Minor vehicle accidents happen all the time in the US. While low-impact crashes may cause little damage to vehicles, controversy exists as to whether they can injure people. Sadly, despite evidence to the contrary, insurance companies often use low-impact collisions as an excuse to deny injury claims.
If you were injured in a Connecticut low-impact car accident, call Gould Injury Law immediately. When we take on your case, we will work fast to get you the compensation you need; our team of experienced attorneys will not let the insurance company off the hook. Even if they claim you are faking your injuries, we can defend your right to receive damages.
Call Gould Injury Law at (888) WIN-FAST for a free consultation on your case. Do not hesitate a moment longer. Get in touch with us today.
What is a Low-Impact Collision?
Low-impact collisions happen at low speeds of 10 miles per hour or less. Since today’s vehicles are better designed to handle impacts, these incidents often cause little damage. Minor crashes like these are often called fender-benders and can happen in various situations.
Accidents that can produce low-impact collisions include:
- Slow traffic rear-end collision
- School zone accidents
- Stop-and-go traffic
- Merging vehicles in slow traffic
- Parking lot collisions
- Four-way stop crashes
A Study on Low-Impact Accidents
One recent study showed controversy between plaintiffs and defendants over low-impact accident injuries. Plaintiffs make accident injury claims that defendants may say are not possible, reasoning: How can a person be injured when there is only minor damage to the vehicle?
The report, however, found no relationship between a vehicle’s speed and an occupant’s injuries. Vehicles do not need to travel very fast or sustain heavy damage to cause harm. Accident victims can be hurt at all speeds, regardless of the damage to the vehicle.
What Makes Low-Impact Collisions So Dangerous?
There is no doubt that the human body is resilient. Some areas of the body are especially vulnerable, like the head and neck. Even a small jolt can cause whiplash and other injuries.
Studies show that even in the smallest of accidents, the head and neck can move 2.5 times faster than the vehicle’s peak acceleration. The concept is called the “magnification of acceleration.” This means that, if a car is traveling 10 miles per hour at the point of impact, an occupant’s head can snap forward at 25 miles per hour.
Common Injuries Caused by Low-Impact Accidents
While most low-impact injuries are not severe, they can still be painful and require a long recovery. Even if you were in a minor fender-bender, you should always get checked out by a doctor. Not all injury symptoms are fast to appear. Some can reveal themselves days or even weeks later. The following are several common injuries caused by low-impact accidents.
Soft tissue injuries
A person’s neck, back, and shoulder are full of ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissues. During a whiplash motion, the head snaps forward quickly, inflaming the entire area. Soft tissues can tear, stretch, and spasm, causing intense pain.
Brain injuries
If a person’s head hits the side window, metal frame, or dashboard during a collision, it can injure the brain. Head injuries can range from mild concussions to traumatic brain injuries. If the head stops accelerating after hitting an object, the brain continues to move inside the skull. This is how even a low-impact accident can create a dangerous situation.
Spinal cord injuries
Our spines have three sections: the lumbar spine, the cervical spine, and the thoracic spine. Each of these sections has bones, discs, ligaments, and tendons. Fast, sudden movements can damage bodily structures, even in a low-impact car accident. Disc injuries can be common in accidents, as well as hairline fractures. You should see a doctor immediately if you feel any pain in your back after an accident.
What Compensation is Possible after a Connecticut Low-Impact Car Accident?
Low-impact car accident injuries can be painful. In some cases, the pain you feel may not heal as fast as you thought it would after being in such a minor accident. This can put you in a difficult situation. Bills are piling up while you sit at home and recover.
What are your options? You can call Gould Injury Law to receive damages faster than you may have thought possible. You need money, and our team of experienced attorneys can help. The following is a list of damages you may be able to receive.
Medical bills
One of the most frustrating aspects of vehicle accident injuries is medical bills. You are not able to work and bring home the bacon. Your everyday bills are piling up and go unpaid. Then come the medical bills to make your situation worse. Many accident victims can owe tens of thousands of dollars.
The good news is that those bills should not be your responsibility. Your personal injury attorney can help you get fast compensation for your medical bills, including:
- Emergency services
- Hospitalizations
- Ongoing treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Doctor’s visits
- Mental health services
- Transportation
- In-home care
- Prescriptions
- Medical devices
Lost wages
After a low-impact car accident in Connecticut, sitting at home and worrying about your finances is difficult. Missing time at work means you cannot take care of your family’s needs. You may only care about how fast you can get back to your job.
While the situation can be a bit harrowing, you can recover every dollar you missed out on because of the harm caused you. The types of damages you can receive include:
- Full salary and wages
- Earning potential
- Vacation time
- Holiday pay
- Bonuses
- Promotions
- 401K contributions
- Disability
Pain and suffering
Pain and suffering are considered non-economic damages. It is difficult to calculate the amount of money you should get for your pain and emotional distress, because both are subjective. The insurance company may base the pain and suffering amount on the accident’s severity.
After a low-impact event, the insurance company may not offer to pay anything. Our team will work as fast as possible to calculate a fair settlement offer, so you get a maximum payout.
Property damage
Even though low-impact crashes seem to cause minor property damage, a small fender-bender can cost thousands to repair. Since you did not cause this accident, you should not have to pay a single penny.
Can the Insurance Company Deny Your Claim?
Insurance companies are notorious for denying rightful claims for compensation. They use every trick in the book to devalue your claim. Low-impact car accidents are especially easy for insurance company denials. You might get some compensation for the cost of repairs, but that is it.
No matter how much you are suffering, insurance companies do not care. They might even think you are making up stories to get money. But minor damage to your vehicle does not mean you are being untruthful. If you are denied compensation, it’s probably time to hire an attorney and appeal your case.
How Can a Connecticut Low Impact Car Accident Attorney Help?
Convincing the insurance company to compensate you for a low-impact car accident can be difficult. If you received a denial, it is time to pull out the big guns and call Gould Injury Law. We will get right to work as fast as possible to get your damages approved. Here are some ways we can help.
We can guide you through the legal process
The average person does not understand the complexities of the law. You have certain rights you might not even realize, not to mention that facing the insurance company on your own will be difficult. We will be there for you every step of the way.
We will gather evidence
Sometimes all you need is the evidence on your side. Our job is to talk to witnesses, check police reports, and gather your medical records. Armed with the right information, the insurance company will know we mean business.
We will negotiate with the insurance company
After gathering the evidence to prove your injuries are not fabricated, we will attempt to negotiate with your insurance. The reality is that they do not want to go to court. We might be able to persuade them to settle and move on. If the insurance company remains unwilling to budge, we are prepared to take them to court.
Call Gould Injury Law Today for Fast Legal Services
If you are dealing with painful injuries after a low-impact car accident, do not let the insurance company dismiss your claim. Even if the accident was minor, that does not negate your right to be compensated. Call Gould Injury Law today to benefit from our aggressive “win fast” approach.
Our attorneys have dealt with stubborn insurance companies for over 20 years. We understand every moment counts when your family’s financial future is on the line. We will do all the heavy lifting so you can focus on what matters most: getting back on your feet.
Call Gould Injury Law at (888) WIN-FAST for a free case evaluation. We are here for you 24/7, so do not hesitate to give us a call. There is no fee unless you win.