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You may have heard the term “minor surgery” for a medical procedure that is relatively simple and commonplace compared to heart transplants and removing brain tumors. If you’ve heard about “minor surgery,” you’ve probably also heard the saying that no surgery is “minor” if it is happening to you. Talking about a minor car accident is similar. If your vehicle is damaged but still drivable, or if you have injuries that are not serious or life-threatening, some may consider that a minor car accident, regardless of the inconvenience it may cause.
The number of car accidents in Georgia has increased over the last few years. The number of fatalities in car accidents in Georgia in 2021 was the highest in the state in 15 years, with about 1800 fatal accidents occurring on the state’s roads. No one would refer to a car accident with a fatality as a “minor” accident. For legal purposes, a minor accident involves only property damage, with no bodily or physical injury. Chances are, if you are involved in a car accident, you will probably not describe it to another person as “minor,” especially if you believe it is the fault of another driver.
Even if the immediate impact of the accident on your life is relatively minor, that doesn’t mean that the circumstances won’t change. If you are able to drive away in your vehicle, you may be thankful that your car is ok, especially if you need it for your daily transportation like work or getting your child to school.
Even if you have your car checked by a mechanic after the accident, you may not be able to tell if there is damage that may not show up until later. Hardly any car accident will leave a vehicle totally unscathed. Even minor exterior body damage can lead to rust, which could require expensive bodywork in the future.
You may have injuries that don’t start to show symptoms immediately. Some of the most common types of injuries suffered in car accidents are soft tissue injuries. These are parts of the body other than bones, such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons. One common issue with soft tissue injuries is that they are usually not visible on an x-ray. So you could go to the emergency room after an accident for a diagnosis but leave still not knowing of any specific injury.
Whiplash is often thought of as an injury that someone can fake after a car accident, but it is actually a very real injury to the soft tissue in the neck muscles when your head is moved forcefully forward and then back. This is a frequent physical reaction in a car accident, especially one when you are hit from behind, even at a low speed. Your body is not braced for the impact, and the unanticipated neck movement can result in neck pain and even permanent injury.
The dangers of concussions, especially in sports, have been emphasized in the media recently. It isn’t surprising to know that football players whose heads come into contact with each other on a frequent basis suffer from long-term effects from concussions. But keep in mind that these happen to football players who have scientifically designed helmets to protect them. If you are in a car accident and your head bounces forward and hits the dashboard or the car window, you are suffering similar types of impact with no protection at all.
Concussions also do not necessarily exhibit symptoms immediately. If you go to a doctor shortly after the accident, diagnostic tests can be performed to determine whether you have a concussion, how serious it is, what symptoms to watch for to make sure it isn’t getting worse, and what treatment plan you should follow. If you don’t see a doctor, you can not only suffer more serious and long-term effects from an undiagnosed concussion, but the subjective symptoms will be difficult to prove later should you want to get compensation from another driver for your injuries.
The back and spinal system includes numerous parts that can be injured individually or in a pattern that affects other parts of the spinal system or even other parts of the body. This complex system includes your vertebrae which are bones, muscles, tendons, discs, ligaments and nerves. If you have a back or spinal injury, the symptoms can cause problems throughout your body, causing pain, numbness, tingling, and even the deterioration or weakening of muscles.
Because, by definition, a minor car accident does not involve physical bodily injuries, the damages that can be recovered are easier to calculate. The amount of property damage would include the cost of repairs or replacement of the vehicle involved, as well as any damage to property where the accident took place, such as fences knocked down.
Property damage could also apply to items in the vehicle, such as computers, phones, and child car seats that need repair or replacement. Other damages could include the cost of renting a vehicle while yours is being repaired or paying for other forms of transportation, such as Uber, taxis, and public transportation.
If you are lucky, neither you nor your vehicle will have any long-term or future issues after a minor car accident. But, given the scenarios mentioned here, how can you be sure? Obviously, you don’t even have to contact a car accident lawyer after a serious car accident. But if you want to make sure that you recover any expenses related to medical bills or car repairs, having a consultation with a lawyer can put your mind at rest that all bases are covered immediately and in the future.
For more information, please contact our Augusta car accident lawyers at Nicholson Revell Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Augusta, GA, and its surrounding areas:
Nicholson Revell Personal Injury Attorneys
4137 Columbia Rd, Augusta, GA 30907
(706) 920-4166