Although catastrophic car accidents tend to make the news, most people end up contending with minor traffic collisions or fender benders. While the damage will not appear as severe, there are still actions people need to take following minor crashes, such as exchanging insurance information, taking photos and calling your insurance agency.
While this seems like a lot, fender benders can be more severe than many people realize. It never hurts to get in touch with an attorney following a minor collision even if you do not think you will require much in compensation. At the end of the day, it is better to be safe than sorry.
You may have sustained serious injuries
A low impact motor vehicle collision can still result in whiplash and other injuries. You may not notice these injuries immediately following the incident due to adrenaline rushing throughout your body. However, you should still see a doctor within 24 hours. Doctors can perform X-rays and CT scans to determine if you developed injuries you cannot see. In this case, it will be prudent to proceed with a personal injury claim, and an attorney will help tremendously in this instance.
Your car may require significant repairs
Similarly to your body, your car may appear fine on the surface. A bump or a dent is easy enough to repair, but there could be damage lurking underneath the surface. In the event the suspension has sustained damage, then you may need to spend thousands of dollars to make it work again. Paying out of pocket may be too much of a burden, which is why you would need to pursue an insurance claim.
You may need to take time off work
Doctor visits and living without your car for a while can create additional expenses. A lawyer will be able to track all of this. Unless nothing happened to either you or your car, you are best off at least speaking with a lawyer to review your options.