Why “Minor” Car Accidents Can Cause Major Injuries and Why Insurance Companies Pretend They Can’t

After a crash, many Maryland injury victims hear the same line from the insurance company:

“There wasn’t much damage, so you can’t be that hurt.”

It sounds logical. It’s also one of the most common tactics insurers use to reduce payouts—especially in cases involving:

• Whiplash

• Neck and back pain

• Herniated or bulging discs

• Concussions

• Shoulder injuries

• Chronic headaches

• Nerve pain
  

The truth is simple:

Car damage and body damage are not the same thing.

This post explains why “minor” crashes can still cause serious injuries, how insurers attack these claims, and what you should do to protect your case in Maryland.

Important: This is general information, not medical or legal advice.

Why “Low Damage” Does Not Mean “Low Injury”

Cars are designed to absorb and distribute force.

Your body is not.

Even in a lower-speed collision, your body can experience rapid acceleration and deceleration especially your head, neck, and spine. The result can be:

• Soft tissue tearing

• Ligament sprains

• Muscle strain and spasm

• Inflammation that worsens over 24–72 hours

• Nerve compression symptoms

• Head injury symptoms that don’t show immediately
  

You can walk away feeling “okay,” and then wake up the next day barely able to turn your neck. This is exactly why delayed pain after a car accident is so common in soft-tissue and spine injuries following low-impact crashes.

That’s not an exaggeration. It’s how many real injuries are present.

The Injuries Insurance Companies Love to Call “Minor”

Whiplash and Cervical Strain

Often dismissed because it doesn’t show on an X-ray.

Back Strain and Spasm

It can be debilitating even without a fracture.

Disc Bulges / Herniation’s

May require an MRI to evaluate properly, and symptoms can radiate into the arms or legs.

Concussions

You don’t have to lose consciousness for a concussion to exist.

Shoulder and Knee Injuries

Bracing during impact can injure joints even without dramatic vehicle damage.

If you’ve read your soft tissue blog, this post is the “next layer”: the property-damage myth and how to neutralize it.

The Insurance Company Playbook in “Minor Crash” Cases

1) They Focus on Photos of the Car

Not your MRI.

Not your physical therapy records.

Not your pain complaints.

Just the bumper.

2) They Push for a Quick Settlement Before Symptoms Fully Develop

They know many injuries worsen after the first week.

3) They Attack Treatment as “Excessive.”

They’ll question PT, chiro, injections, and imaging even when those are standard components of recovery.

4) They Float the “Pre-Existing” Argument

Even if you had no prior symptoms, they may point to “degeneration” on imaging and pretend the crash didn’t matter.

How to Prove Your Injuries Are Real in a Low-Damage Case?

1) Get Evaluated Promptly

If pain begins hours later, document it as soon as you can.

A delay invites the insurer to argue:

• “It wasn’t from the crash.”

• “It must be something else.”
  

2) Be Honest and Specific About Symptoms

Good documentation describes:

• Location of pain

• Range-of-motion limits

• Sleep disruption

• Headaches/dizziness

• Radiating numbness/tingling

• Work and daily life limitations
  

3) Follow Through with Treatment

Gaps in care are a gift to the insurer.

4) Get the Right Diagnostics When Appropriate

X-rays rule out fractures.

MRIs often tell the deeper story in spine cases.

5) Document Daily Impact

A simple pain journal helps translate suffering into facts:

• What you couldn’t do

• What worsened the pain

• What improved it (and what didn’t)

• How has your life changed week by week?
  

The “Delayed Pain” Problem — Why People Wait (and Why It Hurts Claims)

Many people delay treatment because:

• They’re trying to be tough

• They’re busy

• They assume pain will fade

• They don’t want medical bills
  

But in Maryland, delay becomes ammunition.

The insurer may argue:

• “If you were really hurt, you would have gone right away.”

• “This is unrelated.”

• “This is exaggerated.”

Even though delays can have innocent explanations, the safest move is:

Get evaluated promptly and document symptoms early.

What If the Other Driver’s Insurance Keeps Saying “Minimal Impact”?

That’s when case strategy matters. A knowledgeable Maryland car accident attorney knows how to counter “minimal impact” arguments using medical evidence, treatment consistency, and liability analysis.

A strong response focuses on:

• Objective findings (imaging, range-of-motion deficits, neuro symptoms)

• Consistent treatment records

• Impact on work and daily function

• Liability evidence that removes contributory negligence arguments
  

Because in Maryland, insurers aren’t just minimizing injuries, they’re also looking for any way to assign fault.

How Falodun Law Handles “Minor Crash / Major Injury” Cases

We build these claims with the expectation that the insurer will fight:

• Early evidence preservation where available (BWC, 911, surveillance)

• Medical documentation strategy (so the record tells the real story)

• Liability analysis designed to eliminate “1% fault” arguments

• Negotiation posture that doesn’t let the insurer define the injury
  

Serving Maryland & Washington, D.C.

Baltimore City • Baltimore County • Howard • Montgomery • PG County • Anne Arundel • Charles • Washington, D.C.

Don’t Let the Bumper Decide Your Case

If you’re hurt, you’re hurt.

The insurance company doesn’t get to decide your pain based on a photo.

Call (301) 289-7737 or visit www.falodunlaw.com to talk with Falodun Law.