If you have been involved in a minor rear end collision, you may be wondering if you need to file a claim and possibly be involved in a rear end collision settlement, especially if the other driver also claims that the accident was minor. It is still in your best interest to report the accident to your insurance company. This will protect you legally in the event that the other driver decides to file an injury settlement against you and your insurance company later.
Possibility of Severe Injury Caused by Minor Rear End Collision
Many people think that a minor rear end collision is not a serious accident and shouldn’t even be reported to their insurance companies. However, minor neck pain that is sustained in such an accident can turn into an injury that is much more serious and long term if it is not diagnosed and treated properly right away.
Tests have shown that low-speed impacts can cause significant damage to a human body, due to the facts that the human neck muscles are susceptible to injury from such impacts and that the bumper systems on newer cars transfer more of the impact to the body of the car where the occupants are.
The most common neck injury in a minor rear end collision is whiplash, which is a “soft tissue injury.” There have been reports showing that victims receiving whiplash in minor rear end collisions can suffer with pain for up to 7 years after the accident.
How You Could Compromise Your Legal Position by Not Informing Your Insurance Company
Victims of rear end collisions may be entitled to pain and suffering as part of their rear end collision settlement, especially if they can prove that you were the one at fault for causing the accident. This isn’t difficult under the law, since the law naturally presumes that the driver who hits an object in front of him/her is likely at fault for not keeping his/her vehicle under control.
If you don’t report the accident to your insurance company and take matters into your own hands, you could compromise your legal position by saying or doing the wrong thing. It is best to inform your insurance company and allow them to handle the matters related to the accident, including any rear end collision settlement that is given to the victim for his/her injuries sustained in the accident.
Obtaining Legal Help
Being involved in a minor rear end collision may not seem to be a major issue, but it could be more problematic than you initially think. An established and experienced car accident attorney will review your case, will know the federal and state laws that apply to your case, and will present the strongest case possible to ensure that all of your rights are represented and to either prove that you were not at fault for the rear end collision or to receive the lightest amount of punishment under the law for causing the rear end collision.
