What Is the Difference Between a Minor and a Serious Auto Accident?

Auto Accidents: What Determines the Seriousness and Why It Matters

There are thousands of car accidents every year in Texas, but not all of these cause injury or damage to vehicles. Accidents can be minor, moderate, or major, but you don’t have to sustain serious damage to your car to be injured. Learn more about the difference between minor and serious car accidents below and why it matters.

Minor Car Accidents

Minor car accidents are commonly referred to as fender benders. There may be minimal damage to the vehicles — or even no damage at all — and any damage is likely cosmetic. Examples of minor car accidents could include:

• Rear-ending someone at a slow speed while stopping at a light
• Backing up into someone in a parking lot
• Hitting a curb, a mailbox, or another stationary object by the side of the road

The main theme of a minor car accident is that it usually involves slower speeds. And slower speeds mean less damage and less potential for injury.

Serious Car Accidents

Serious car accidents are those that involve major damage to one or both vehicles involved. In some cases, the car may be completely totaled, but accidents are often deemed serious if either vehicle is unable to be driven away from the scene. Examples of serious car accidents are:

• Crashing into someone as the result of running a red light or stop sign
• Pulling out in front of someone, resulting in a wreck
• Failing to see stopped or slowed vehicles ahead in time to respondLike with minor car accidents, the main contributing factor to many serious car accidents is speed. But in this case, it’s the faster speeds that make a serious car accident more likely.
  

  Does an Auto Accident Have to Be Serious to Cause Injury?

  An auto accident doesn’t have to be labeled as “serious” to cause significant injury, but major accidents are more likely to result in serious injuries or fatalities. Whether someone is injured in a car accident often comes down to the type of vehicles involved, whether the person was wearing a seat belt, any previous medical conditions, and the impact point of the crash. For example, it’s possible for someone to roll over their car at 60 miles per hour and end up uninjured, but it’s also possible for someone to experience debilitating whiplash and serious injury from a low-speed, rear-end collision.

  Getting Help From a Personal Injury Attorney

  Regardless of how serious the accident was, if you were injured in a car crash, it’s a good idea to speak with trusted legal counsel for vehicle collision injuries about your options. Even if your vehicle was relatively undamaged, you could still have grounds to file a lawsuit and recover compensation if your injuries required medical treatment or ongoing care. Call Oberg Law Office at 972-682-9700 to learn more.