15 Common Car Crash Injuries (2024)

Car accidents can affect many types of people on the road, but injuries and deaths are more common in certain types of vehicles than others. According to the NHTSA:

• 35% of people killed and injured in vehicles were occupants of passenger cars
• 27% were occupants of light trucks
• 20% were pedestrians, pedal cyclists and other non-occupants
• 14% were motorcyclists
• 4% were occupants of large trucks or buses

Unfortunately, all types of vehicles could become involved in collisions that cause injury–especially if drivers behave negligently.

When drivers, passengers and pedestrians are involved in collisions, they could sustain many different kinds of car accident injuries. However, these injuries are broadly organized into two different categories:

• Impact injuries:These occur when a passenger strikes any component of the interior of the car or is thrown from the car and strikes the ground or other objects. For example, if a driver sustains a head injury when his head hits the side window, this would be an example of an impact injury.
• Penetrating injury: These occur when loose objects flying around the vehicle strike the passenger. An example would be a window shattering and cutting a collision victim

Both types of injuries can be severe, and it is important that all injuries are accurately diagnosed by a medical professional so they can be documented for victims who wish to pursue compensation for damages resulting from the crash.

Car Accident Deaths

Tragically, some motor vehicle accidents are fatal. When victims succumb to car accident injuries, surviving loved ones may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim to gain compensation. Typically, those who can sue for wrongful death after car accident injuries prove to be fatal include:

• A surviving spouse
• Surviving parents
• Representatives of the estate of the deceased

The compensation that could be available will include loss of the deceased’s wages, loss of companionship and support, funeral costs, medical expenses and pain and suffering.

Head and back injuries can be among the most severe and challenging to recover from. They include:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

TBI is an injury to brain cells that occurs when the brain is jolted. This injury can often happen in car accidents as the neck snaps forward on impact or the skull hits the side window, the steering wheel, or the dashboard. Some instances of TBI are relatively mild and can be treated at home. But, unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

TBI can have long-lasting effects (including brain damage), and it’s not always as easy to detect as, say, a broken bone. However, prompt treatment is essential to recovery.

Concussion

A concussion is a particular sort of traumatic brain injury. It is sometimes called a mild brain injury. However, even a mild brain injury needs medical attention. Make sure you get the care you need.

Spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injuries are also a reason for immediate medical attention. These injuries can be complete (meaning that there is no feeling below the area of the injury) or incomplete (meaning that there is some feeling below the site of injury).

It may seem as if you would notice spinal cord injuries immediately; however, that’s not always the case. Paralysis may happen right away, but it can also take some time to manifest. If there’s any chance of spinal injury, let the medical staff on-site know as soon as possible or go to the hospital directly after the accident.

Facial injuries

Car accidents can cause all sorts of different facial injuries. Facial injuries are often immediately noticeable, but not always. Some examples of facial injuries are:

• Scarring
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Broken bones
• Eye damage

Injuries to the neck and chest are also very common. The momentum of being thrown forward can cause bruising and other injuries from the seatbelt or impact with the steering wheel. Chest injuries (also called thoracic trauma) can cause significant damage and even death, so it’s essential to take them seriously.

Broken or bruised ribs

Ribs are often injured in car accidents. This injury can range from a mild bruise to broken bones. It’s not always possible to tell the extent of the damage immediately after the accident. Although broken ribs usually heal on their own, they can cause additional issues, including puncturing blood vessels or internal organs. Tell medical staff if you have chest pain so they can determine the cause.

Whiplash

Whiplash is very common during a car accident. It happens when the neck snaps backward or forward. The weight of the head causes a strain on the neck muscles. Although most people with whiplash recover within a few weeks, it can take months or longer for some people. You could also get whiplash because of a faulty airbag deployment.

Heart attack

The stress of a car accident can trigger a heart attack. However, heart attacks may not be as noticeable in the aftermath of an accident as some other injuries. Let medical staff or law enforcement on site know as soon as possible if you suspect you may be having a heart attack.

In addition, people over 65 (both drivers and passengers) may be more susceptible to heart attack and stroke in the weeks and months after a car collision. So it’s important to let your doctor know if you are feeling poorly, even days, weeks, or months after the accident.

Sprains and strains

Sprains and strains are similar injuries that often happen during car accidents. A sprain occurs between the two bones of a joint (such as the knee or the elbow). A strain occurs within the muscle or tissue that connects muscle to bone. Sprains and strains are often less severe than other injuries, but this doesn’t mean that they should be ignored or not taken seriously.

Bruising

Bruising may be the most common injury after car accidents. Many bruises heal on their own, but it’s possible to receive a bruise so severe that it threatens your health. If your chest is hit or punctured, it’s possible to bruise your heart, which can cause long-term damage.

Broken bones

Motor vehicle accidents are a significant cause of broken bones, including limbs. Although some broken bones will be apparent, others might not be. You might not discover that you’ve broken a bone until after you’ve left the scene of the accident. As with everything else on this list, prompt medical care will lead to the best results.

Dislocated joints

A dislocation occurs when the two bones that meet at a joint pull apart. This injury normally presents itself right away, but it can sometimes be overlooked in the chaos after an accident. Pain in a joint can indicate a dislocation, even if the joint does not appear to be damaged.

Loss of limbs

Severe accidents can cause a loss of limbs, either from the trauma at the scene of the accident or complications later on. If you’ve lost a limb at the scene of an accident, this is a significant injury that requires immediate medical attention. Make sure any medical or law enforcement staff on-site know about your injury as soon as possible.

Penetrating injuries

These injuries happen when a foreign object punctures the body. This can happen during car accidents when there are loose objects in the car that are flung during an impact or from parts of the car itself. If the object that punctured you is still in the wound, do not remove it except under medical direction. Penetrating injuries cannot always be evaluated on-scene; you may be transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

Organ damage

Organ damage can occur due to a puncture wound or blunt force trauma. Organs that are frequently affected are the spleen, liver and small intestine, although any organ can be susceptible to damage. Organ damage can cause internal bleeding, which can lead to blood clots days or weeks after the accident.

PTSD

Not all damage is physical. Sometimes accidents can leave emotional scars, instead. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a very real risk after any traumatizing event, including a car accident. PTSD can affect anyone at any time; it’s not a sign of weakness or inability to cope. Instead, it’s a health issue that may require medical care.

PTSD can be difficult to diagnose because often there are no physical symptoms, and because it manifests after the actual accident. If you’re experiencing symptoms of PTSD, please ask for help as soon as possible.

Compensation for car accident injuriesvaries depending on the types of damage your body sustained.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average bodily injury claim following a car accident resulted in $20,235 in compensation. A reader survey from Martindale-Nolo also revealed that car accident victims received $23,900 on average for car accident claims settled between 2015 and 2020.

Damages and Expenses You May Have

As mentioned above, your specific injuries determine the amount of car accident compensation you should be entitled to. When someone else causes a crash and you experience car accident injuries as a result, you should be compensated for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage

If you sustain lifelong injuries, it is important to estimate future costs to ensure you receive payment for both the damages you have already sustained as well as for losses you will incur in the future.

How Compensation Is Determined for Car Accident Injuries

The extent of your losses is the crucial factor used to determine compensation for car accident injuries. As already mentioned, you will be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and property damage. But there are certain other issues that can affect the amount you receive including:

• Whether you share any of the blame for your injuries.If you do, under the comparative negligence rules applicable in most states, your compensation will be reduced based on the percentage of fault attributed to you. For example, if you sustained $100,000 in damages and were 10% to blame for the accident, you would be entitled to $90,000 from the driver who caused the accident.
• How solid your case is.The more extensive evidence you have, the more likely it is that the insurer for the at-fault driver will make a fair settlement offer or that you will be awarded generous compensation in court.
• Whether you sue or settle.You will have to decide if you want to accept a settlement offer made by the other driver’s insurer or if you would prefer to go to court and take a chance on being awarded a larger amount of compensation.

You should consider speaking with an experienced auto accident attorney about what your case is likely to be worth and what factors will affect the amount of money you receive.

If you wish to pursue a claim for compensation for your car accident injuries, you will need to either negotiate a settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance or will need to pursue a case in court. There are a few key things to be aware of with either approach.

Statute of Limitations

There is a limit on how long you have to file a lawsuit. This limit is called the statute of limitations and it varies by state. In general, it is between two and four years. You should not wait too long to make your claim for car accident compensation or you will be unable to recover the funds you deserve.

Process for Filing Claims and Lawsuits

You should notify your insurance company immediately after a car accident. Your insurer can help you to pursue a third-party claim against the insurance company that represents the at-fault driver. If your injuries are serious or you sustained lots of damage, you should consider hiring an attorney to help with your case as well. Your attorney can assist in negotiating a settlement.

If you are not able to come to an agreement with the other insurer, you can file a civil lawsuit. You must act within the statute of limitations and pursue your claim in a court that has jurisdiction over the case. An attorney can assist with filing court paperwork. You have the burden of proving both that the other driver was at fault and the extent of your car accident injuries. An auto accident lawyer can help.

Settlements vs. Verdicts

Car accident claims are resolved in one of two ways:

• A settlement agreement: This occurs if the other driver’s insurer accepts responsibility and you negotiate a fair amount of compensation. You will agree to accept a set amount of money in exchange for releasing all future claims arising from the accident.
• A verdict: If you cannot reach a settlement, the case will go to court and your compensation will be decided by the judge or jury. The court will first decide if the defendant should be held liable and will then award an appropriate amount of funds.