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CAN A FENDER-BENDER STILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES?

On behalf of The Law Office of David Hunt LTD Jan. 3, 2020

When you hit the road, you likely try your best to mind your own business. You focus on driving, watch out for other vehicles and abide by the rules of the road. Of course, even your most conscientious driving does not mean you are immune to being involved in a car accident.

At any time, another Illinois driver could hit your vehicle, and you could suffer severe injuries. Even if the vehicle that hit yours was not traveling at a high rate of speed, you could still suffer injuries that leave you with lasting effects for which you may need to seek compensation.

Low-Speed Accidents Are Still Serious

In many cases, people refer to low-speed accidents as fender-benders because they often do not cause much damage to the vehicles involved. However, you could suffer any of the following serious injuries in a low-speed incident:

  • Whiplash: When another vehicle hits yours, it can cause your vehicle to accelerate suddenly and result in your head snapping back and forth. Whiplash can be painful and can also cause other serious injuries.

  • Soft tissue injuries: Crashes can cause your muscles, tendons, skin and ligaments to experience strains, tears or sprains that could cause serious problems and impede your physical abilities.

  • Traumatic brain injuries: A TBI could affect various abilities, and even at a low speed, a car accident could cause this type of injury, which could have lasting effects on your life.

These few examples are not all of the injuries that you could suffer in a low-speed accident, and others could be just as severe. Even if you do not show signs of serious injury immediately after the accident, do not assume that you are uninjured. The aforementioned injuries and others could have delayed symptoms that show up days or even weeks after the incident, and you may need serious medical treatment.

Personal Injury Claim

Before you write off a fender-bender as nothing serious, give yourself time to assess your possible injuries, including obtaining a medical exam from a doctor. Medical professionals can often spot signs of serious injury that you may overlook. In the event that a low-speed crash does cause serious injuries to you, you may want to remember that filing a personal injury claim against the driver considered at fault could allow you to seek compensation for medical bills and other resulting damages.