Significant injuries are commonly associated with major car accidents. Nevertheless, minor car crashes can also cause major injuries due to the forces involved and sudden, unnatural body movements that can take a physical toll. The visible damage to vehicles may not reflect the severity of the injuries suffered, which may take days or even weeks to appear. Minor car crash injuries may require extensive treatment and cause weeks or months of missed work and pain and suffering.
If you were hurt in a car crash, call Young, Reverman & Bolotin at 513-400-0000 to speak with an experienced Cincinnati car accident attorney.
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Injuries in Minor Car Crashes
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in 2024, there were 1,953 crashes where serious injuries were suspected and 8,949 crashes where minor injuries were suspected in Ohio. Minor car crash injuries can be just as severe as those from major crashes. Injuries that commonly occur in minor car crashes include:
- Whiplash
- Back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal injuries
Why Low-Speed Collisions Can Result in Serious Health Issues
Low-speed collisions can lead to serious health issues because the force of the collision can still be enough to injure vehicle occupants. Sudden body movement and the direction of impact can cause severe health issues. Emotional trauma from such an accident can affect quality of life.
Force of Impact on Occupants
Modern cars are designed to absorb much of the energy from a minor collision, reducing its impact on the cars. The force of the impact can be transferred to the vehicle occupants. The force transferred can be greater than what your body can handle, resulting in serious injuries.
Sudden Motion
Even in a low-speed accident, the sudden impact can cause your body to move forward or backward violently. The sudden unnatural motion can put immense strain on your body, especially your neck, back, spine, muscles, and joints. Depending on your position and posture before the accident and whether you were properly wearing a seatbelt, you could hit a window, steering wheel, dashboard, or another surface in the car, suffering an injury.
Direction of Impact
The direction of impact also affects your risk of being severely injured in an accident. There’s plenty of metal, plastic, and other safety features to protect drivers and passengers when cars are hit from the back or front. Doors offer less protection to vehicle occupants. Therefore, side-impact collisions, such as failure to yield accidents at intersections, increase the risk of serious injury.
Psychological Effects
Besides physical injuries, a low-speed collision can cause emotional trauma. Minor crashes can trigger anxiety, mood changes, sleep disturbances, flashbacks, and panic attacks. These can become more intense over time. A crash victim may avoid driving, be nervous whenever he or she is behind the wheel, or avoid reminders of the crash, such as certain roads. These mental health issues can impact a victim’s quality of life.
Psychological trauma has real effects that should be accounted for in low-speed collision compensation. Insurance companies often ignore emotional injuries when crash victims choose to settle without a lawyer.
Delayed Symptoms
Injuries sustained in low-speed accidents may not be noticeable immediately. They can develop into chronic conditions and cause more severe damage when not treated immediately. For example, a knee injury may become evident over time as inflammation increases. Whiplash, back, and shoulder injuries may cause reduced mobility over time. Many victims feel okay initially and only realize they’ve been hurt days or weeks after the crash, by which time their condition may have worsened.
Steps to Take After a Minor Car Accident to Protect Your Rights
To protect your rights after a minor car accident, you should document the scene if possible by taking pictures or videos of the scene and your injuries and gathering witness information, file a police report, seek immediate medical attention, and consult a car accident lawyer. A police report can support your injury claim. Evidence from the crash scene strengthens the credibility of your claim. Insurance companies may argue your injuries weren’t caused by the accident or aren’t as severe as you claim if you take too long to seek medical attention.
The aftermath of a minor car crash can be overwhelming. Insurance companies may use the minimal visible car damage to downplay injuries from minor car crashes or pressure you into accepting a small payout. They may even deny your claim, especially if shared fault is a factor. A car accident lawyer will deal with insurance adjusters on your behalf and know how to counter their tactics to protect you from undervalued settlements or claim denials.
The Cincinnati car accident attorneys at Young, Reverman & Bolotin have more than 200 years of combined experience in offering legal representation to car accident victims. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay anything out of pocket until we win your case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Be Seriously Injured in a Minor Car Accident?
You can be seriously injured in a minor car accident. Minor crashes can impact your physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being immediately or in the long term, so it’s essential to take them seriously.
What Types of Injuries Commonly Result From Low-Speed Collisions?
Injuries that commonly result from low-speed collisions include whiplash and other soft tissue injuries, back injuries, and mild traumatic brain injuries.
How Should I Document My Injuries After a Minor Crash for an Insurance Claim?
Steps you should take to document your injuries after a minor car crash for an insurance claim include:
- Seeing a doctor as soon as possible to ensure a medical record that documents your injuries and links them to the crash is created
- Taking photos of your injuries and the accident scene
- Keeping receipts of every expense related to the accident
- Maintaining a daily journal of your symptoms and how your injuries affect your ability to work, enjoy your hobbies, and participate in daily activities
Proper documentation of your injuries is greatly beneficial during negotiations with insurance companies to secure fair car accident settlements.
