A low-impact car accident is one in which a collision occurs at a slow rate of speed, typically at no more than 10 miles per hour. These collisions, often referred to as fender benders, are often mistakenly expected to be low injury as well, but that is not always the case. If you have been in a low-impact car accident, you should know what your legal rights are if you have suffered injuries.
At BDIW Law, our Oklahoma City car accident attorneys work with clients facing a wide range of injuries from collisions of all types. When you have injuries someone else caused, it is always beneficial to seek out legal advice about what your options are for obtaining compensation. Our goal is to compassionately protect and support our clients while aggressively going after those who cause them loss.
Low-Impact Car Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Low-impact car accidents occur for many reasons. No matter what the reason is, if they cause significant injury to you, you may be owed compensation for your losses. Serious injuries can occur in these accidents.
It is possible to suffer broken bones, lacerations, disfigurement, and many other injuries due to a slow-speed collision. Cars are very heavy vehicles, often with a significant amount of power behind them, even when operating at a slow rate of speed. That makes them dangerous weapons.
Our Team Is Here To Assist You Every Step Of The Way.
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYInsurance Companies May Assume You Have Minor Injuries
One of the most difficult aspects of low-impact car accidents is that insurance companies often assume that you do not have significant injuries or that the injuries you have do not warrant extensive compensation. That puts you at risk. They may:
- Try to quickly close your case with a settlement, minimizing your ability to claim compensation.
- Misguide you into believing you only have a few medical bills to pay.
- Tell you that you do not have any right to claim compensation since it was a “minor” accident.
Because insurance companies operate in this way, it puts you, the driver, at risk. You may not realize until some time later that you have injuries that require long-term rehabilitation or that, a month later, you are still sore and suffering from the accident. Instead of being a victim a second time, we highly recommend turning to a car accident attorney now, even if your bills have not skyrocketed just yet.
Let us help you obtain compensation for your losses, no matter what caused them.
How Low-Impact Car Accidents Happen
Typically, a low-impact car accident simply means there is less force behind the vehicle when it hits another car. This term applies to any accident that occurs at a slow speed, generally under 10 miles per hour.
A typical type of collision like this is being rear-ended. A driver may not be able to stop in time to avoid striking your car, but they are moving at a much slower rate.
Typically, low impact can imply that the accident is slower with less force, but that does not mean it is less severe nor that your resulting injuries were not significant. Consider some examples of when a low-impact car accident can occur:
- Someone rear-ends you when traffic is backed up or at a standstill on the freeway.
- A person runs into you in a parking lot.
- Someone strikes your vehicle while trying to change lanes in traffic.
- A 4-way stop leads to confusion, causing the person behind you not to stop properly.
- Someone turning the corner hits you as you are walking across the street.
Any of these are examples of what can happen, but remember, vehicles are very heavy and cause a significant amount of impact. Even a slow-moving vehicle can create a crushing injury if it strikes a person in the right way. Put your trust in our experienced team of attorneys when dealing with an injury.
Common Injuries in a Low-Impact Car Accident
When a slow-moving, low-impact car accident happens, you may not initially think that there is a risk for serious injury, but that is not always the case. Each situation is different based on what happened, the angle of the collision, and what you were doing during it. The following are some examples of serious injuries in a low-impact accident:
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Strains and sprains
- Head injuries if you strike your head on something
- Bone fractures
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Knee and shoulder injuries
Consider whiplash, for example. When someone rear-ends a car, the force – at any speed – causes a person’s neck to move back and forth rapidly, creating stress on the tendons in the neck. More so, the brain itself can move forward and backward in the skull, creating a high risk of damage to it.
This is where concussions can occur even in slower accidents. Whiplash does not just go away, though. It may require time off work and, in some cases, a longer period of recovery.
Losses You Can Experience After a Low-Impact Car Crash
These types of injuries can lead to numerous types of losses. That may include:
- Lost time at work
- Medical bills from hospital stays
- Rehabilitation costs
- Pain medication costs
- Ongoing rehab
If you suffered a low-impact car accident, do not write off your injuries as something that will go away over time. This could be a serious health risk to you, and it impacts your quality of life, too.
Let BDIW Law Go to Work for You
We know these types of cases can be challenging, and that is why we feel so strongly that our clients have the legal representation they need to get the compensation they are owed. If you are in what is considered a low-impact car accident, set up a consultation with our car accident attorneys in Oklahoma City to discuss your case.
At BDIW Law, our 65 years of combined experience can work for you. Set up a free consultation by calling our office today.
