Car accidents are violent, high-impact events that happen within seconds but can cause lasting injuries with long recoveries and even permanent impacts. Understanding the most common injuries from car accidents helps you recognize warning signs, seek medical care promptly, and protect your health. Knowing what symptoms to watch for can prevent injuries from worsening and enable you to better manage your treatment.
When medical concerns start to raise questions about missed work, ongoing care, or how an accident will affect your future, legal guidance can help bring clarity to what comes next. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, the car accident lawyers at Rob Levine Law can pursue the fair compensation you deserve, no matter the nature and severity of your injury.
Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries from car accidents, especially rear-end collisions. It occurs when the head and neck snap forward and backward rapidly, stretching or tearing muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Soft tissue injuries can also affect the shoulders, back, and upper spine due to sudden impact or restraint forces.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Headaches
- Shoulder or upper back pain
- Reduced range of motion
Care for whiplash and soft tissue injuries often focuses on reducing pain and restoring movement through a combination of medical evaluation, guided therapy, and symptom management.
Head and Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBIs
Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries, often called TBIs, occur when a sudden impact or violent movement of the head disrupts normal brain function. In car accidents, this can happen when a person’s head strikes the steering wheel, dashboard, window, headrest, or airbag, or when rapid acceleration and deceleration cause the brain to move inside the skull.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Memory loss or disorientation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and or sound
- Ringing in your ear
- Mood, sleep, or personality changes
Medical care for head injuries depends on the extent to which the brain was affected and how symptoms evolve. Some cases require close monitoring and follow-up care, while more serious injuries may involve rehabilitation to address cognitive, physical, or neurological changes.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Broken bones and fractures occur when the force of a car accident places more stress on a bone than it can withstand. This can happen during high-speed collisions, side impacts, or when a person braces for impact against the steering wheel, dashboard, or door. Arms, legs, ribs, wrists, and hips are commonly affected, though fractures can occur anywhere in the body.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Sharp or persistent pain
- Swelling or bruising
- Limited range of motion
- Pain when bearing weight or moving the area
Treatment is determined by the type, location, and severity of the fracture. Some injuries heal with stabilization and rest, while others require surgical repair and extended recovery to restore strength and function.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
Back and spinal cord injuries occur when the force of a car accident compresses, twists, or jolts the spine beyond its normal range of motion. Rear-end collisions, rollovers, and side-impact crashes can damage vertebrae, discs, or surrounding nerves. These injuries range from muscle strains and herniated discs to more serious spinal cord damage that can affect mobility and sensation.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
- Weakness or loss of coordination
- Limited range of motion
- Pain that worsens with movement
Medical care often begins with imaging and evaluation to determine the extent of spinal involvement. Depending on severity, treatment may focus on pain control and mobility support or involve specialized care to address nerve-related complications.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries occur when the force of a car accident causes damage to bodily organs, such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, or intestines. Even when there are no visible wounds, blunt force trauma from a seat belt, steering wheel, dashboard, or side impact can cause serious internal harm.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or weakness
- Pain that increases over time
These injuries are especially serious because symptoms may not appear immediately and can worsen quickly without treatment. Treatment often requires emergency imaging, monitoring, and in some cases, surgery to stop internal bleeding or repair damaged organs.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries occur when the upper body strikes a steering wheel, seat belt, dashboard, or door during a car accident. The force of impact can damage the ribs, lungs, heart, or surrounding tissues, even in crashes that do not appear severe from the outside.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Pain when breathing or coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Visible bruising across the chest
- Shallow or labored breathing
Treatment depends on which structures are affected and how breathing or circulation is impacted. Some chest injuries resolve with monitoring and pain management, while others require targeted medical care to protect lung or heart function.
Cuts, Scrapes, and Lacerations
Cuts, scrapes, and lacerations happen when broken glass, metal, or sharp interior surfaces come into contact with the skin during a car accident. Even minor collisions can cause passengers to be thrown against windows, dashboards, or door frames, leading to open wounds or abrasions.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Skin redness or swelling
- Pain or tenderness at the injury site
- Visible tearing of the skin
- Signs of infection, such as warmth or drainage
While some cuts may be treated with basic wound care, deeper lacerations may require stitches, surgical repair, or scar management. Prompt treatment helps reduce the risk of infection and limits long-term scarring, while also creating medical records that document the injury.
Psychological Trauma
Psychological trauma can develop after a car accident, even when the physical injuries are minor or have fully healed. The sudden impact, fear of serious harm, or witnessing injuries to others can overwhelm the brain’s ability to process the event, leading to lasting emotional and mental health effects.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Nightmares or flashbacks
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Irritability or mood changes
Addressing psychological injuries involves professional mental health support to help individuals process the emotional impact of the crash. Early intervention can play an important role in managing symptoms and supporting long-term recovery.
Burns
Burns frequently occur when car accidents result in fires or explosions, or accident victims are exposed to hot surfaces, chemicals, or electrical components. Airbag deployment, fuel leaks, engine fires, or contact with overheated metal can also lead to burn injuries, even when crashes are not otherwise catastrophic.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Red, blistered, or charred skin
- Severe pain or numbness at the burn site
- Swelling or fluid leakage
- Restricted movement if joints are affected
Care varies based on burn depth and location and may involve wound management, pain control, and monitoring for complications. More severe burns often require specialized treatment to support healing and reduce long-term effects.
Leg and Knee Injuries
A leg or knee injury can result from a car accident when the lower body strikes the dashboard, door, center console, or floor during impact. Sudden deceleration can force the knees forward with significant pressure, leading to damage even in crashes that occur at moderate speeds.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Pain or swelling in the knee, thigh, or lower leg
- Difficulty walking or bearing weight
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- Bruising or visible deformity
Treatment may include imaging studies, physical therapy, bracing, or surgery, depending on the severity of the injury. Prompt evaluation is important, as untreated leg and knee injuries can lead to long-term mobility issues, chronic pain, or joint damage that worsens over time.
Contact Rob Levine Law for Your Car Accident Case
Car accidents can leave you dealing with pain, uncertainty, and questions about what comes next. Even injuries that seem manageable at first can worsen over time or require ongoing care, making it important to protect both your health and your legal rights. Seeking medical attention is the first step, but understanding how your injuries may support a claim is just as important.
Once your immediate needs are addressed, having the car accident attorneys at Rob Levine Law on your side can make a meaningful difference. With over 25 years of experience, the firm focuses on building strong cases supported by medical records, evidence, and clear liability.
Call (888) 791-9135 or contact us online to discuss your situation and explore the options available to you.
