Types of Car Accident Injuries

Car accident injuries can leave you with mounting medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about your future. Whether you are dealing with injuries that did not manifest immediately or struggling with the aftermath of a serious car crash, you don’t have to face it alone. A car accident attorney can review your case and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Head Injuries

Head injuries are among the most serious personal injuries suffered in auto accidents. Drivers and passengers involved in high-speed motor vehicle accidents can strike their heads against steering wheels, dashboards, or windows. These impacts can cause:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Mild concussions
• Comas
• Lasting cognitive problems

Head injuries can also lead to facial injuries, hearing loss, and vision problems. In severe cases, disfigurement may occur. It’s not uncommon for an injured person to require extensive medical treatment and incur significant medical expenses.

Neck Injuries

One of the most well-known car accident injuries is whiplash. The sudden movement of the head and neck, such as from the force generated by a rear-end collision, can cause neck muscle and ligament damage for accident victims. Generalized neck pain and swelling are common in whiplash incidents. It is important to note that whiplash injuries can occur even when seatbelts are properly worn.

Spine and Back Injuries

Back pain and back injuries are also common types of car accident injuries. Any damage to the spinal cord can cause significant nerve damage. Motorists may experience reduced sensation and control in their arms, hands, legs, feet, and other body parts. There are also cases when severe fractures in the vertebrae leave patients paralyzed. Dislocation of spinal joints can cause immediate and chronic pain.

Another common spinal and back injury is a herniated disc. Patients with a herniated disc often experience:

• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Muscle weakness
• Arm or leg pain

These injuries may require surgery and extensive physical therapy, both of which can be expensive.

Chest Injuries

Chest injuries represent some of the most dangerous consequences of automobile accidents. The blunt force trauma from vehicle collisions can cause broken ribs and collapsed lungs. Passengers with pre-existing heart conditions may suffer sudden cardiac arrest. Internal bleeding is another serious concern. Damage to internal organs, the pelvis, and the abdomen can also occur. All of these injuries require immediate medical attention.

Knee and Leg Injuries

Knee injuries are common in head-on collisions, particularly when the driver’s or passengers’ knees hit the dashboard. This type of injury is also known as “dashboard knee injury.” It could result in months or even years of medical treatment. Some types of knee injuries are:

• Torn ligaments
• Fractured kneecaps
• Dislocated joints
• Severe bruising and swelling

Leg injuries also include broken bones, such as the femur. These types of fractures often require extensive rehabilitation and could result in limitations in mobility. These injuries range from minor scrapes to severe physical injury that requires surgical intervention or amputation.

Arms and Hand Injuries

Injuries to the upper extremities are fairly common. If an occupant instinctively reaches for a surface to brace themselves during a car crash, the sudden and strong force could cause various injuries in the upper extremities. These include:

• Broken wrists and forearms
• Broken hands and fingers
• Dislocated shoulders
• Nerve damage that affects grip strength
• Scrapes and cuts from broken glass and other debris

Like other injuries, hand and arm issues can affect your day-to-day life.

Severe Trauma and Amputations

In high-speed car crashes or in accidents that involve motorcyclists or heavy machinery, victims sometimes suffer severe injuries, including:

• Amputation of fingers, hands, arms, or legs
• Severe burns
• Extensive soft tissue damage

Severe injuries often require multiple surgeries and long-term rehabilitation. Crash injuries to the extremities also often result in long-term disability. It can cause substantial economic costs even in cases when they are not life-threatening. Amputations may necessitate prosthetic devices and long-term rehabilitation. The person’s physical and emotional recovery could also take years, affecting their quality of life and ability to work.

Injuries Related to Vehicle Safety Systems

Modern cars are equipped with airbags and seatbelts. An airbag system operates through crash sensors. The goal is to cushion the vehicle occupants from a severe impact against the car’s interior. This is especially true for those in the front seat. For instance, the airbag mounted in the steering wheel protects the driver against impacts to their face and chest against the steering column.

If your airbags don’t function as they should, you can end up with serious injuries. Some of the ways in which your airbags may be defective include:

• Airbags don’t deploy upon impact
• Your airbags deploy at random times
• The sensor on your car deploys the airbag too aggressively
• One airbag works while the other doesn’t
• Faulty wiring
• Explosions upon impact

Seat belts, also known as safety belts, operate on a simple yet effective principle. By distributing the force from a car crash across the more durable parts of your body (lap and shoulder), seat belts reduce the effects of momentum changes. This reduces the risk of fatal injuries and minimizes impact on sensitive areas like the head and internal organs.

Common Airbag Injuries

The following injuries can result from defective airbags:

• Abrasions, often on the face and arms
• Facial injuries or other broken bones
• Eye injuries
• Whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Chemical burns
• Abrasions and contusions
• Lung damage

Any of these injuries can prove to be serious or life-threatening. If you were involved in a car crash and your airbags didn’t work, contacting a personal injury attorney is a good idea.

Common Seat Belt Injuries

Possible injuries from seat belts include:

• Abrasions and Lacerations: Often caused by the rapid tightening of the seat belt during a car accident
• Internal Injuries: Due to the pressure of the seat belt during a collision, these can cause Internal bleeding or organ damage that might not be immediately apparent
• Spinal Cord Injuries and Shoulder Injuries: These come from the shoulder belt or shoulder strap, which can exert considerable force
• Sternal and Chest Injuries: Caused by the forward motion against the seat belt
• Whiplash: Occurs in motor vehicle accidents even when seat belts are used and is common in rear-end collisions
• Lap Belt Injuries: Incorrect seat belt positioning can result in abdominal injuries in children not in car seats
• Head Injuries: Despite the restraint provided by seat belts, sudden stops or collisions can still cause the head to jolt forward, hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or airbag upon deployment

Parents should be cautious about ensuring their children wear seatbelts and use the right kind of restraint, like a car seat, adjusted to their age and size. Doing so can help protect children from car accident injuries.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering are other critical aspects of car accident injuries. This refers to physical and emotional distress as a result of the injuries sustained in a car accident. Pain and suffering can include ongoing pain, discomfort, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life.

Pain and suffering can manifest as:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Changes in appetite
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Relationship problems

These emotional and psychological effects can last for months or even years following an accident. Since people frequently travel with friends and family, serious crashes can create lasting trauma not only for those directly injured but also for witnesses to the event. In severe cases, professional counseling may be necessary to address post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological impacts.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists involved in vehicle crashes can suffer more severe injuries than those in cars. These can include broken bones, dislocation, ligament damage — such as a torn ACL — and even severed limbs. The fatality rate for motorcyclists is significantly higher than that for drivers and passengers in cars.

Damages Available for a Personal Injury Claim

Compensation from a personal injury case can help offset the financial toll these incidents carry. Types of damages available include:

• Current medical bills: These encompass all costs related to treating your injuries, such as hospitalization, surgeries, medications, and other treatments
• Future medical expenses: Injuries from a car accident can lead to long-term or permanent disabilities that require ongoing medical care, therapy, and rehabilitation
• Lost wages: Compensation for the income lost while the injured party recuperates
• Lost future earnings: If your injuries prevent you from returning to work or limit your capacity to earn at the same level as before the accident
• Pain and suffering: This is a non-economic damage that aims to compensate for the physical pain and emotional distress experienced due to a car accident
• Loss of consortium: Injuries can impact your relationship with your spouse or family, making you eligible for damages for loss of companionship and affection
• Property damage: This covers the cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the accident
• Punitive damages: In cases where a defect, such as an airbag malfunction, was due to egregious negligence, the court might award punitive damages

Wrongful Death

You may be able to file a wrongful death claim if a loved one dies due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional act of another person on the roadway. A wrongful death claim can compensate you or the deceased’s other surviving family members for your losses, such as medical expenses, funeral costs, loss of companionship, and loss of future earnings. Here’s what you need to know:

• Who can file: In most cases, immediate family members can file. This includes spouses, children, or parents of unmarried children. Distant family members, life partners, or financial dependents might also be eligible.
• Against whom: Potential defendants in a wrongful death claim can range from the car manufacturer to an auto servicer who may have mishandled the vehicle. Another at-fault driver could also be liable if their negligence led to the accident.
• Evidence requirements: Plaintiffs must prove that the defendant’s negligence or misconduct caused the death. This must be supported by facts and evidence.
• Compensation: Compensation in wrongful death claims can cover economic losses, such as funeral expenses, medical bills, and the deceased’s future earnings. It can also cover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or loss of consortium.

Consult with a wrongful death attorney experienced in car accident cases to learn how you could be compensated.

Recovering Compensation for Accident Injuries

To receive compensation for your injuries, take the following steps:

1. Report the accident: Notify your auto insurance company about the accident. An insurance adjuster will guide you through the process of filing a claim.
2. Gather evidence: Collect all relevant information and documentation. This includes photos of the accident scene, police reports, medical records, and witness statements.
3. Keep track of expenses: You’ll need receipts and other proof of what the accident has cost you. Keep records of all medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs associated with your injuries.
4. Speak with a car accident lawyer: If you have trouble receiving compensation or if the insurance company is disputing your claim, speak with a car accident attorney. A personal injury lawyer can file a personal injury claim and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

Seek Legal Advice From a Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents are a leading cause of injuries worldwide. During the first nine months of 2022 alone, 31,785 people perished in traffic crashes. Crashes are also costly. In 2019, they cost U.S. taxpayers $30 billion, which comes to roughly $230 in added taxes for every American household annually.

If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, consider speaking with an experienced car accident attorney about your claim. An attorney can evaluate your car accident case and help you understand if you are owed money.