Minor car accidents can still lead to major injuries in Chicago because your body isn’t designed to handle even the sudden jolt of a low-impact collision. The forces involved in minor crashes can make your body move in unnatural ways that cause severe injuries, especially if you weren’t braced for the impact. Insurance companies often downplay these injuries. Understanding why and how injuries occur in low-speed crashes can help ensure you protect your health and legal rights.
Call Lloyd Miller Law at 773-838-8100 for a free consultation about your Illinois car accident case.
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Understanding Low-Speed Car Accident Injuries
Significant injuries are commonly associated with speeding car accidents. In 2023, only 31.1% of total crashes and 36.3% of injury crashes involved speeding in Illinois. Even low-speed accidents can have serious health repercussions.
Distracted driving is a common cause of low-speed accidents and a factor when reckless driving turns deadly. Other common causes of low-speed crashes include poor road or weather conditions, vehicle malfunction, and drunk driving. Serious injuries that can occur from these crashes include:
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries involve damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They can cause pain, bruising, swelling, and mobility issues.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Sudden head movement during a low-speed collision can cause the brain to move within the skull violently, resulting in concussions or other traumatic brain injuries.
Back Injuries
The spine can absorb the force of the impact that’s generated in a low-speed collision and travels through the vehicle. This can cause or aggravate back injuries. Pinched nerves, herniated discs, and spinal cord injuries are some examples of back injuries that victims of low-speed crashes can suffer.
Worsening Preexisting Conditions
Someone with prior injuries or preexisting conditions may be prone to suffering serious harm in minor accidents. They may suffer severe injuries from an impact that may not have harmed someone else who’s healthier. Nevertheless, thanks to the eggshell skull rule, you can hold the responsible party liable for your injuries even if your preexisting condition made you more vulnerable.
How Insurance Companies Downplay Injuries in Minor Car Accidents
Even though minor car accidents can still lead to major injuries, insurance companies often downplay injuries in minor crashes. They frequently rely on the misconception that less visible vehicle damage equates to less serious or no injuries. They may argue that the accident wasn’t serious enough to cause the harm you’ve suffered. As a result, they could say your injuries are exaggerated or unrelated to the crash.
Symptoms of injuries from minor accidents could be delayed. Insurance companies can capitalize on that and base their minor accident insurance denials on the lack of visible injuries at the crash scene. Alternatively, the adjuster who investigates car accidents on behalf of the insurance company may try to persuade you to accept a low settlement before you get a chance to learn the full extent of your injuries. Insurance companies may also take advantage of the signs of soft tissue damage not always being visible on standard imaging tests to undermine low-impact car accident injury claims.
When to Contact a Car Accident Lawyer After a Low-Impact Crash in Chicago
There are situations where consulting a car accident lawyer is essential after a low-impact crash in Chicago.
You’ve Suffered Injuries
If you’re hurt or sense you’re experiencing delayed or prolonged symptoms after the crash, legal help will be invaluable. A car accident attorney will evaluate your case and help you understand the full extent of your injuries and available legal options. When car accident attorneys take on cases, they maximize the chances of victims succeeding by gathering all the evidence needed, filing the case on time, quantifying all damages, and negotiating for fair compensation.
The Insurance Company Is Uncooperative
If the insurer is downplaying your injuries or denies your claim, you’ll need to hire a lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced car accident lawyer for minor crashes will know how to challenge the insurance company’s tactics, compellingly present evidence, and advocate for a just resolution.
Liability Issues
Fault and liability may be hard to establish. Parties that could be held responsible for a low-impact crash include:
- The other driver
- The driver’s employer
- Vehicle manufacturer
- Auto parts manufacturer
- Municipalities
A car accident attorney will help you identify all the parties who could be held liable for your injuries.
Lloyd Miller Law Chicago car accident attorneys offer free consultations during which our legal team evaluates your case and helps you understand your legal options. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay anything upfront or owe attorney fees until we win you compensation. Contact us to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
