If you’ve been in a minor fender bender, i.e., a car accident with no damage or no apparent damage, you may decide it’s best to just continue going about your day from there.
However, a small-scale encounter, including a common occurrence when you’ve been rear ended with no damage, can pose ramifications that may not initially, for one thing, be visible to the naked eye.
Therefore, you should, generally speaking, take the same steps in the immediate aftermath of a minor incident to protect your rights as you would in one with injuries and/or property damage.
After you address your immediate needs on-scene including exchanging insurance information with other driver(s), taking accident scene photos and including the other driver’s license plate number, and seeking medical attention, contact a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer to learn more about the financial compensation to which you may be entitled even after a minor car accident.
Common Misconceptions about Car Accidents with No Damage
Perhaps the most common misconception in this scenario is that if you feel okay at the scene, you’re going to be fine. Unfortunately, personal injury symptoms can emerge sometime later.
A driver or passenger can suffer aftereffects such as whiplash, back pain, lacerations and bruising, and even concussions, plus other soft-tissue injuries, which lead to medical expenses and lost income if you miss time from work.
For this reason, you should promptly visit your family physician or an urgent care clinic to obtain a full, post-accident, medical evaluation.
Another misconception is that if only a scratch or dent is visible, no car repair will be necessary. Hidden damage needing to be fixed may have occurred to your vehicle in ways that are not immediately visible
Why It’s Important to Document the Accident Even If There Is No Damage
As mentioned above, it may turn out that you are entitled to compensation for your losses from an accident where, at least initially, no damage may have resulted or is perceived to have transpired.
That’s why it’s important to call 9-1-1 and thereby obtain a police report as the preliminary form of documentation of what occurred.
Note: It is a misdemeanor under Pennsylvania law to leave the scene of an accident limited to property damage, so you should play it legally safe.
Parenthetically, Pennsylvania law also requires a driver to immediately notify the police if an accident involves an injury or if damage renders a vehicle unable to be driven from the scene. If the police don’t respond, the driver must make a report within five days of the accident.
In Philadelphia, however, a police officer may not always respond to an accident scene if the collision is deemed non-serious.
If that scenario applies, file an accident report yourself with a Philadelphia police district headquarters as soon as possible again to protect yourself against any surprises.
While you and the at-fault driver or drivers may have decided to shake hands and go your separate ways amicably after a no-damage accident, they may later decide to file a report with a different narrative. That’s why you should typically be proactive in filing your own report.
If you have any doubts about how to proceed in compliance with the pertinent state statutes or regulations and to safeguard your car accident rights, contact an experienced lawyer right away.
Signs of Hidden Damage After a Car Accident
After a relatively insignificant accident that may just involve minor bumper damage if at all, it is nonetheless advisable to bring your car into a repair facility or a body shop to get a thorough vehicle inspection.
Signs of hidden damage subsequent to low-impact car accidents can include but are not limited to the following:
- Steering problems which may suggest the car is out of alignment or has suffered some kind of structural damage.
- Sudden difficulties opening car doors or the trunk owing to the collision impact.
- Fluid leakage which may indicate damage to, e.g., the transmission or radiator.
- An illuminated check engine light which could indicate accident-related engine issues or troubles with other components.
Again, bring your car to a qualified mechanic without delay for a full assessment of any hidden vehicle damage or not-so-hidden damage.
When your car is in for repairs, expenses unfortunately can mount quickly, for which you potentially have recourse against the at-fault driver.
Should You Report a Car Accident with No Damage to Your Insurance Company?
Consumers may be reluctant to report a no-damage car accident to their insurer out of understandable concern for premium hikes. And that concern may be particularly relevant when a deductible might be less than the property damage in a minor mishap.
If you take a minute to review your policy details, however, reporting an accident is likely required within a specific deadline. Take a minute to review your insurance policy coverage language.
Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance state, as is New Jersey. To trigger no-fault benefits provided by your own policy coverage, which may become necessary if or when injuries emerge after the fact as outlined above, timely notification to your insurer is obviously necessary.
No-fault insurance does not cover property damage, however. Extensive damage to your vehicle potentially requires making a claim against the other driver’s insurance coverage. A personal injury lawyer can guide you in that process.
Need Legal Help? Contact an Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been in a car collision and you’re not sure of the consequences, reach out to The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., to schedule a free consultation with a motor vehicle accident attorney to obtain legal advice.
We will carefully assess the incident, handle your claim including managing all communications with an auto insurance adjuster or adjusters and accessing medical records, enable you to recover lost wages after a car accident, and outline the associated legal options for which we can help.