A car crash can change everything in an instant. Without warning, you're suddenly dealing with pain, confusion, and a totaled vehicle.
The physical and mental toll of car accident injuries often shows up immediately, but it can also sneak in after the adrenaline wears off. Here are some of the most common injuries to be aware of.
Cuts, Lacerations, and Bruises
When windows break and metal crumples, sharp edges and flying debris can slice into your skin. Some cuts are shallow and heal quickly. Others go deep and require stitches. The worst lacerations can leave lasting scars.
Even bruises can be more than skin-deep. A heavy bruise might indicate muscle damage or internal bleeding underneath. And any open wound poses a risk of infection, especially if emergency care is delayed.
Head Trauma
When your head collides with any surface in the vehicle, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a very real risk. Many people are surprised to learn that they don’t even have to hit their head or lose consciousness to have one. All it takes is for the brain to bounce around inside the skull, which is possible with enough force.
The signs of concussion and other types of head trauma can be subtle and often include:
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Memory issues
- Mood swings
- Confusion
- Sensitivity to light and sound
Some concussions clear up in a week or two, while others may persist for months. More serious TBIs can cause long-term problems with thinking, speaking, and basic movement.
Broken Bones
When the force of a crash slams your body into hard surfaces or those surfaces collapse onto you, bones can break. The arms, legs, and torso often take the brunt of the crash, and ribs often fracture when seatbelts tighten during impact.
A clean break might heal with a cast and plenty of rest, but compound or crushed bones typically require extensive surgery and rehab and can take months to fully recover from.
Spinal Cord Damage
Few car accident injuries change lives more drastically than spinal cord damage. Even a small degree of trauma to the spine can lead to numbness, chronic pain, and loss of movement. The higher up the spine the injury is, the more of the body it will affect.
Some spinal injury victims regain mobility with ongoing therapy, but others face lifelong paralysis. Either way, spinal injuries often necessitate major lifestyle changes and long-term medical care. They’re among the most devastating outcomes of a serious crash.
Whiplash
Whiplash might not sound as severe as some of the injuries on this list, but if you’ve ever experienced it, you know it can cause major issues. When your head snaps forward and back violently in an accident, the force can stretch and tear the muscles and ligaments in your neck.
It may take days for you to begin registering the pain, stiffness, dizziness, headaches, and mental fog. In some cases, whiplash can make it hard even to sleep or perform everyday tasks. What’s more, the injury doesn’t show up on imaging tests, so it’s easy to miss.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Some car accident injuries can make you sore in places you didn’t even know could hurt. Sprains, strains, and tears affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They can happen throughout the body, but they’re most common in the shoulders, knees, elbows, hips, and wrists.
Soft tissue injuries can limit your movement and cause nagging pain for months. While physical therapy can help, it takes time to recuperate, and the pain can disrupt your daily life in the meantime.
Internal Trauma
Some of the most dangerous injuries from car accidents are invisible. Blunt force trauma from striking something inside the vehicle can cause bleeding inside the chest or abdomen. It might also affect major organs like the liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, and lungs.
You might not even realize you have internal bleeding until you start to feel dizzy or have trouble breathing. By then, it’s usually an emergency. That’s why it’s so important to get checked out at the hospital immediately after a crash, even if you feel alright.
Psychological Damage
Not all wounds are physical. Car accidents are frightening experiences, regardless of whether you’re hurt. The mental effects can torment many people long after the crash itself. PTSD, for instance, can manifest as nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks, or a pervasive fear of driving. Anxiety and depression are common as well.
Mental health struggles after a car accident are real, and they deserve just as much attention and care as physical conditions.
FAQ
What Are the Signs of a Serious Internal Injury?
Symptoms can include abdominal pain and swelling, dizziness, difficulty breathing, or blood in your urine. These indications shouldn’t be ignored, as internal injuries can quickly become life-threatening.
What Should I Do if I Start Having Pain Days After a Crash?
See a doctor right away. Delayed symptoms are common with many injuries from car accidents. Waiting too long to seek help can give the injury time to worsen and make it harder to connect it to the original accident.
Can a Minor Car Crash Cause Long-Term Injuries?
Yes. Even low-speed collisions can open the door to chronic pain, nerve damage, or psychological impacts. Just because an accident was “minor” doesn’t mean the resulting injuries are.
Your Recovery Starts With the Right Support
Ramsey Law Group has helped countless injury victims get the legal help and compensation they need after a crash. Focus on healing while our experienced legal professionals handle the rest. Reach out to our team of car accident attorneys today to protect your rights.