Can a Minor Car Accident Cause Serious Injury? (Shocking Truth)
Can a minor car accident cause injury? The answer may surprise you. These are the effects that a minor car crash can have on your body.
Can a minor car accident cause injury? You may think a minor car accident is no big deal. But even minor car accidents can lead to serious injuries.
Car accident victims often downplay the seriousness of their pain and injuries. They may refuse medical treatment for a minor fender bender or parking lot accident.
This could be a big mistake. You could experience a delayed injury that’s not noticeable immediately after a slight car accident.
Even minor crashes can lead to serious physical injury and emotional trauma.
Here’s a look at how a minor accident can affect you.
What Is a Minor Car Accident?
Minor car accidents usually result in slight damage to the vehicle. The crash doesn’t impede the vehicle from operating normally.
A minor accident or fender bender can lead to:
- Small dents in the vehicle
- Broken headlights or taillights
- Busted tire
- Cracked windshield
- Damage to the bumper or fender
Typically, the more damage to the vehicle, the more serious the injury. This is why people assume they are not injured when they’re involved in a minor crash.
They may have assumed their injuries are minor if the airbags didn’t deploy during the accident. The truth is you can hit a fixed object or vehicle hard without the airbags deploying.
Minor crashes can lead to significant vehicle damage and physical injuries. Even if you were driving at a slow speed in a parking lot, these crashes can be dangerous.
Can a Minor Car Accident Cause Injury?
Auto accidents, including minor ones, involve a surge of kinetic force. Today’s cars are made to withstand significant force to help prevent serious damage.
Unfortunately, the human body is not. Even a minor accident can jolt your upper body. Your back, neck, or head can be jolted or twisted, leading to pain and injury.
Ongoing back or neck pain can be debilitating and interfere with your daily activities. Soft tissue injuries are common in low-speed car crashes.
There are a variety of injuries that can occur from “minor” car accidents.
Knee Injuries
Hitting your knee on the steering wheel or gear shift can lead to ligament damage or a meniscus tear. These types of injuries are painful and can take a long time to heal.
Other car crash knee injuries include sprains, strains, and tears. These injuries result when the knee or leg gets twisted or bumped during a crash.
Arm Injuries
Minor car accidents can lead to fractures or damage to the hands, elbows, or wrists. Even a minor parking lot crash can generate a great deal of force.
If you hit your arm during a crash, an injury may result. It can take weeks or months to recover from an arm injury.
Even a minor injury can result in many doctor visits for treatment or pain management and lead to expensive medical bills. If you’ve been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Back Injuries
You don’t have to hit your back to sustain a back injury during a crash. The trauma of impact puts pressure on the muscles, tendons, nerves, and spine.
Back injuries aren’t always apparent following a crash. You may experience delayed symptoms from a sprain, strain, or herniated disc.
If you’re experiencing back pain after a car accident of any kind, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Head Injuries
You may think you have to hit your head to experience a head injury. But that’s not the case.
Any significant movement or jolt can lead to a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). You don’t have to lose consciousness to suffer a TBI.
A concussion occurs when the brain moves rapidly, hitting the inside of the skull. This can damage brain cells and result in memory loss, balance issues, anxiety, depression, and other problems.
Head injuries can occur in any type of auto accident, including low-speed rear-end collisions. Although wearing a seatbelt can save your life during a crash, it can contribute to brain injury.
As the body moves forward and jolts back due to the seat bag or airbag, the sudden motion can lead to a brain injury. If you have symptoms of a concussion, seek medical care immediately.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries, especially in rear-end crashes. When your neck is pushed forward and thrown backward during a crash, you can strain your tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
Whiplash can cause significant pain in your neck, shoulders, and back. These injuries may lead to severe headaches as well.
This type of injury can happen at a slow speed. It only takes a sudden stop to lead to whiplash.
Delayed symptoms are common with whiplash. Following any car accident, it’s in your best interest to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
If you’re involved in a minor accident, you may want to brush it off and go about your day. However, a minor injury may be more serious than it seems.
Skipping or delaying medical treatment can result in your injury getting worse and your recovery taking longer. Although your injuries may not be serious, it’s impossible to know for sure without a medical exam.
Putting off medical treatment could affect your ability to seek compensation for your injuries. Linking your injury to your car accident gets harder if there’s a significant gap between your accident and your initial doctor’s visit.
Put your health and well-being first. Seek prompt medical attention after a car accident.
Consult an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
Can a minor car accident cause injury? The answer is a definite yes. Even a minor accident can result in significant injuries.
The shock of an accident can cause you to overlook your injuries. No matter the injury, it’s always best to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
1•800•388CEDA helps Florida car accident injury victims get the medical care and financial compensation they deserve. We’d love to talk with you about your case.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
