Common Car Accident Injuries

Injuries resulting from a car accident can range from a few minor cuts and scrapes to significant injuries that forever change the life of the victim. Whatever your injury may be, our car crash lawyers are here to make sure you receive the payment you deserve.

Types of Injuries Received in Car Crashes

The two main types of injuries that occur in a car accident: penetrating and impact. Penetrating injuries are when a foreign object enters the victim’s body. In most cases, the foreign object is glass from a broken windshield or a loose item that was in the car. Even the most unassuming item can be dangerous when it is hurled with the force that occurs in car crashes. 

Impact injuries in a car accident happen when the victim’s body strikes a part of the car. They are the types of injuries that tend to come to mind when we think of car accident injuries. The following are some of the more common types of impact injuries.

Back & Spinal Injuries: Our experienced ar crash lawyers know that strains are among the most frequent injuries to the back in a car accident. These strains occur when the soft tissues in the back are stretched unnaturally due to significant force. Spinal injuries tend to be more serious and include compression fractures and spinal stenosis. In cases where the spinal cord is lacerated or severed, paralysis can occur. 

Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI): A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, occurs when the victim’s head strikes an object, such as a steering wheel or windshield, with extreme force. Damage caused by TBIs can be permanent and may lead to a coma or death. Car accidents are a major cause of TBIs. 

Whiplash: Whiplash is another name for a neck sprain and is the result of stretched and torn muscles and ligaments. While most people who suffer whiplash will be recovered in a matter of weeks, for some victims, the pain is permanent. In car accidents, whiplash injuries are usually caused when the victim’s motor vehicle is rear-ended by another motor vehicle. 

Broken Ribs & Other Bones: Usually caused by impact with the steering wheel or restraint by the seatbelt, rib fractures are a painful, but common, result of car crashes. Fractured ribs generally heal on their own. A more severe rib break can puncture organs and lead to severe internal injuries. Other bones that are commonly broken in car accidents are bones in the neck, the pelvis, the femur, the arms and the collarbone. 

Internal Injuries & Bleeding: Spleen, liver, and kidney lacerations often occur in high impact car accidents. When these major organs are damaged, internal bleeding can occur. Symptoms of internal bleeding include pain in the abdomen, feeling cold, fatigue, thirst, dizziness, nausea, and bruising. 

Burns: Burns can be extremely painful when they occur, as well as during the healing process. In a car accident, they are usually caused by fire, electrocution, exposure to chemicals and contact with extremely hot car parts or steam. 

Concussion: A concussion is a mild form of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that happens when there is a blow to the head. Common signs of a concussion are confusion, headaches, memory loss, balance issues, vision changes, mood changes and the inability to answer simple questions. Most concussions are resolved within days after the accident as long as the victim complies with their medical provider’s orders to rest and restrict their activities.  

Herniated Disc: Spines consist of a series of rubbery discs that are aligned vertically between bones. They are held together by a system of ligaments that allow a certain range of movement. A car accident can cause these discs to move out of place or in an unnatural way causing injury to the spinal structure. A herniated disc is sometimes painless or it may cause problems with numbness, weakness, or pain in the back or the extremities.  

Joint Trauma: Trauma can occur to any joint in a car accident. This can result in tears to tendons, ligaments, and muscles and may force the bone out of position. This type of dislocation can lead to arthritis in the affected joints.

Airbag Injuries: Airbag injuries are a frequent occurrence when an airbag is deployed in a car crash. They include burns, abrasions, internal bleeding, and cuts and bruises to the upper body and face.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD occurs when an individual has either witnessed or actually experienced a terrifying event. In some cases, PTSD is a lifelong occurrence. Symptoms of PTSD that are caused by a car accident include nightmares and an inability to drive and/or ride in motor vehicles after the accident. Although PTSD is not a physical injury, our car crash lawyers understand the very real effect it can have on a victim’s life. 

Factors That Contribute to the Severity of the Injury Received

There are many things that can contribute to the severity of one’s injury after a crash, including the following:

• The speed at which the vehicle(s) involved in the accident were traveling
• Weather conditions at the time of the accident
• Whether airbags were deployed
• Reckless or aggressive driving by any driver involved in the accident
• Whether the victim was wearing a safety belt 
• Where on the vehicle the impact occurred
• How quickly medical personnel responded to the accident

Contact One of Our Experienced Car Crash Lawyers Today

Our car crash lawyers have the experience needed to ensure you receive the compensation you are owed. Our attorneys have developed winning strategies that result in our clients receiving superior representation and the legal solutions they need. Our firm can handle every step of the process for you and our assistance never costs you anything unless our representation results in you receiving the monetary compensation you are owed. We also advance all case costs. Contact us at 310-273-7300 or on our contact page for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and se habla espanol.