"Fender benders" are auto collisions that do not cause major damage to either vehicle, but they can result in significant harm to your body.

A "fender bender" is an auto collision that does not cause major damage to either vehicle and generally does not cause serious injuries to a person in either car. Sometimes, however, a fender bender does result in significant harm.

Swelling and bruises from a collision may not be visible right away. Signs of whiplash often show up hours or days following a collision. Even if you felt fine immediately following the crash, in the days afterward, you may have experienced severe pain, or you may have discovered that your range of motion was limited. According to the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, even light crashes can lead to fatalities. If you were in the car that was struck and you were pregnant at the time, you may have experienced complications later.

We can discuss the specific circumstances that apply to your case and advise you on how to proceed. We have represented clients who were injured in car collisions for more than 20 years. We may file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

WHO IS LIABLE FOR A FENDER BENDER? Figuring out who is responsible for an auto collision is often not as simple as many people would expect. In a parking lot, for instance, vehicles typically travel in multiple directions and turn from lane to lane as drivers search for an empty space or try to make their way out of the parking lot. Cars may be turning, pulling into spaces, and backing out, all at the same time.

In a fender bender involving one vehicle that is moving and another that is parked or stopped at a stop sign, the driver of the moving vehicle is usually liable for the collision. That may not be the case if a car is parked illegally.

Vehicles that are traveling in thoroughfare lanes to enter or leave a parking lot usually have the right-of-way, and drivers approaching thoroughfare lanes must yield the right-of-way. That does not apply if a “stop” or “yield” sign is present in a thoroughfare lane. A driver who ignores a sign when another person has the right-of-way may be found liable for a collision.

A driver who backs or pulls out of a parking space must yield the right-of-way to other vehicles that are traveling in the lane. Limited visibility can make it difficult for a driver who is exiting a parking space to see other vehicles, but that individual may still be held liable for a resulting fender bender.

In a fender bender involving three vehicles that collide in a chain reaction, one driver may be found liable for the entire sequence of events. If the first driver hits the brakes to avoid a hazard or to make a turn, and the driver behind that vehicle slows down appropriately, but the third driver is not paying attention and rear-ends the second vehicle, which then rear-ends the first vehicle, the driver in the third car may be found liable for damage to all three vehicles.

WE CAN HELP. Even in a minor collision, figuring out who is liable may be complicated. In many cases, particularly those involving collisions in parking lots, it is not clear who has the right-of-way.

Some drivers do not understand the rules related to driving in a parking lot. Instead, people often focus on snagging an empty space or getting out of the parking lot as quickly as possible so they can get home. That can lead to aggressive driving and collisions in which both parties point the finger at each other.

We will interview you and any witnesses who saw what happened. If a surveillance camera recorded the crash, that video may provide valuable evidence that can help us determine who was liable for the collision. If we find that the other driver was at fault, we may file a lawsuit against that individual to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

If you and the other driver share responsibility for the fender bender, you may still be able to recover a financial award. In many states, comparative negligence laws allow people who suffered personal injuries to obtain compensation, even if they were partly responsible for causing the accident.

WORK WITH A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER. If you were hurt in an auto collision, your injuries may still be serious. They may affect your ability to work and to care for your children. The medical bills may be causing your family to struggle to make ends meet. We can help you obtain compensation.

If you do not think you could afford to hire a lawyer, that should not be a concern. We work on a contingent fee basis. We advance upfront costs ourselves and only collect a fee if we obtain a financial award on behalf of a client.

Applicable statutes of limitations restrict the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. We can discuss the statute of limitations and explain how we may be able to help you. Call our office at 253.858.5434 so we can begin working on your case as soon as possible.