Fender Benders and Low Impact Accidents

Sanford Low Speed Accident

Low impact accidents or "fender benders," may not show significant damages to your vehicle, however they can cause serious injury. After a fender bender, it's important to get checked out by a doctor. In many instances, insurance companies will fight this sort of accident even when you're seriously injured.  Read on for more on low impact accidents.

Low impact accidents generally occur at stop signs or traffic lights. Typically a car rear ends another at speeds less than 15 mph. Oftentimes this results in minimal visible damage to the vehicles; modern cars are designed to bounce back and keep their shape. Even though there is minimal vehicle damage, the people inside the vehicle can suffer serious injuries. 

Neck and Back Injuries

Even at low speeds, can cause a variety of injuries to your neck and back. 

Whiplash is the common term used to describe this sort of injury. Whiplash occurs when there is a sudden acceleration and deceleration - like when you're hit from behind when stopped. Studies have shown that when hit from behind at when stopped, a person's head can move 2.5 times faster than the vehicle. This snapping motion causes the injury. 

Whiplash neck injuries can result in soreness, however they can also result in much more serious conditions such as a herniated disc. A herniated disc can cause a variety of symptoms beyond neck or back pain including arm pain, numbness, and weakness. A herniated disc can improve on its own or it may require surgical intervention. 

After a low impact accident, it's important to be evaluated by a doctor. Your doctor should be able to determine if the injury is limited to soft tissue or if additional care is necessary. Likewise, it’s highly recommended that you speak with an attorney about your Florida car accident claim. A Florida car crash attorney can guide you through the stressful, complex insurance process. Many times, car crash victims don’t know what doctors are needed for their injuries or want help with the insurance process.

Insurance Companies and Low Speed Accidents

Insurance companies often will offer a lower value for a low speed accident. They often take the position that because there is little physical damage to the vehicle, the injuries must be minimal. We all know this isn't the case, but the insurance company isn't in the business of paying full value for a claim. Insurance companies try to pay out as little as possible. 

When negotiating with an insurance company you'll need to present medical evidence to support your claim. This means, you'll need to provide them the medical records documenting your treatment. Any delay in seeking treatment will call your claim into question. The adjuster will say "If you were really injured, why did you wait two weeks to see a doctor?" It's a valid question. If you go to trial, you'll need to answer that question in front of a jury. 

​Presenting your case to a jury presents additional challenges. When a jury sees photos of a mangled car, they can understand that the person inside the car suffered serious injures. Alternatively, when the jury is shown a car with a few scratches on the rear, it has the opposite effect. In order to convince the jury, you'll need to present convincing medical evidence. 

​A Sanford car crash attorney can help gather this evidence and present it to the insurance company or the jury in a way that supports your claim. It's helpful to retain an attorney quickly after a low speed accident so that you don't miss any of the important deadlines for your case.

Florida Accident Attorney

If you were involved in a car accident in Sanford or anywhere in Florida it’s highly recommended that you speak with an attorney about your Florida car accident claim. A Florida car crash attorney can guide you through the stressful, complex insurance process. Many times, car crash victims don’t know what doctors are needed for their injuries or want help with the insurance process. 

According to the IRC, accident victims who retained an attorney received settlements more than 3 times higher than those without an attorney. Don't hesitate, the consultation is free.

If you were injured in a car crash, truck crash, slip and fall, motorcycle accident, or workers compensation accident, it's important to have an attorney who can navigate the complex insurance landscape. Call Attorney Andrew Graves for a free consultation or fill out our online consultation form for a call back.