People generally recognize that high-speed collisions can cause devastating consequences. Individuals involved in crashes that occur on rural roads or highways are at elevated risk of severe injury. They also recognize that their vehicles may no longer be safe to drive.
Anyone involved in lower-speed collisions might assume that the consequences they face after the crash are minimal by comparison. However, even collisions that occur in parking lots or between almost-stopped vehicles at intersections can have surprisingly serious consequences.
What are some of the potential consequences of a low-speed collision?
Significant internal injuries
High-speed wrecks often cause instantly dramatic, visible injuries. A low-speed collision is less likely than a higher-speed crash to produce obvious and severe injuries. The people involved in the incident might assume that they are unhurt because they can easily walk away from the crash and have no lacerations or other clear warning signs of severe injury.
Despite what people might assume, significant injuries are possible even in lower-speed crashes. People can sustain significant soft tissue injuries, including whiplash. A rear-end collision involving a slow-moving or stopped vehicle could easily leave occupants of the front vehicle struggling with debilitating symptoms for weeks afterward.
Whiplash and similar injuries can affect people’s daily lives and generate medical expenses. Soft tissue injuries can also leave professionals unable to work until their symptoms improve. People could even sustain stable fractures where the bone breaks but does not end up pushed out of alignment. It could be weeks before they notice their injuries unless they see a doctor to check for internal injuries.
Significant vehicle damage
Low-speed collisions may not seem to cause serious vehicle damage initially. However, if the force of the crash is enough to bend the frame of either vehicle or damage other key systems, an insurance company might declare that vehicle a total loss.
The possibility exists for low-speed crashes to leave a vehicle unsafe to drive. The person who must then replace their vehicle is left in a difficult situation. They may not be able to secure enough compensation through insurance alone to pay for a replacement vehicle.
Understanding that the speed of a motor vehicle collision does not dictate the possibility of severe injury or costly property damage can help people handle the aftermath of a wreck appropriately. An insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary after a low-speed crash causes significant consequences.