Google Screened Badge
  • Home
  • Areas of Practice
    • Areas of Practice
    • Personal Injury
    • Car Accidents
    • Truck Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Wrongful Death
    • Slip & Fall
    • Dog Bites
    • Nursing Home Abuse
    • Pharmaceutical Liability & Toxic Torts
  • Our Team
    • Our Team
    • About Us
    • Ryan Miller
    • Brandon Dawson
    • Ryan Sigal
    • Jeffrey Ward
  • Results
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
(843) 885-8000
MDSA Logo Injury Attorneys - Charleston, SC MDSA Logo Injury Attorneys - Charleston, SC
  • Home
  • Areas of Practice
    • Personal Injury
    • Car Accidents
    • Truck Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Wrongful Death
    • Nursing Home Abuse
    • Slip & Fall
    • Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Dog Bites
    • Pharmaceutical Liability & Toxic Torts
  • Our Team
    • About Us
    • Ryan Miller
    • Brandon Dawson
    • Ryan Sigal
    • Jeffrey Ward
  • Results
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
    • Scholarship
    • Videos
  • Contact Us
    • North Charleston
(843) 885-8000
CALL NOW

Home » Blog » Your Car Accident and Injuries May Not Be as Minor as They Seem

Your Car Accident and Injuries May Not Be as Minor as They Seem

low-impact-car-accident
May 9, 2018

Liability insurance adjusters frequently throw around the phrase “minor impact collision” to describe an automobile accident where the property damage to a vehicle is either unable to be seen by the naked eye or appears to be due to a low speed collision.  Any collision where the physical damage to the vehicles makes the collision appear like nothing more than a fender bender is often considered a minor impact collision.

Auto insurance companies routinely try to exploit the myth that car wrecks occurring at less than 10 mph, otherwise known as “low-impact car accidents,” cannot result in injuries. Adjusters will point to the speed of vehicles involved and attempt to focus on the minimal damage to the cars. They will also sometimes note the lack of tread marks in the road or the fact that the injured party did not immediately seek medical treatment. All of this is done in an effort to undermine your claim and cause you to not seek the treatment you may be needing or make you believe the low value settlement being offered is fair.

One simply cannot accurately measure the degree of injury by comparing the damage done to large pieces of steel and metal. Considering that the average mid-sized sedan on the roads today weighs 3,351 pounds, an impact at a speed as slow as 10 mph will result in an impact force of approximately 1,500 foot-pounds.  To put this into perspective, it is estimated that the amount of force contained in a Mike Tyson punch was only 1,200 foot-pounds. With this much energy being transferred and the average American weighing only 175 pounds, the potential for serious injury is high. To learn more about the force involved in a collision check out this article from the National Safety Commission.

Moreover, whether or not someone is injured in a car accident is determined by a multitude of factors beside just the speed at the time of impact, including:

  • Age of the individual
  • Whether a seatbelt was worn
  • Angle of the impact
  • Weight and/or height of the individual
  • Overall physical condition of the individual
  • Pre-existing medical conditions of the individual
  • Location of the individual in the vehicle

At Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys, we recognize that low-impact collisions absolutely have the potential to cause injuries – and sometimes substantial and lasting impairments. If you’ve been suffered injuries after being in a car accident, contact the Thumbs Up Guys today at (843) 885-8000 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case evaluation.

  • a man recovering from a personal injury in Charleston, SC
    Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer After My Accident in Charleston, SC?
    February 16, 2021
  • South Carolina student graduating college
    Local Personal Injury Law Firm Offers Scholarship to Deserving South Carolina Students
    February 15, 2021
  • A North Charleston High School Bus
    Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys Donate Thousands to Further Local High School Principal’s Cause
    February 1, 2021
  • holiday decoration in a Charleston, SC, home
    The Thumbs Up Guys Holiday Giveaway Contest Rules
    December 15, 2020
  • wintery roads in Charleston, SC
    Your Charleston, SC, Winter Driving Tips
    November 19, 2020

Categories

  • Car Accident
  • Firm News
  • Personal Injury
  • Truck Accident
  • Uncategorized
  • Workers' Comp

Get Your FREE Case Review

Contact Us
FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR CASE IS WORTH
MDSW footer Logo

1090 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 885-8000
Fax: (843) 284-9118

Full Legal Disclaimer | Accessibility Statement

The information presented on this website should neither be construed as formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney-client relationship. Please contact a South Carolina personal injury lawyer at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward, LLC for a consultation on your particular legal situation. Verdict and settlement information presented on this website reflect gross numbers, before attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses are deducted. Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Cases will be handled by a lawyer at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward, LLC who practices at 1090 East Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405.

Copyright © 2021 Whitehardt Attorney Advertising & Consulting