18 Most Common Injuries That Might Arise From an Automobile Collision

Use our extensive search to find real lawsuits with listed injuries. Investigate what you could expect to gain in settlement for those injuries and conditions.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

The neck frequently jerks forward when the head strikes something in a car collision, including a side window, the steering wheel, or the dashboard. TBI is a harm to the brain cells caused by a jolt. Traumatic brain injuries that are relatively minor in nature can sometimes be treated at home.

TBI can cause long-lasting repercussions, such as damage to the brain, and is sometimes harder to diagnose than, for instance, a broken bone. 

Concussion

It is also described as a minor brain damage. Even a minor brain injury, though, needs medical attention. 

Spinal cord injuries

Some common injuries from a car accident are spinal cord injuries. There may be some sensation below the damage site if the injury is incomplete, or there may be no sensation at all if the injury is complete.

Although it might seem that you would notice spinal cord injuries right once, this is typically not the case. Depending on the cause, paralysis may start suddenly or develop gradually. Go to the hospital as soon as possible after the accident if there is a spinal injury to seek medical attention.

Herniated Disk

This is a feature of a spinal injury. There are 24 discs in the spine which are basically shock absorbing cushions present between vertebrae. These discs may shift or bulge outward due to an accident, which could cause excruciating pain and create significant complications.

Facial injuries

A number of facial injuries can occur in a car accident.Here are some instances of face injuries:

  • scarring
  • bleeding
  • bruising
  • broken bones 
  • eye injury

Broken or bruised ribs

Rib injuries are prevalent in automobile collisions. This harm might range from small bruises to serious fractured bones. Rib fractures can also harm internal organs or blood vessels, even though they normally heal on their own. Seek medical care if chest pain or discomfort is observed after an accident.

Whiplash

The most common car accident injuries include whiplash, which can happen in minor or catastrophic accidents, especially in backside impacts where the effect is unexpected. When another car hits you, the force of the impact causes your head to jolt backward. The muscles and tendons in the neck and upper back are strained by the sudden forward and backward movement. Following an accident, you can have headaches, neck discomfort, blurred vision, tingling, generalized back or neck pain, or headaches.

Heart attack

Stress from a car collision may cause a heart attack. Heart attacks, however, might not be as noticeable after an accident as other ailments. Inform the on-site medical professionals or law enforcement officials right away if you believe you could be having a heart attack.

Soft tissue injuries

Injuries like sprains and strains are comparable to those brought on by auto accidents. When the two bones of a joint, such as the knee or elbow, come together, a sprain happens. A strain occurs on the muscle or the connective tissue between the muscle and the bone. Despite the fact that sprains and strains are often less serious than other injuries, they should not be disregarded or taken for granted.

Broken bones

Accidents involving engines in vehicles are a major cause of shattered bones, especially appendages. Some shattered bones will be easy to see, but not all of them. You might not notice that you have fractured a bone until you have left the accident scene. The best results, like with everything else on this list, will come from quick medical attention.

Dislocated joints

When two bones that connect at a joint break apart, it is known as a joint dislocation. This injury usually manifests itself right away, but in the confusion that follows an accident, it could be missed. Even though the joint doesn’t seem to be hurt, pain there could mean a dislocation.

Loss of limbs

Victims of serious accidents may lose limbs as a consequence of the trauma they experienced at the scene of the accident or as a result of problems that developed later. If you lose a limb at the scene of an accident, it is a significant injury that requires rapid medical care. As soon as you can, let any on-site medical or law enforcement personnel know about your injury.

Penetrating injuries

These wounds develop when an unidentified object enters the body. When loose items or car parts are tossed around during an impact in a car accident, this can occur. If a doctor hasn’t told you to, don’t remove the thing that poked you. Penetrating wounds may prevent on-site evaluation; instead, you may need to be transferred to the hospital for additional testing.

Organ damage

Organ damage can result from blunt force injuries or puncture wounds. Any organ can be harmed, but the spleen, liver, and small intestine are some of the ones that are usually afflicted. Days or weeks following the event, internal bleeding brought on by organ injury can result in blood clots.

PTSD

Damage is not necessarily tangible. There are situations when emotional scars result from accidents. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a very real possibility to develop following any traumatic incident, including a vehicle accident. PTSD can strike anyone at any time; it doesn’t signify fragility or a lack of fortitude. Instead, it’s a medical issue that may require care.

PTSD can be difficult to identify because it often doesn’t have any physical signs and usually appears after the original injury. If you are exhibiting symptoms of PTSD, please get help as soon as you can.

Burns

Burns from the airbag’s activation device could develop after it deploys. As it keeps you in position, the seatbelt could result in friction burns as well. If you have any consumes, you should seek out surefire medical advice and treatment.

Lacerations

Seat Belts keep you in place, windscreens break, and harsh or sharp edges can strike you from either inside or outside the car. Airbags deploy. From tiny scrapes and cuts to severe wounds and so-called “degloving” injuries, when the skin is pulled off and the underlying tissue is exposed, lacerations can vary in severity. Such injuries frequently require surgical intervention and may require a protracted healing procedure. Scars and reduced function are common side effects, which act as permanent reminders of the tragedy.

Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding is usually linked to fractures in auto accidents and can be a sign of significant injury. If internal bleeding is not addressed, even for a short while, it can lead to the loss of limbs, essential organs, or even death. If you or someone you know has internal harm, call the emergency services right once.

Hopefully this article gives you more clarity on the most typical car accident injuries that you should be aware of. If you have any questions regarding your injuries and what you can do, please schedule a free call with our experts to see how we can help you.