South Jersey Low-Impact Car Accident Lawyer

A minor “fender-bender” is inconvenient, resulting in damage to a vehicle, lengthy repair jobs, and annoying insurance claims, but what happens when the victim of a seemingly minor car accident discovers serious injuries or develops symptoms of neck and back problems within hours or even days of the accident?

A low-impact car accident occurs at speeds of less than 30 miles per hour, resulting in minor damage to a vehicle. The body may endure significant trauma, but insurance companies deny claims for medical expenses and lost income due to the lack of significant damage to a vehicle. This type of South Jersey car accident is commonly denied or undervalued by skeptical insurance adjusters and requires assertive, persistent handling by an experienced South Jersey car accident lawyer.

Understanding Low-Impact Car Accident Injuries

How can significant injuries occur when a vehicle has only minor dents and scratches after a low-impact accident? According to the MDOT crash force calculator, a 120-pound person becomes a 3,600-pound force in a car accident at only 30 miles per hour. In a collision, the crash force weight propels the body forward against the seatbelt and then snaps it back against the seat cushion. Even when the damage to the outside of a vehicle is minor, the back-and-forth force as the weight of the victim’s head and body move rapidly forward and backward can cause serious injuries with lasting impacts on the victim’s range of motion and mobility.

Whiplash Injury From Low-Impact Car Accidents in South Jersey

Whiplash is the most common injury experienced by victims of low-impact car accidents. Rear-end collisions are the most frequent cause of whiplash, but it can occur in any collision. Whiplash is a very real injury with painful consequences for the victim. Worse, the symptoms aren’t always immediately noticeable but develop in the hours or days after the accident as inflammation develops in the damaged muscles around the cervical spine at the base of the head. Whiplash occurs when a car accident victim’s head propels forward at high speed and then snaps backward, causing the spinal column in the victim’s neck to over-extend and snap back and forth like a whip. As inflammation sets in, the muscles stiffen up and cause severe pain, loss of range of motion, immobility, headaches, tingling in the extremities, and changes in mood, memory, and concentration commonly occur.

Other Injuries From Low-Impact Car Accidents in New Jersey

Whiplash is the most common injury suffered by victims of seemingly minor fender-bender accidents, but it is far from the only injury a person may suffer from an accident with little exterior damage to a vehicle. Common injuries from low-impact car accidents include the following:

• Ruptured or herniated discs
• Spinal fractures
• Lower lumbar back injury
• Thoracic injury
• Shoulder injury
• Air-bag injuries

When a vehicle’s airbags deploy after a minor accident, the external force may cause serious facial injuries, eye injury, ear trauma, and bruising to the upper body. In addition, the gases from the bag’s inflation can cause respiratory problems in those with asthma or other lung conditions. If you are suffering from an injury, please reach out to an injury lawyer in South Jersey today. 

Common Causes of South Jersey Low-Impact Car Accident Injuries

Low-impact car accidents typically occur in congested traffic conditions when drivers travel in close proximity at relatively low speeds. Common causes of low-impact accidents include:

• Tailgating, or following too closely
• Distracted driving
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Improper merging
• Unsafe lane changes
• Improperly exiting a parking lot or driveway
• Slippery road conditions or poor visibility

Many types of injuries develop as a result of inflammation from car accident trauma that the victim may not notice immediately after the accident but develops later. It’s always best to seek a medical evaluation after a car accident, even a low-impact accident.

Call the Low-Impact Car Accident Lawyers in South Jersey

A low-impact car accident claim requires skilled handling by an attorney with years of experience navigating this sensitive area of personal injury law. Insurance adjusters commonly dispute low-impact car accident claims or offer low settlements for far less than the compensation available. Contact the experienced South Jersey car accident lawyers at Grungo Law for a free consultation so we can take action on your behalf.