Car accidents that occur on busy highways and interstates often result in serious injuries and significant property damage. The faster a car is traveling, the greater the force of impact will be when it crashes. While low speed accidents tend to be much less serious, often resulting in little to no damage to the vehicle, the occupants can still sustain injuries. In fact, there are certain factors that can cause injuries to be rather serious, even if the car was traveling at a speed of 25 miles per hour or less.
In the early 1990s, officials in the auto insurance industry determined that injuries from a car accident were highly unlikely if the vehicles involved were traveling at a speed of five miles per hour or slower. However, according to the author of an article entitled, “Reconstructionists in the M.I.S.T.,” car accident victims can sustain injuries, regardless of how fast or slow the vehicles were moving. The Minor Impact Soft Tissue (MIST) protocol was developed by a major U.S. auto insurer to take low speed injuries into consideration.
Risk of Injury in Low Speed Accidents
The below factors can make the occupants of the vehicle more prone to injuries, even in a low speed car accident.
Even if there is little to no property damage from a car accident, the occupant of the car that was hit can sustain substantial injuries. Whiplash is a very common example of an injury that can occur in a low speed car accident.
Typically, individuals who volunteer to participate in test crashes are young and healthy. This does not represent the general population, who may be older and suffering from a variety of health issues. As a result, these people are more likely to become injured in a low speed crash.
If a low speed accident involved a small car being hit by a much larger vehicle, the occupant of the smaller car is more likely to be injured. Smaller cars are also manufactured to be “stiffer” in order to meet safety standards. However, the stiffness can expose the occupants to a greater force of impact in the event of a wreck.
If a vehicle’s head restraints are positioned too low, it can intensify head and neck injuries.
Women are more likely to become injured in low speed accidents because they have a less durable body structure. In addition, they have a smaller muscle mass which causes them to have a more violent physical response to trauma.
Age is another factor to consider. As people age, they have slower reflexes, decreased strength, increased stiffness, and are slower to heal. If the occupant has any pre-existing neck or spine injuries, even a low speed accident can make these injuries worse.
Baltimore Car Wreck Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Seek Justice for Victims of Low Speed Accidents
If you have been injured in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact the Baltimore car wreck lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. We are on your side to protect your legal rights and secure the financial compensation you deserve, even if there was no visible damage to the vehicle. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent car accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.