California Low-Impact Car Accident Injuries

Every car accident - no matter the circumstances - has the potential to change a victim’s life forever. It’s not just the rollovers, front-end collisions, and broadside accidents that happen at high speeds on California highways that can inflict catastrophic injuries.

Low-impact collisions in California can cause serious damage, too.

What is a Low-Impact Car Accident?

A low-impact car accident is any collision that occurs when a vehicle is traveling slowly, typically at speeds of 10 MPH or less. There won’t be skid marks, tire tracks, or other obvious evidence of a crash in these types of situations. You’ll typically see these types of car accidents in stop-and-go traffic, in parking lots or parking garages, or near intersections.

Many low-impact collisions involve distracted drivers, drunk drivers, fatigued drivers, and drivers who execute unsafe lane changes or turns.

Low-impact collisions might not cause a lot of damage to vehicles - perhaps just a few scrapes and dents. However, it’s a totally different story for the occupants of these vehicles. 

Cars are built to absorb force. They also don’t have delicate internal systems that are susceptible to severe trauma. However, in an accident, that force is transferred to the driver and passengers in the car. Our bodies aren’t designed to absorb significant force. Instead, the force of impact in a collision - even at just 5 or 10 MPH - can cause debilitating, painful, and costly injuries. 

Low-Impact Collisions Can Cause Serious Physical Injuries

Several factors can influence what types of physical injuries you might suffer in a low-impact car accident.

What type of collision was it? Where were you seated in the vehicle? Were you wearing a seatbelt? Did the airbags deploy? How fast were the vehicles traveling? Was a large truck or bus involved in the wreck?

Quite often, victims of low-impact wrecks experience:

• Whiplash
• Soft tissue injuries
• Nerve damage
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Concussions

Injuries are often much more subtle in low-impact collisions than in high-impact crashes. As a result, some victims might decide against seeking medical treatment immediately after a wreck. This can allow injuries to worsen over time and have a more sizable impact on a victim’s life - now and for the foreseeable future.

Seek Medical Care After a Low-Impact Wreck in California

Get yourself to the closest emergency room after a low-impact car accident in California, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured or that your injuries aren’t that bad. Some injuries might not manifest right away. Others might be masked by the rush of adrenaline you experienced in your fender bender. 

By seeking treatment, you increase the likelihood that your injuries are diagnosed right away and that you’re able to get the treatment you need. Further, your trip to the hospital shows that you’ve taken steps to mitigate your injuries and document your trauma. This will go a long way when you decide to file a car accident lawsuit to recover compensation for your resulting medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.

Don’t hesitate to call Singleton Schreiber if you’ve been involved in a low-impact car accident in California. Our San Diego car accident lawyers have decades of combined experience representing crash victims in complex legal disputes. We’ve helped clients win billions. Now, we’re here to help you fight for justice after your low-impact collision injuries, too. Call one of our California law offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and Santa Rosa to schedule a free consultation now.