Minor wrecks with bad injuries?

[01rangerxl]

More than once recently I have seen what appeared to be very minor wrecks where there appeared to be "severe" injuries, based on multiple EMTs treating one of the people involved. Seems kind of fishy.

For example, today I saw a very minor accident where a newer Camry rear ended a Cobalt. Neither car had significant damage beyond cracked bumper covers. They were both very drivable and I didn't see blown air bags. However, there were two ambulances and several EMTs assisting the driver of the Cobalt. I kind of have a hard time seeing why that would be necessary.

I have heard that with really old cars it wasn't uncommon for the passengers to get really beat up and the car to be mostly fine, but on modern cars this generally isn't the case. A Cobalt has crumple zones, so if the car isn't crumpled, I wouldn't expect the passengers to be either.

Honestly, the first thing that comes to mind is insurance fraud. I could see maybe a really old and frail person being hurt if they didn't have their seatbelt on, but otherwise I can't really see it. I couldn't get a look at the driver due to the crowd of EMTs to see if they appeared frail or otherwise prone to being injured. I have seen a couple other wrecks in the past couple years like this too. Has anyone else noticed this, or been involved in such a wreck and has an explanation for why this might happen? I do hope the person was not severely injured, but if they were faking it, I hope they don't reap any rewards for tying up emergency personnel and blocking a major road.

 

[The motor guy]

why minor wrecks have major injuries or why you end up with 50 police cars and tons of emt guys? The answer to your second question is because they are bored so they all respond to whatever happens. I guess i'd rather have more help than none at all.

 

[sciphi]

I heard of a verified incident where an older gentleman died a few days after such a "minor" fender-bender that resulted in a few scratches on the car that got hit. The other car had taken the brunt of the impact, and everybody was fine as of the time of the accident, signed all the forms saying everybody felt fine, no medical attention needed.

Basically the EMT's are there to make sure everybody's fine, as even a "minor" accident can have major impacts later on.

 

[MBS500]

I was rear ended ones several years ago. Minor hit, just 2 little scratches from bolts on his bumper. But to go box with food flew into windshield with quite good force.
So if person didn't wear seat belt and forehead meets windshield...

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
why minor wrecks have major injuries or why you end up with 50 police cars and tons of emt guys? The answer to your second question is because they are bored so they all respond to whatever happens. I guess i'd rather have more help than none at all.


Always plenty of things to respond to around here, I don't think this one was boredom. I have been in a few accidents as a passenger and driver, all of them with significant damage to the vehicles, but no injuries and have never had an ambulance or fire truck on scene (this accident had both), just the police.

 

[daves87rs]

Bad case of whiplash?

 

[user52165]

Maybe it was a lawyer in each car.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I was rear-ended long time ago in 2-3 years old '91 Accord by a big GM car, my car had to be towed to body shop. Luckily I had seat belt on so I only suffered minor bruise around the neck, and a little back pain for few days. The other driver had no insurance so I had to pay deductible.

 

[Spazdog]

OHMUHGERSH!!!! The plastic clips that hold the plastic bumper cover on have popped out from a minor collision. Call the fire dept!!! We have to have 3 of the 4 lanes on the freeway completely shut down!!!!

State law dictates that you must clear the roadway in a minor collision when your vehicle is still able to move. Firefighters completely disregard this state law regularly. They park their trucks at an angle across as many lanes as possible and block the freeway creating a hazard to all the other cars behind them and the traffic approaching them at freeway speed.

I have a lot of respect for firefighters. My oldest sister is one. But that respect ends when they block the freeway for a very minor collision. I've driven cars wrecked worse than some of the cars I've seen.

"...you don't understand the extent of the injuries that can occur from a collision like that."
Yeah, maybe you shouldn't be driving if a minor bump like that severly injures you. A big pothole or frostheave will paralyze you.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
OHMUHGERSH!!!! The plastic clips that hold the plastic bumper cover on have popped out from a minor collision. Call the fire dept!!! We have to have 3 of the 4 lanes on the freeway completely shut down!!!!

State law dictates that you must clear the roadway in a minor collision when your vehicle is still able to move. Firefighters completely disregard this state law regularly. They park their trucks at an angle across as many lanes as possible and block the freeway creating a hazard to all the other cars behind them and the traffic approaching them at freeway speed.

I have a lot of respect for firefighters. My oldest sister is one. But that respect ends when they block the freeway for a very minor collision. I've driven cars wrecked worse than some of the cars I've seen.

"...you don't understand the extent of the injuries that can occur from a collision like that."
Yeah, maybe you shouldn't be driving if a minor bump like that severly injures you. A big pothole or frostheave will paralyze you.


Haha, that's the truth.

I can relate to driving a vehicle that is "more wrecked" than the wrecked vehicles.

 

[NHGUY]

The human body doesnt need much force to cause all kinds of trauma.People have died from bloot clots and torn blood vessels after a minor crash.Steve Allen of 50s/60s TV fame died hours after a minor traffic collision,where he appeared to be fine.Also,with the low grade of most cars seats,a minor rear ender can break the seatback causing an increased chance of neck and back injuries.Seems only Volvo,Mercedes and I think Saab cars can take a rear end impact without the seatback winding up flat on the back seat cushion.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
More than once recently I have seen what appeared to be very minor wrecks where there appeared to be "severe" injuries, based on multiple EMTs treating one of the people involved. Seems kind of fishy.


You're basing your assumptions on no more evidence than that? You don't have a clue what might actually be wrong-the accident compounding existing medical issues, a driver or passenger not wearing seat belts and striking the windshield, a pregnant mother with pain from the seat belt could just be a few of the possible issues.

The problem is, as a casual observer you don't have a clue what may really be going on. Although I applaud you for getting some exercise by jumping to conclusions.

 

[bachman]

I've bounced around twice, first no seatbelt in 1980 or so getting tossed out of a CJ-5 when hit by a flashing red light runner. I was young and invincible thinking no seatbelts were needed in those days. Just about done me in too.
Second time was 1995- a dUI uninsured hitting me in my van at a high rate of speed with seat belt on. Just about did me in that day too.

I beat some odds both times by the good graces and have a bit more respect for the vehicles that get good crash ratings. It's what I look at for any of my family members when considering cars, side curtain air bags etc...

btw... first post greetings to all !

~brian

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
The problem is, as a casual observer you don't have a clue what may really be going on. Although I applaud you for getting some exercise by jumping to conclusions.

 

[chiks]

Well, insurance doesnt quite pay for the depreciation of the vehicle due to the accident. I had one fender repaint accident and when i went to sell it, the value was less by $2500.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
More than once recently I have seen what appeared to be very minor wrecks where there appeared to be "severe" injuries, based on multiple EMTs treating one of the people involved. Seems kind of fishy.


You're basing your assumptions on no more evidence than that? You don't have a clue what might actually be wrong-the accident compounding existing medical issues, a driver or passenger not wearing seat belts and striking the windshield, a pregnant mother with pain from the seat belt could just be a few of the possible issues.

The problem is, as a casual observer you don't have a clue what may really be going on. Although I applaud you for getting some exercise by jumping to conclusions.


So....contrary to the law, we should just leave vehicles that are cosmetically damaged but still operable in the roadway creating a greater hazard to the motorists behind the accident because someone may be "injured" from a very minor collision? Not to mention all the first responders walking about in traffic dodging the other first responders coming to close the freeway down.

Maybe we are not moving the vehicles until "CSI" arrives so they can dust for prints, take 3D pictures, measure skidmarks, analyze the air in the vehicle...etc.... Get Lt Horatio on the phone! I solved the case. Car B was following too close and/or not paying attention to car A and bumped into him. The End.

So you are okay with endangering countless lives because some fool bumped into someone else? MOVE THE CARS TO A SAFE LOCATION AND GET THE [heck] OFF THE FREEWAY!

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
More than once recently I have seen what appeared to be very minor wrecks where there appeared to be "severe" injuries, based on multiple EMTs treating one of the people involved. Seems kind of fishy.


You're basing your assumptions on no more evidence than that? You don't have a clue what might actually be wrong-the accident compounding existing medical issues, a driver or passenger not wearing seat belts and striking the windshield, a pregnant mother with pain from the seat belt could just be a few of the possible issues.

The problem is, as a casual observer you don't have a clue what may really be going on. Although I applaud you for getting some exercise by jumping to conclusions.


I have been in enough wrecks to know that a cracked bumper cover isn't a bad wreck. There wasn't any metal damage and the cover wasn't even out of place. This was probably a 5-10 MPH wreck if that. I have seen people do more damage by bumping a parking lot barrier. If they were so severely injured in such a low speed accident to require shutting down a road and bringing out the fire department and two ambulances, they didn't need to be driving in the first place, period. That makes them a hazard to everyone else on the road.

 

[morepwr]

The accident could have also been caused by a medical condition that happened while driving such as a seizure, heart attack, etc.

 

[DrDusty86]

I was rear ended by an f150 while in my Escort. cracked the bumper cover and pushed my car about 6". I ended up with shoulder injuries that continue to this day. Those that think injuries CAN'T happen in minor wrecks are IDIOTS. I have trouble sleeping with the pain that lady caused me. The hospital here is WAAY to incompetent to perform the surgery. [censored], they rescheduled 4 times in 2 days, Left a $2100 check in a desk drawer for 2 days, the doctor wouldn't even call me back.. I HAAATE this place.

 

[azjake]

Here's the problem. When you crash your internal organs take the brunt of the sudden stop and that includes your brain. That's why someone with no cuts, bruises or other visible injuries can die from internal or brain injuries.
Even a low speed crash can do a lot of internal damage.