Injured in a Low-Speed Collision on an Arizona Road?
In the US, the law defines a low-speed collision that happens at speeds below 10mph often with little or no visible damage done to the vehicles involved, instead impacting the people. Often, the vehicles being intact means the people involved overlook their injuries initially, only to realize they have injuries later on.
Most low-speed collisions are rear-ended accidents where one vehicle has already stopped and the other then hits them. Injuries at low-speed collisions happen for a number of reasons such as being unrestrained in the car, hitting their head, or even injury from wearing a seatbelt.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you have significant experience in helping clients who have been in a low-speed collision. Our offices are conveniently located in nearby Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person at our nearby offices, over the phone, or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor who can help you. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
Some Of The Common Low-speed Collision Injuries
The most common injuries include soft tissue damage and bruising as well as spinal disk damage and whiplash, all of which can take months to spot or even diagnose. Auto accident doctors have their work cut out trying to diagnose or identify injuries after even a low-speed collision as they are often internal and don’t show for up o 5 days after. Some people experience chronic neck pain and complications that can last years, with treatment usually involving rest, pain medication, and physical therapy.
Whiplash
Whiplash, sometimes known as neck strain or sprain is a soft-tissue injury to the neck caused by the “forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip.” The sudden movement of the head causes muscles and tendons in the neck to stretch or tear and the symptoms to look out for include headache, upper back and shoulder pain, dizziness, and even numbness in arms and hands.
Soft-tissue Injuries
Bruises and injuries can also happen during a low-speed collision usually due to the seatbelt causing rib and chest bruising. The worst injuries caused even at 10mph can be torn rotator cuffs, vertigo, back spasms, a subluxation (where one or more of the bones of the spine is displaced and puts pressure on the spinal cord), bulging discs, and driving anxiety.
Low-speed Collisions And The Longer Term Impact
People involved in low-speed collisions have also reported having a concussion, torn rotator cuffs, vertigo, back spasms, and even a subluxation which is when one or more bones of the spine are displaced and puts pressure on the spinal cord. Other injuries have been bulging discs and even driving anxiety which only supports the severity of all kinds of traffic accidents.
Low-speed Collisions Attorneys
Over the years, both defense attorneys and insurance companies have attempted to create the perception of greedy accident plaintiffs overstating their injuries, but recent scientific studies have shown that low-speed collisions can and do have significant risks of grave injury. You might be familiar with the “eggshell plaintiff” rule which is a well-established common-law in the US that states the defendant must “take the plaintiff as they find him.”
What this means is that if a person injured in a low-speed crash happens to have a brittle bone disease and suffers grievous injury where most will have only a mild injury, the defendant is still responsible for the injuries he or she caused in the accident. This applies even to less serious diseases and conditions such as chronic back or neck pain, and arthritis.
How to Bring a Claim for Low-Speed Collision Injury
As with most accidents, your attorney will try to establish that your injuries are directly due to the accident and this can cause issues if the injuries don’t show straight away. Historically, a defense attorney will attempt to portray the suit as a money grab implying that you’re greedy and exaggerating injuries.
The law permits victims of accidents to recover the reasonable expenses of their injuries, however, many injured individuals don’t want to look to be part of the problem of over-litigation. Our team of accident attorneys is working hard to change this perception and take the time to understand every case we’re presented with.
Previous Low-speed Injury Cases We’ve Worked On
In 2004, a California dental student was rear-ended while waiting to make a left turn and as they’d already suffered bulging cervical discs from a previous accident, the second accident made it worse. He had to undergo spine surgery and have considerations in his future job. The jury awarded the plaintiff $500,000 in lost income and future medical expenses.
Similarly, in 2014, a woman in California got involved in a zero-property-damage collision, suffering a ruptured cervical disc and having to undergo surgery. The jury awarded the plaintiff $3.1 million in compensation for both past and future medical expenses as well as future pain and suffering- despite the defense’s attempts to downplay the severity of the accident.
Get Help Now
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their personal injuries, including those from low-speed collisions in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in a low-speed collision, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
