A low-impact car accident still has the potential to inflict painful, serious and even debilitating injuries on those involved. Even if a car crash occurs at a low speed, the factors involved could result in severe injuries. After a low-impact car accident, you can seek financial compensation for any injuries you have suffered through an insurance claim or lawsuit with a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio.
Whiplash
Whiplash describes an injury to the neck, shoulders or upper back due to the head and neck “whipping” rapidly backward and forward in a collision. The forces of a low-impact rear-end collision, for example, can send a driver suddenly forward and backward, causing the soft tissues in the neck to stretch or tear. This can cause neck pain, stiffness or a loss of mobility.
Back Injuries
The back contains many parts that can suffer damage in a low-impact car accident, such as the vertebrae, disks, muscles and nerves. The force of a motor vehicle impact can cause back and spinal cord injuries even at a low speed, such as disk herniation, a slipped or ruptured disk, broken vertebrae, bruising or contusions, and nerve damage.
Soft-Tissue Injuries
The soft tissues refer to the connective tissues that support the bones and internal organs, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. When these tissues sustain injury, it can result in symptoms such as pain, stiffness, swelling, inflammation and a loss of mobility. Soft tissues in various parts of the body could get injured in a low-impact crash, and the victim may suffer long-term effects.
Concussions
A concussion or another type of traumatic brain injury could stem from a low-impact crash if the victim strikes his or her head, such as on the steering wheel, window or windshield. Flying objects or debris in the cab could also strike the victim’s head. The signs of a concussion include a persistent headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, blurred vision, trouble sleeping, and changes in mood or personality.
Seat Belt Injuries
The force of the impact between the human body and a seat belt could cause injury even in a low-impact collision. A condition known as seat belt syndrome may cause bruising or contusions in the parts of the body that come into contact with the lap and shoulder belts, such as the shoulder, chest and hips.
How to File a Car Accident Claim in San Antonio for Low-Impact Injuries
It is important to take the proper steps after suffering injuries in a low-impact car accident. An insurance company may try to downplay or underestimate the severity of your injuries based on the fact that the crash itself was not severe. Protect yourself by seeking medical attention immediately. Even if the crash seems minor, you could have hidden or delayed injuries.
Keep copies of your medical records and bills to submit to a car insurance company. Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations as you recover. When you’re ready to file a claim, contact a San Antonio car accident attorney for assistance. Your attorney can gather evidence to support your case against another driver or a third party, such as eyewitness statements and police reports.
An experienced lawyer can combat tactics used by an insurance company to take advantage of you after a low-impact car accident in San Antonio, such as devaluing your claim. You can trust your attorney to fight for maximum financial compensation for the injuries that you suffered in the accident, even if this means bringing your case to trial in Texas.
For more information about a specific low-impact car accident case in San Antonio, contact Hill Law Firm Accident and Injury Attorneys for a free consultation.