When we think of car accidents, we picture crumpled metal and smashed windscreens. But low impact car accident injuries—those from crashes under 15 km/h—are often brushed off as minor. No visible damage? No big deal, right?
Wrong.
Every year, thousands of Australians walk away from low-speed collisions only to find themselves in pain weeks later—and worse, facing denied insurance payouts because their injuries weren’t taken seriously from the start.
Here’s what’s really going on, and the one detail most people forget that ends up costing them thousands.
1. Why Low Impact Doesn’t Mean No Injury
It’s entirely possible to suffer significant injuries in a low-speed crash, especially if:
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You were hit from behind (e.g. rear-end collision)
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Your body was jolted without warning
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You have pre-existing neck, spine, or joint conditions
Common low impact car accident injuries include:
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Whiplash
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Soft tissue damage
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Concussion or headaches
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Lower back strain
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Shoulder and knee injuries from bracing or twisting
These injuries may not show up on X-rays or be obvious right away but they can become chronic and debilitating without proper treatment.
2. Why Claims Are Denied Months Later
Insurers often deny or downplay claims linked to low-speed crashes. Their reasoning?
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“There was minimal vehicle damage.”
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“No ambulance or hospital visit was recorded.”
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“You didn’t report pain immediately after the crash.”
But just because a car isn’t badly damaged doesn’t mean you weren’t. The human body is far more vulnerable than steel and insurers know this. They’re counting on you to downplay the injury or delay seeking treatment, making it easier to reject the claim later.
3. The Silent Mistake That Costs Thousands
Failing to document and report symptoms immediately. This is the #1 reason claims related to low impact car accident injuries are denied.
Even if you feel “okay,” symptoms can take days or even weeks to appear. By then, if there’s no official medical record from the date of the crash or soon after, insurers may argue the injury is unrelated.
What to do instead:
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See a GP or physio within 24–48 hours, even if symptoms are minor
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Mention the accident and ask for documentation
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Report the crash to your insurer and keep a written record
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Take photos of the vehicle, the scene, and your posture at impact if possible
4. You Don’t Need to Be Hospitalised to Make a Claim
Many injured drivers or passengers don’t realise they’re eligible for compensation under their Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance or personal injury laws—even if they weren’t taken away in an ambulance.
If someone else was at fault, and you’ve suffered loss of income, ongoing pain, or medical expenses, you may have grounds for a claim but the clock is ticking. Most states have strict timeframes (often 3–6 months) to file initial paperwork or lodge a notice of claim.
5. When to Speak to a Lawyer
If your symptoms are lingering, your insurer is dragging their feet, or you’ve already received a rejection letter, it’s time to speak to a personal injury lawyer. Many offer free consultations and only charge if your case is successful.
They can help you:
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Prove your injury is related to the accident
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Fight back against claim denials
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Access medical reports and specialist opinions
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Maximise compensation for treatment, pain, and time off work
Even if they occur at low impact, car accidents can be incredibly stressful, particularly if they cause injuries to the driver and/or passenger. Typically, people associate injuries from car accidents with high-impact crashes which also result in a written-off car, but even less serious and low-impact crashes can cause painful injuries which can take time to recover from and may even leave the injured party unable to work.
So, what are common low-impact car accident injuries and what symptoms should you look out for?
Whiplash
Whiplash is incredibly common among people who have been in car accidents. It occurs in instances where the head and neck make a sudden forward movement followed in rapid succession by a backward movement, which causes damage to the neck’s soft tissues.
Whiplash sufferers may experience headaches, pain and stiffness in the neck, dizziness, and in extreme cases, vision problems. Whiplash typically heals on its own but it can be treated with rest, an ice pack and physiotherapy. In severe, untreated cases it can result in long-term chronic pain.
Concussion
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury which is easily sustained in car accidents, even if they are low impact. A concussion occurs when the brain moves sharply inside the skull and can result in either temporary or permanent damage.
Symptoms of concussion can include confusion, dizziness, headaches and memory loss. Most concussions will heal on their own over time with rest, but more severe cases may require professional medical assistance.
Back injuries
Back injuries are commonly sustained in low-impact car accidents. Even the most minor collision can cause the spine to twist or compress in an unnatural way, which can leave a person with a strain, sprain or herniated disc.
Someone who receives a back injury in a low-impact car accident may experience pain, stiffness, and numbness not just in their back, but also radiating down the legs and/or arms. Treatment for back injuries may include physiotherapy, medication and sometimes even surgery.
Soft tissue injuries
Soft tissue injuries occur when the body’s soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons) become stretched or torn as a result of body parts being distorted unnaturally. It is common to receive these types of injuries in a low-impact car accident and symptoms generally include pain and tenderness, swelling and bruising. Soft tissue injuries usually heal over time, but physiotherapy is often required to ensure full and painless movement can be achieved again. In very severe cases, surgery may be required to fix damaged soft tissue.
Making a claim for compensation after being injured in a low-impact car accident
You may feel fine immediately after a low-impact car accident, but it is important to note that injuries can take time to present, particularly if adrenaline brought on by the crash is masking the symptoms of the injury. It is prudent to seek medical attention as soon as possible after being in a car accident, even if it is low impact, so you can be checked over and to ensure there is an official record of your injuries in case you need to make a claim for compensation.
If you have been involved in a car accident and are suffering from one or more of the above injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. You should seek the advice of a personal injury lawyer with experience in car accident claims to talk through the accident, your injury and how it has affected your ability to work or maintain quality of life so they can help you to make your claim.