Whiplash & Soft-Tissue Injury
Metairie & New Orleans Whiplash & Soft-Tissue Injury Lawyer
The crash looked minor. So why does the insurance company get to decide whether your pain is real?
The bumper's barely dented, the other driver shrugged it off, and at the scene you felt okay. Then the next morning your neck won't turn, your back aches, and a headache sets in that won't quit. Now an adjuster is on the phone calling it a "low-impact" accident and acting like your pain doesn't count.
It's real. Whiplash and soft-tissue injuries are among the most common injuries in any car accident — and among the most aggressively dismissed by insurance companies. At Bono Law Firm, we've helped injured Louisianans since 1980, and you talk directly with an attorney named Bono — John or Michael — not a case manager, and you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
Some firms are built for volume. Bono Law Firm is built for personal attention.
When a "minor" crash isn't minor
The size of the dent doesn't tell you the size of the injury. A low-speed rear-end collision, a fender bender at a light, or a parking-lot tap can still snap your head forward and back hard enough to strain the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your neck and spine. That's whiplash — and the symptoms often don't show up until hours or even days later, once the swelling sets in.
That delay is exactly what insurers use against you. If you told the other driver "I'm fine," skipped the doctor, or waited a few days to get checked, they'll point to it as proof you weren't hurt. You weren't lying — you just didn't feel it yet. That's how these injuries work.
Why insurance companies downplay these injuries
Insurance companies have a playbook for low-impact crashes. Because whiplash and soft-tissue injuries don't always appear on a basic X-ray, they argue the injury is exaggerated, pre-existing, or simply not serious enough to pay for. Some carriers run entire programs built around minimizing these exact claims — betting that if they call your crash "minor" often enough, you'll accept a quick, low offer or give up.
A "minor" label is a negotiating tactic, not a medical finding. These injuries can mean weeks or months of pain, physical therapy, and missed work — and sometimes lasting damage. Pushing back on that script is hard to do when your case is handed to a call center. We do it ourselves.
Common whiplash and soft-tissue injuries we handle
- Whiplash — neck pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion
- Neck and shoulder strain, muscle spasms, and tension
- Back pain and soft-tissue injuries along the spine
- Headaches and dizziness that begin after the crash
- Tingling or numbness radiating into the arms or hands
- Pain that appears or worsens days later
If your injury turns out to be more serious — a herniated disc, nerve damage, or a head injury — those need a different level of proof, and we handle those too. See our Brain, Neck & Back Injury page.
What to do after a "minor" accident
- Get checked by a doctor, even if you feel okay. Neck and back injuries surface late, and a gap in treatment is the first thing an insurer attacks.
- Tell the doctor about every symptom, even small ones — it builds the record your claim depends on.
- Photograph everything — both vehicles, the scene, and any visible injury — even if the damage looks small.
- Don't give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer. Those calls are designed to get you to minimize your own injury.
- Don't accept a fast settlement before you know whether you've fully healed. Once you sign, you can't reopen it.
- Call us for a free consultation.
Not sure you even have a case?
That's exactly when to call. We'll tell you the truth.
Call us, tell us what happened, and we'll give you an honest answer — for free. If you have a claim worth pursuing, we'll explain it in plain terms. If you don't, we'll tell you that too, and point you in the right direction. No pressure, no hard sell — just a straight answer from an attorney whose name is on the door.
Free Consultation — Call (504) 835-9909Direct attorney access · No fee unless we recover · Se Habla Español
Common questions
Whiplash & minor-crash injury FAQ
Can a low-speed crash or fender bender really cause whiplash?
Yes. Whiplash is caused by the sudden back-and-forth motion of your head, not by the amount of damage to your car. Low-speed rear-end crashes are one of the most common causes.
I felt fine at the scene — can I still have a claim?
Yes. Whiplash and soft-tissue symptoms often appear hours or days later as swelling develops. Feeling okay at first doesn't mean you weren't injured, and it doesn't bar your claim. Get checked promptly so there's a medical record.
There's barely any damage to my car. Does that mean my injury doesn't count?
No. Insurers argue that low damage means low injury, but the human body and a steel bumper absorb force differently. Minor vehicle damage and a real injury regularly go together.
Do I even need a lawyer for a minor accident?
Sometimes not — and we'll tell you honestly if you don't. But if you're hurt, an adjuster is pressuring you, or you've been offered a quick settlement, a free call before you sign anything can protect you from giving up more than you realize.
The insurance company already offered me money. Should I take it?
Talk to a lawyer first. Early offers often come before you know the full extent of your injury, and once you accept, you usually can't reopen the claim if your symptoms get worse.
Should I give the insurance company a recorded statement?
Not before speaking with a lawyer. Those statements are designed to get you to say something — like "I feel fine" — that's later used to reduce or deny your claim.
Hurt in a minor crash but still in pain? Don't let the insurance company decide whether your injury matters.
Direct attorney access · No fee unless we recover · Se Habla Español