You might think a minor fender-bender at 15 mph won’t cause serious harm. After all, your car barely shows damage, and you feel fine right after the crash. However, low-speed collisions can still lead to serious injuries—including ones that might not show signs of their severity immediately.
Whiplash can cause brain injuries
When another vehicle hits yours, even at low speed, your head snaps forward and backward rapidly. This sudden movement strains the muscles and ligaments in your neck, causing whiplash. While some people recover within weeks, you can face chronic issues:
- Persistent neck pain and stiffness
- Chronic headaches
- Reduced range of motion
- Shoulder and upper back pain
Whiplash can develop into long-term cervical spine problems and may even cause concussions or traumatic brain injuries, including bleeding around your brain.
Spinal disc injuries can affect mobility
Your spine absorbs shock during any collision, regardless of speed. The impact can compress or herniate the discs between your vertebrae. These injuries might not cause immediate pain but can worsen over time.
Disc injuries often lead to chronic back pain and sciatic nerve problems, which can reduce your mobility and make walking or other daily tasks difficult.
Effects of soft tissue damage can linger
Low-speed crashes frequently damage muscles, tendons and ligaments throughout your body. These soft tissue injuries might seem minor at first—simple bruises that don’t look good but have manageable pain levels. Even these kinds of injuries can create lasting problems.
Untreated soft tissue damage may result in:
- Chronic pain
- Limited movement
- Muscle weakness
Moreover, soft tissue damage also includes ligament sprains, which can lead to joint instability. If this happens to your knees, you may have a higher risk of falls.
Why you should take every crash seriously
Never dismiss an accident just because it happened at low speed. Some injuries take days or weeks to show symptoms. Moreover, waiting to seek treatment could worsen your condition.
If you experience any pain after a crash, visit a doctor immediately. Make sure to get a doctor to check your condition. And remember, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries and treatment expenses—regardless of the collision’s speed.