As a Louisiana car accident lawyer, I can confidently say, the short answer is NO!
The medical literature shows that there is no direct correlation between the amount of property damage in an accident and the type and severity of injuries received.
A person in a minor fender bender with less than $500 damage can sustain severe injuries, and a person in a significant collision where multiple vehicles are “totaled” can walk away with no injury.
Everyone has different injury tolerances.
Two people who experience the same accident can have different injuries - this is because everyone — biologically speaking — is built differently. Some people may have a genetic tendency to be more predisposed to certain types of injuries. For example, women tend to sustain different types of injuries than men.
Also, the fitness level and age of an individual can have a lot to do with the type and severity of injury received in an accident. As such, factors like wear and tear on the body and the actual individual’s injury tolerance, which is genetic, bears no relationship to the amount of property damage in an auto case.
However, you need to be aware that many people including jurors are often biased towards the opinion that there is little to no vehicle damage must mean that there is little to no personal injury.
If you were injured in an accident with minimal vehicle damage, you will likely need a skilled Metairie car accident lawyer knowledgeable about defenses to this argument to effectively recover for your injuries.
If you have questions about your personal injury claim, give us a call now at 985-240-9773 or fill out our contact form.