There are a lot of tasks you can plan for your day. In addition to all your work projects, you can also plan for trips to the grocery store, carpooling, or other errands. One thing you can’t plan for is a car crash because those can happen at any time. They can also occur at any spot on your car. That begs the question, does a fender-bender count as an accident?
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation compiled a list of crash statistics that found 115,938 crashes occurred in 2022. Of that number, 19.4%, or 22,465, were rear-end collisions, which include fender-benders. These types of collisions can result in minor damage and no injuries or a wrongful death. In fact, 89 people died in rear-end collisions in 2022 in our state.
Reporting the Accident
Often, in minor fender-bender accidents that don’t involve injuries, the two parties involved will exchange information and leave it for the insurance companies to sort out. If the police are not called, you still have to report the accident to the police unless it meets the exceptions stipulated by Pennsylvania law. This is how the law explains the reporting:
“The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice to the nearest office of a duly authorized police department if the accident involves: (1) injury to or death of any person; or (2) damage to any vehicle involved to the extent that it cannot be driven under its own power in its customary manner without further damage or hazard to the vehicle, other traffic elements, or the roadway, and therefore requires towing.”
One concern with not calling the police to the accident scene is that it could be an issue of your word against the other driver’s. Just because you were rear-ended does not automatically mean you weren’t the one responsible for causing the crash. A police report to back up what happened can help with your future insurance claim.
Your insurance policy might also stipulate that you need to report the fender-bender to your insurer. Just because you do doesn’t mean that you’ll be filing a claim. The repair costs for many minor fender-bender accidents could cost less than your deductible.
Delayed Injury
A fender-bender can feel like a big “thump.” Depending on the impact, that jolt could manifest as an injury. However, not all injuries from a fender-bender will be immediately apparent. You could experience a delayed reaction to the injury. Here’s what you have to look out for:
Headaches
You don’t have to bump your head in an accident to experience a headache. A headache can be a symptom of a whiplash injury, which does not involve a blunt-force impact on the head. You could also experience a traumatic brain injury in the jolt if it forces your brain to move within your skull.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is a prominent symptom of whiplash, but that pain is generally not instantaneous. It can show up the next day in the same way that working out can cause sore muscles the following day. Delayed neck pain can also be an indication of other soft tissue injuries.
Abdominal Pain
A rear-end collision can force you into your seat belt or steering wheel. That result could be an internal organ injury which manifests itself as severe abdominal pain. This kind of injury requires immediate medical attention, especially if you are also experiencing dizziness, headaches, or bruising.
Back Pain
A rear-end collision can take direct aim at your spine. That can leave you with slipped or herniated discs and compression or cervical vertebrae fractures. These injuries should result in back pain that can be localized to the area of the stress. An X-ray or MRI will be taken to determine the extent of the injury.
It is vital that you should see your doctor the moment any one of these symptoms shows up after your fender-bender accident.
Talking to an Experienced Legal Team
When the damage from a fender-bender becomes costly, or you’re dealing with medical expenses because a Philadelphia car crash seriously injured you, you need to speak to the experienced legal team at Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco. We understand the nature of these accidents and know how to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure the right party is held accountable. Call to schedule a consultation to discuss how your fender-bender occurred and any rights you may have to recover compensation.
