often leads to questions about how such a minor event can cause major whiplash injuries. According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash symptoms can last for months or even years. Still, despite these symptoms, there has been a long-brewing controversy around this type of injury.
In October of 1960, Time magazine wrote an article about the questionable claims surrounding whiplash injuries. At the time, medical dictionaries did not even have a name for it. One surgeon insisted whiplash was a “self-delusion” and claimed that such conditions clear up as soon as a legal settlement can be reached.
The article also included statements from two other doctors, both from the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Neurology and Psychiatry. They noted two severe cases of whiplash and the lasting emotional damage that followed. One woman was involved in a minor car accident and had “persistent neck pains.” She later attempted suicide twice – despite having no record of depression. It was determined that whiplash caused her mental and physical symptoms.
Even today, some believe whiplash is a fake injury used to commit insurance fraud. It is likely a defense team would question someone who was in a low-impact car accident that resulted in minor vehicle damage. The insurance company might also doubt your injury claim, leaving you to suffer in silence.
Thus, if you have been suffering from whiplash or were in a recent accident and still have no pain, you should call the Kiley Law Group right away. We will examine your case and can aggressively fight for your right to seek compensation, despite the complications of proving your story.
Types of Compensation Available
While most whiplash symptoms clear up after a few weeks, it has been established that some can become chronic and last for years. Suffering from this kind of pain for a long time will make going to work difficult. Treatment for physical and emotional pain will take a toll on your wallet.
Even if there is no damage to your vehicle, you have the right to recover every penny you lost due to someone else’s negligence. This includes non-economic compensation, like mental anguish and depression.
Types of compensation you can receive include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Doctor visits
- Prescriptions
- Hospitalizations
- Mental and physical therapy
- Transportation
- In-home care
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
Why You Need a Low-Impact Car Accident Attorney
Low-impact car accident cases can be complex. Not only do you need to prove you were injured in the accident, but you also must prove the other party was at fault. Connecticut is an at-fault state. To take someone to court, there must be clear evidence showing that you didn’t cause the accident. Once fault is established, you have the right to file a third-party claim with his or her insurance company.
All of the above will go much smoother with an experienced Massachusetts auto accident attorney on your side.
Once a claim has been made, the negligent driver may dispute your side of the story. This is where one of the experienced associates at the Kiley Law Group can especially help.
Our team of attorneys can:
- Conduct a thorough investigation
- Gather all your medical reports
- Evaluate the damages due
- Walk you through every step of the legal process
- Negotiate with the other party’s insurance company on your behalf
- Work to prove you were not at fault
- Fight for a fair settlement
- Take the case to trial if needed
You have enough on your plate, recovering from your low-impact car accident and looking after yourself and your family. Let us take care of the rest. We have helped our clients win over $500 million in compensation. There is a reason why the Boston Herald called Tom Kiley “The Million-Dollar Man.” Our No Fee Guarantee means you never pay unless you win your case.
Call now to schedule a free consultation at (888) 435-1321. Our operators are also available 24/7 on our website.
