A squirrel crosses the road in front of you — and naturally, you stop. Unfortunately, a lead-footed, tail-gating motorist slams into you from behind. While the squirrel is unscathed, the rear end of your vehicle is heavily damaged and your neck and shoulder are killing you.

According to data from the National Transportation Safety Board there are roughly 1.7 million rear-end collisions in the U.S. every year that kill 1,700 people and injury another 500,000. There is also a good chance that your neighbor is a man. A NHTSA study found that men are 1.2 times more likely to be involved in a rear-end collision than women.

How much does it cost to repair rear end damage?

It’s almost impossible to put a price range on this kind of damage. Rear bumper replacement costs can range from a few hundred dollars for a bumper up to $10,000 or more if the frame of your car is bent.

Auto insurance coverage:

In this case, you’re not at fault so your fellow motorist’s insurance, assuming he’s covered, should pay for the damage to your car as well as any injuries you suffer.

• Damage to your car: The damage to your vehicle would fall under the property damage portion of your neighbor’s liability policy. While most industry experts recommend carrying $50,000 in property damage, not everyone follows that advice.

If your fellow motorist is only carrying the required state minimums, you may end up on the hook for the costs to repair your car. Minimums vary by state but in California, for example, the requirement is a mere $5,000, which will most likely not get your car back on the road.

If your fellow motorist is completely uninsured, or is carrying low coverage levels, your own collision coverage (assuming you have it) will cover the cost to repair or replace your vehicle.

If you failed to add collision coverage to your policy (we highly recommend you carry collision) your last chance to avoid a big out of pocket expense is a uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage policy. This coverage kicks in to repair or replace your vehicle if the person who hit you is uninsured or not carrying enough coverage to fix your car.

• Your injuries: As far as your neck, whiplash is one of the most common injuries in a rear-end accident. There are roughly three million new whiplash cases every year in the United States and 35{13d7965b58a36365bcc4505fa6a85d83e4dcd886fb7c2602a4511678532c2841} to 50{13d7965b58a36365bcc4505fa6a85d83e4dcd886fb7c2602a4511678532c2841} of whiplash victims suffer long term pain and 14{13d7965b58a36365bcc4505fa6a85d83e4dcd886fb7c2602a4511678532c2841} become disabled. Research shows that 45{13d7965b58a36365bcc4505fa6a85d83e4dcd886fb7c2602a4511678532c2841} of all people suffering from chronic neck pain can attribute it to a motor vehicle crash injury.

According to Alllaw, settlement for a mild to moderate case is between $2,500 and $10,000. This jumps up to $30,000 for more serious cases that involve months of physical therapy and if there is soft tissue damage of the vertebrae you could be looking at over $100,000.

Auto body repairs are just one reason why it’s important to have sufficient car insurance. Compare auto insurance quotes to be sure you have all the coverage you need at the lowest possible price.

Should you make a claim?

In this particular situation, the other driver’s insurance should pay for both the damage to your car and your body. If they’re uninsured, you may have to turn to your own policy, assuming you are carrying uninsured/underinsured coverage.

You will need to carry uninsured/underinsured bodily injury and property damage if you want your medical bills paid for and your car repaired. If you declined these coverages and the person that hit you is uninsured, you may be on the hook for the damages, or headed to court if you end up suing the other driver.

It’s important to remember that if you are carrying health insurance that should cover the cost of your hospital bills, depending on your policy.

As one last reminder, if it’s a simple repair like a dented bumper or even a bumper that needs to be replaced, consider paying for it out of pocket and saving your insurance for a major claim.