LOW SPEED IMPACTS AND INJURIES
By: Dan Baldyga
As of December 2004 it was determined that in the good ole‘ US of A, there were almost 12 million motor vehicle accidents involving over 21 million vehicles. This comes down to about one crash per second. So now, let’s take a look at the Low Speed Impacts, and the gazillion injuries they cause.
LOW SPEED IMPACTS: These are crashes that are considered to be any collision that takes place at speeds under 10 MPH. While there is absolutely no justification to call it a “Low Speed” impact that’s what the insurance industry loves to identify them as. Why ? Because a moniker like that is supposed to indicate that the “impact” could not possibly have caused an injury. (As usual, they try to get away with anything they can)!
It’s true that when such a crash does take place there’s not a lot of damage done to the motor vehicle and yet, in most cases, people involved in these types of accidents (more often than not) suffer injuries - - neck injuries especially.
Although the insurance industry would like to have the world of claim settlement’s think differently an injury can (and absolutely does) occur when a low impact collision takes place. The most common is identified as the “Whiplash”. This takes place because the occupants (more often than not) don't have the slightest idea about the impending collision so they can’t brace themselves by forcing their back and/or neck against the seat or headrest. Because of this their body gets “whipped” around something fierce.
Automobile bumpers are built to withstand up to a 5 MPH crash without damage. This is not done to insure the safety of the occupant but rather to protect and limit the damage to the bumpers, keeping the cost of repair to a minimum. Many times vehicle to vehicle impacts can sustain an impact of 8 to 9 MPH before there’s recognizable damage to the motor vehicle.
However, (and the reader of this article should never forget this) when the bumper doesn’t crumble and absorb the force of the impact, more of that crash is felt and absorbed by the occupants!
IMMEDIATE INJURIES: Even at a speed of only 5 MPH a driver and/or occupant is thrown forward with a severe jerking motion - -causing necks to snap and backs to twist. Because of this many soft tissue styled injuries take place, including multiple body bruises, plus chest and rib injuries.
In most cases the forever-on-the-con insurance industry attempts to deny the possibility of injuries in a low speed impact but research substantiates just the opposite! It's usually the case that the motor vehicle will show little damage but the velocity and accompanying force have to be transferred somewhere, and that’s to the individual in that vehicle. Cars are built to withstand such minor impacts - - the human body is not!
It's of major importance to the individual that the individual (no matter how slight the damage may seem to have been) that they be examined by a medical professional.
The bottom line is that in all motor vehicle accidents (no matter how minor the damage to the vehicle) that each and every individual should immediately visit a medical professional for an examination and/or consultation.
The learn more about whiplash, click one of the links below. If you have any additional questions, just ask us.
DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this article "LOW SPEED IMPACTS AND INJURIES" is intended for background information only. Its purpose is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, Dr. George Langlitz nor PHYSICIAN'S PLUS make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever NOR purports to engage in rendering any professional or legal service, substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUAL’S RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services.
All of the information necessary for you to deal with the above is spelled out in Dan Baldyga's third and latest book, AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) which can be found on the internet at http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com. This book reveals "How To" handle your claim so you won't be taken advantage of. It also goes into detail regarding BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA explains how to determine the value of the "Pain and Suffering" you endured - - because of your personal injury!
Copyright (c) 2005 By Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved