Slow Speed Impacts Still Cause Damage!!

Surprise! I know, this must have caught everyone off guard. You can cause damage in a 3mph collision. How much damage? Over $4,500 on a Lexus IS and over $5,200 on an Infiniti G35. A Volkswagen Passat had over $4,500 in damage, as did the Pontiac G6 (did anyone ever buy a G6?), and the Nissan Maxima.

The interesting part is that this study came from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an auto insurance industry sponsored group. Their study, reported in the LA Times, shows that cars are sustaining more than just bumper damage in 3 mph collisions. Grills, hoods and fenders are also sustaining damage.

You can now use this study to cross-examine defense "experts." These experts opine about the force of impact and speed of the vehicles based solely on the amount of damage. Well, if an Infiniti sustaines $5,200 in a 6 mph collision, how fast was the collision if there is $2,500 in damage? Slower? Faster? You don't know because there are many more factors that come in to play.

Two other points to keep in mind: Most cars do not have steel reinforced bumpers like they did 10 years ago. And with more cars, the bumper is being designed into the body of the vehicle so there is no bumper.

In your next MIST case, make sure you ask the defense expert about this report. My guess: he has never heard of it!