Rochester, New York, Low-Impact Car Accident Injury Lawyers

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as A Best Lawyer of America, is Committed to Defending the Rights of Accident Victims Across Rochester and Monroe County. If You, or a Loved One, Were Injured in a New York Low-Impact Car Accident, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Make a Claim for the Compensation You Need and the Justice You Deserve.

Speed is among the most basic risk factors in traffic accidents; however, far too many people make the common mistake of assuming that low-impact car accidents can be characterized as low-risk. While researchers have found that certain low-impact collisions, including rear-end crashes, do not typically produce injuries beyond neck strain and whiplash, these supposedly minor conditions can cause lifelong complications. Whiplash, for instance, can take months to resolve. In some rare cases, whiplash symptoms can persist for years, making it difficult for victims to lead ordinary, fulfilling lives.

Low-impact car crashes are rarely life-threatening, but they can still bear severe consequences for victims. Even if you do not require bone-setting or surgery, the cumulative costs of a collision could quickly add up, thrusting you toward financial ruin. Fortunately, you do not have to suffer in silence. If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a Rochester low-impact automobile accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to significant compensation.

Recognized as a Best Law Firm of America, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is committed to upholding accident victims’ rights. Since our founding in 2005, we have helped our clients secure more than $175 million in damages—money they have used to pay down their medical debt, afford high-quality physical rehabilitation, and begin the difficult work of moving past a tragic and unexpected low-impact collision. We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call us at (585) 939-3939 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

All too often, we dismiss fender-benders as minor accidents—a headache and an inconvenience, but not a serious cause for concern. While high-speed collisions may be more likely to inflict high-grade injuries, low-impact car crashes can still upend victims’ lives. In fact, researchers have argued that there is no absolute speed needed for a person to sustain injury. Under the right conditions, a change in velocity as seemingly insignificant as 2.5 miles per hour may be sufficient to cause injuries.

Additionally, not everyone has the same risk for injuries. Pedestrians and cyclists may be more likely to suffer serious, disabling injuries in low-impact car crashes. In one recent year, Monroe County reported an estimated 5,498 collisions involving bicyclists and pedestrians, of which 4,466 resulted in injury or fatality. Many of these crashes occurred in relatively low-speed zones, such as the Inner Loop, East Main Street, and University Avenue. Common low-impact car crash injuries include, but are not limited to:

1. Whiplash: Whiplash is a serious injury that can affect the neck, back, and upper body, typically caused by the forceful, back-and-forth movement of the neck. The University of Rochester Medical Center has found that whiplash is typically caused by sudden changes in velocity, such as the abrupt acceleration or deceleration characteristic of an automobile accident. Whiplash is notoriously difficult to treat, with whiplash-related symptoms sometimes persisting for months or even years after a car crash.
2. Traumatic Brain Injuries: Similar to whiplash, traumatic brain injuries usually result from a sudden, violent blow to the head or body. In low-impact car accidents, a traumatic brain injury could occur if the victim’s head collides with the steering wheel, dashboard, or another fixed object. Some traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, may not present any immediate symptoms.
3. Soft Tissue Injuries: A soft tissue injury occurs when the body’s muscles, tendons, or ligaments are damaged. Examples of soft tissue injuries include contusions, sprains, and strains. Researchers have found that nearly 40% of participants in a low-speed automobile accident experiment sustained soft tissue injuries at speeds as low as 5 miles per hour.

Low-impact car crash injuries like whiplash can be difficult to prove. Whiplash, for instance, typically presents with a variety of symptoms, such as:

1. Neck pain and stiffness;
2. Worsening of pain with neck movement;
3. Loss of range of motion in the neck;
4. Headaches;
5. Sensitivity in the shoulders, upper back, or arms;
6. Numbness in the arms;
7. Fatigue; and
8. Dizziness.

Since many whiplash symptoms could be considered subjective, physicians must typically rely on patients’ reported symptoms to make a diagnosis. Unfortunately, the subjectivity of whiplash diagnoses can complicate insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits. Since insurance companies are for-profit entities, they often do everything in their power to devalue or deny car accident claims. Fortunately, you do not have to let the adjuster’s skepticism deprive you of a settlement. You could protect your right to a legal recovery by:

1. Seeking Immediate Medical Treatment: You should always seek immediate medical attention after any car accident, even if you do not believe that you have been seriously injured. Since whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue damage injuries can take days or even weeks to present symptoms, scheduling a doctor’s appointment provides you with an opportunity to document your complaints and get professional guidance. Additionally, seeing a physician shows the insurance company that you have legitimate medical complaints.
2. Following Your Doctor’s Orders: Following the doctor’s orders may be inconvenient, especially if they interfere with your ability to work, play sports, or spend time with your friends and family. However, the insurance company wants to see that you have suffered actual injuries—and if you do not follow the doctor’s advice, they could try and claim that you are exaggerating the severity of your injuries and do not need any further care.
3. Going to Follow-up and Specialist Appointments: Recovery from whiplash may involve physical therapy. During physical therapy, patients are instructed to perform guided exercises to strengthen injured areas as they begin to heal.
4. Contacting an Attorney: Proving whiplash claims to the insurance company can be an uphill battle without the right representation. However, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has decades of experience aggressively advocating for Rochester car crash victims’ best interests. Our experienced whiplash injury attorneys could help you construct a compelling, evidence-based claim for compensation. If the insurance company is unwilling to negotiate in good faith, we could take them to court, fighting for the recovery you need and the justice you deserve.

Jed Dietrich, Esq., is recognized as a New York Super Lawyer and Best Lawyer of America. A regional leader in personal injury law, Jed Dietrich, Esq., could help you take on the insurance company, communicate with the adjuster, respond to document requests, and save you the headache of seemingly never-ending requests. Please call Jed Dietrich, Esq., at (585) 939-3939 to speak to a legal professional and schedule your free appointment as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (585) 939-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Rochester, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!