Your Car Accident Injury Guide: Common Types of Injuries to Look Out for

Each year in the U.S., 2.5 million people are seriously injured or permanently disabled due to car accidents, and tens of thousands sustain fatal injuries. 

Injuries from car accidents range from minor ones like bumps and bruises to more severe injuries like traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. It can take hours to days or even weeks to develop physical symptoms after a car accident injury.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it’s important to seek medical attention to determine the extent of your injuries. Here’s a look at some common car accident injuries.

Soft Tissue Injury 

A car accident can damage the soft tissue anywhere on the body. Most often, these injuries occur in the neck, shoulder, groin, or thigh.

Soft tissue damage occurs due to stress or tearing in the ligaments, tendons, or muscles. A sprain is a tear in a ligament or muscle while a strain is a tear in a tendon.

Neck Injury or Whiplash

Neck injuries are common after automobile accidents, especially rear-end collisions. Neck pain can signify a whiplash injury.

Whiplash may occur when the neck is forced forward, backward, or side-to-side. These quick actions can damage soft tissues, joints, and bones.

The symptoms of whiplash may not appear right away. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, seek medical attention right away.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Car accidents are a leading cause of head injuries, including mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). The sudden movement from an accident can move the brain violently inside the skull.

This sudden movement can damage brain cells and tissue. A concussion is a type of TBI and may cause a momentary loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of mild TBI may include:

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and are experiencing signs of TBI, seek medical attention right away.

Lacerations, Bruises, and Burns

The trauma from a car accident can burn, slice, or damage the skin. Abrasions are common and occur when the superficial layer of skin is scraped away.

Broken glass or other projectiles during a car accident may lead to lacerations or wounds on the skin. Burns commonly occur when components of a vehicle catch fire following a crash.

Back Injuries

The human spine isn’t designed to sustain heavy impact. The trauma from a car accident can lead to serious back injuries.

These types of injuries may not be noticeable in the moments following a crash. It could be hours, days, or even weeks before the true extent of your injury is noticeable. 

The pain and disability from a serious back injury can be devastating and long-lasting. Car accidents may cause spinal cord damage which can result in ongoing pain, mobility problems, reduced range of motion, nervous system problems, disability, or paralysis.

Internal Injuries

A car accident can lead to internal damage to the body that’s not immediately noticeable. Internal bleeding is dangerous, especially if you don’t seek treatment right away.

Some internal organs do not sense pain right away. The signs of internal bleeding may not be noticeable until the situation is critical.

If you’re involved in a car accident, it’s advisable to seek medical attention to assess for internal injuries.

Fractures and Broken Bones

The trauma of a car accident often leads to broken bones. Broken wrists, arms, ribs, legs, and ankles are common car accident injuries.

These types of injuries can range from simple breaks that require a cast to severe breaks or compound fractures that require surgery to repair.

Facial Injury and Scars

Facial injuries from a car accident are often the result of broken glass flying during a crash. A sudden impact from a steering wheel, dashboard, side window, airbag, or any hard surface can lead to facial injuries.

These injuries can lead to disfigurement and may require surgical intervention. Facial injuries can be devastating and often leave lasting scars.

Limb Loss or Amputation

Car crashes can lead to penetrating injuries and severe damage to appendages. A crash victim may experience a severed finger, toe, arm, or leg.

The damage may be severe enough to require surgical amputation. These types of injuries can be devastating and lead to permanent disabling effects for the victim. 

Knee and Joint Damage

The knee is a complex joint of the body and very vulnerable to impact from a car accident. Knee and joint damage are common car accident injuries.

Elbows, shoulders, ankles, and wrists are at risk as well. Knee and joint damage can make daily living and working difficult. 

Emotional Injury

As human beings, our emotional health is tied to our physical health. People who experience a serious car accident often experience emotional injury as well as physical injury. 

Emotional distress, including fear, anxiety, depression, or PTSD can result due to the trauma of an accident. Emotional issues can affect every area of your life, including your physical health, job performance, and personal life.

Contact a Lawyer After a Car Accident Injury

Car accidents are traumatic and can lead to serious injury to the body. The shock of an accident can dampen the symptoms of a car accident injury. It’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you’ve experienced a serious injury from a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, it’s a good idea to contact a personal injury lawyer right away.

At Sweet Law, we know how hard it is to get your life back on track following a car accident injury. We’re here to help. We work diligently each day to get the maximum compensation possible for accident victims.

We’d love to talk with you about your case to see how we can assist you. Contact us today for a 100% free case evaluation.