Should I Get A Lawyer For A Minor Car Accident? (Apr 2025)

Defining Minor Car Accidents

While a lawyer can be helpful after any type of wreck, understanding the difference between a minor and a major car accident can help you know what you can expect from the claims process in terms of settlements. Minor car accidents are typically low impact, with the vehicles involved usually traveling at low speeds. These accidents tend to only result in minor damage to your car.

In most cases, the injuries you sustain in minor accidents involve soft tissues, with whiplash being one of the most common. You may experience muscular tears and sprains, as well as bruising. These injuries don’t pose a risk to your life.

It is possible, however, for minor accidents to result in more serious injuries. This is especially true if you’re involved in a rear end collision because you can hit your head against the side of the vehicle or even your steering wheel if the airbag doesn’t deploy as it needs to.

Common Myths About Minor Car Accidents

If your first thought after a minor car accident is that you don't need an attorney, you’re not alone. However, the truth is that no matter how minor the accident, it’s wise to seek out a personal injury lawyer.

Personal injury lawyers only accept cases they believe they can win for you — and in the vast majority of cases, you pay nothing up front. Most car accident lawyers offer free consultations, so there’s no downside to running your case by an attorney.

Unfortunately, the belief that you don’t need a lawyer is only one of many misconceptions about minor car accidents. Here are some others to keep in mind:

Myth 1: I Don’t Need Compensation After a Minor Accident

Generally speaking, minor car accident settlement amounts are lesser than settlements for more serious car accidents. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t need compensation. It’s easy to walk away from a minor crash thinking you’re unhurt, but the adrenaline from the accident can mask symptoms.

For example, it’s not uncommon to suffer a ruptured (or herniated) spinal disc after a car accident. Even a rear-end accident at low speed can cause substantial damage. Some disc injuries heal with time, others benefit from physical therapy or steroid injections, and some even require surgery.

If you don’t report your accident or file a claim after it happens, it may prove to be difficult or impossible to get compensation to pay for the treatments you need.

Myth 2: I Don’t Need to Report Minor Accidents to the Police or Insurance

Depending on your state, you may be required to report even very minor accidents to the police. Even if you don’t think you’re legally required to, reporting is generally wise because you may not notice injuries or damage to your car at first.

If your car later suffers accident-related issues, you may not be able to file a claim against the other driver’s property damage liability coverage with no police report. Similarly, if you don’t report the accident to insurance, it may be extremely difficult to receive compensation later on.

Myth 3: I Should Just Accept the Insurance Company’s First Settlement Offer

It may be tempting to just accept what the at-fault driver’s insurer offers and walk away. Don’t do this! Insurers try to get accident victims to accept lowball settlements before they consult a lawyer. They know that, in many cases, a lawyer can secure more compensation.

Should I Get a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident? Reasons Why You Should

Although you’re not required to get a lawyer to file a claim after a car accident, the best way to protect your rights is to hire someone experienced to represent you. This is due to a number of reasons.

Your Injuries May Be More Serious Than They Seem

Your soft tissues are made up of an intricate system of nerves, ligaments and blood vessels, any of which could be damaged in a minor accident. Although it’s unlikely that you’ll experience broken bones during a low-impact accident, tearing a tendon or straining your neck muscles are both possible.

Suffering neck pain after car accidents is very common, but it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Some people develop chronic whiplash symptoms and can even have trouble with stiffness and ongoing pain.

If you notice bruising after a car accident, you might brush it off as nothing to worry about. Sometimes, though, bruising can point to internal bleeding. It doesn’t take a violent accident to cause part of the vehicle to hit an organ or an important blood vessel.

Having a lawyer by your side can help you file a claim that takes into consideration your future medical needs, like chiropractic care and rehabilitation, if you’ve suffered a more serious injury.

Proving Lost Income Is Complex

Such injuries can also keep you from going to work, which can result in lost wages. Demonstrating what your wages are and how much you should receive in compensation can be difficult, especially if you make a lot of your income from commissions or tips.

But with a lawyer helping you, you can seek fair compensation for the income you lost because of the accident.

Negotiating With Insurers Requires Experience

One of the most challenging aspects of filing a claim on your own is that you’ll likely have to deal with insurers. Their goal is to pay you as little as possible for what you’ve suffered, and there are many tactics they rely on to do so, including delaying the process so that you’ll accept a low offer just to be done with the negotiations.

Auto lawyers are familiar with all manner of negotiating tactics, and they won’t be pushed around by insurers. This means that they can be more likely to get you the fair settlement you deserve than if you try to go through the process alone. This is especially critical in complex cases like rideshare accidents, where multiple parties and insurers may be involved, as a rideshare lawyer can help navigate these unique legal challenges.

It May Be Necessary to Take the Case to Court

Sometimes, negotiations are ineffective, and the only way to get fair compensation is to take the case to court. When asking yourself, “Should I get a lawyer for a minor car accident?” you should also consider whether you have the legal knowledge to defend yourself in court.

Lawyers have the training and in-depth knowledge to effectively advocate for you if your case goes to court.

It Won’t Cost You Upfront Fees

A worry that could keep you from reaching out to a car accident lawyer is that you don’t want to add legal fees to other bills you may have. Personal injury lawyers work on contingency, however, which means that they don’t charge any upfront fees. They get paid when you do.

On top of that, most of them offer free consultations to help you get started.

Get the Compensation You Need With a Lawyer’s Help

No matter how minor you may think a car accident was, it’s important to hire a lawyer to protect your interests. Auto accidents can result in injuries you may not realize you’ve suffered and can mean ongoing medical expenses. You need to have someone fighting tirelessly to get you the compensation you need.

At ConsumerShield, we can put you in contact with trusted lawyers in your area who have stellar track records. We can also offer legal guidance to help you understand what your rights and options are. Contact us to get started today.