Whenever we hear about a car accident, most of us tend to associate them with high-speed collisions on highways, city streets or busy intersections that cause major damage and catastrophic injuries. However, not all crashes occur at high speeds. Low-speed accidents — often defined as collisions occurring at less than 10 to 15 mph — are far more common than many realize. These accidents frequently occur in parking lots, residential neighborhoods or even in stop-and-go traffic.
It is important to remember that low-speed accidents can still cause significant injuries. The human body is not built to withstand sudden, forceful movements and even seemingly minor impacts can lead to chronic pain and medical issues. Here are some of the most common injuries suffered by victims in low-speed accidents.
Whiplash and Other Soft Tissue Injuries
Whiplash is one of the most well-documented injuries in low-speed collisions, especially rear-end crashes. This injury occurs when the neck is suddenly forced backward and then forward in a rapid, whip-like motion. Even at speeds as low as 5 mph, this movement can strain or tear muscles, ligaments and tendons in the neck and shoulders.
Symptoms of whiplash include stiffness, headaches, dizziness and limited range of motion. In some cases, victims may not feel pain immediately as soft tissue injuries can take hours or even days to fully manifest. Left untreated, whiplash can lead to chronic pain and long-term mobility issues.
Back and Spinal Injuries
Low-speed accidents often subject the spine to unnatural stress, especially in the lower back. Victims may suffer herniated or bulging discs, nerve compression or muscle strain. Even though these injuries might not be visible on an X-ray, they can still cause debilitating pain.
Back injuries are particularly concerning because they may interfere with a person’s ability to work, exercise or carry out daily activities. In more serious cases, spinal injuries may lead to sciatica, numbness or tingling that radiates down the legs. A low-speed crash may not appear serious at first, but the long-term consequences of spinal damage can be life-changing.
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Even when airbags do not deploy, the sudden jolt of a low-speed crash can cause a driver or passenger to hit their head against the steering wheel, window or headrest. This impact can lead to concussions or other traumatic brain injuries. Concussions may not cause immediate loss of consciousness, but victims often experience headaches, nausea, confusion, blurred vision or difficulty concentrating. Because brain injuries are not always visible, they can be overlooked in the aftermath of a so-called minor accident. However, repeated concussions or untreated brain trauma can have severe long-term effects on memory, mood and overall cognitive function.
Facial and Dental Injuries
When a vehicle suddenly stops, occupants may be thrown forward against the dashboard, steering wheel or even the airbag itself. While airbags are designed to save lives, their deployment can still cause bruising, broken noses, or lacerations. Low-speed accidents may also result in chipped or knocked-out teeth if the face collides with hard interior surfaces. Even seemingly minor dental injuries can require extensive treatment such as crowns, implants or orthodontic work. These types of injuries and treatments often come with a significant financial and emotional burden.
Knee, Wrist, and Shoulder Injuries
The body’s natural response to an impending collision is to brace for impact. Drivers often grip the steering wheel tightly or press their foot forcefully against the brake pedal, which can lead to injuries in the wrists, shoulders and knees.
Common injuries include sprains, dislocations, torn ligaments or even fractures. For example, bracing the arms against the steering wheel can cause rotator cuff injuries, while knees may be injured from hitting the dashboard or steering column. These injuries are often painful and may require surgery or physical therapy to heal properly.
Why Low-Speed Accidents Should Be Taken Seriously
It is a common misconception that low-speed accidents are harmless simply because the vehicles involved show little to no visible damage. In reality, the energy from even a small crash is transferred directly to the occupants of the vehicle. Since the body is far more fragile than a steel frame, victims can sustain serious injuries that may take weeks or months to heal.
Additionally, injuries from low-speed accidents are often delayed. A victim might walk away from the scene feeling fine, only to develop stiffness, headaches or back pain days later. This is why it is always recommended that accident victims seek medical attention immediately, even if they believe the crash was minor. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent injuries from worsening and improve recovery outcomes for victims.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims of negligent (careless) drivers can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Families that have lost loved ones in car accidents can seek compensation
for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus.
We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). One of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
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