What Are Common Injuries in Car Accidents?

What Are Common Injuries in Car Accidents?

A car accident can happen in seconds, but the injuries it causes can affect you for weeks, months, or even years. While some injuries are immediately obvious, others may not become noticeable until hours or even days after a crash.
At Gelbstein & Associates, we represent people injured in car accidents in Brooklyn and throughout New York City. After an accident, one of the most important questions is often: How serious is my injury, and what should I do next?
Car accidents can cause injuries ranging from sprains and bruises to serious injuries involving the brain, spine, bones, and internal organs. Understanding some of the most common car accident injuries can help you recognize symptoms, seek appropriate medical attention, and better understand your rights after a crash.
If you have been injured in a car accident and have questions about your legal options, contact Gelbstein & Associates at 855-LAW-24-07.
What Are the Most Common Injuries After a Car Accident?
Every accident is different. The injuries someone suffers can depend on the speed and direction of the vehicles, where the impact occurred, whether seat belts were used, airbag deployment, and many other factors.
Some of the most common injuries associated with car accidents include:
• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Back and spinal injuries
• Herniated or bulging discs
• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Shoulder and knee injuries
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Cuts and lacerations
• Internal injuries
Below, we take a closer look at each.
1. Whiplash and Neck Injuries
Whiplash is one of the injuries commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents, particularly rear-end collisions.
During an accident, the force of impact can cause the head and neck to move rapidly backward and forward. This sudden movement can injure muscles, ligaments, joints, and other structures in the neck.
Symptoms may include:
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headaches
• Reduced range of motion
• Shoulder pain
• Dizziness
• Pain traveling into the arms
One important thing to remember is that neck pain may not always be noticeable immediately after an accident. Symptoms can sometimes develop or become more noticeable later.
2. Back and Spinal Injuries
The force generated during a car accident can place significant stress on the back and spine.
Accident victims may suffer injuries involving the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. Depending on the injury, a person may experience back or neck pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain that radiates into the arms or legs.
Back injuries can be particularly disruptive because they may affect a person’s ability to work, exercise, sleep comfortably, or perform ordinary daily activities.
If you are experiencing persistent back or neck symptoms following a Brooklyn car accident, obtaining appropriate medical attention is important.
3. Herniated or Bulging Discs
The discs located between the vertebrae of the spine provide cushioning and help the spine move properly. Trauma from a car accident can potentially cause or aggravate problems involving these discs.
A herniated disc can place pressure on surrounding nerves and may cause symptoms such as:
• Neck or back pain
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Pain radiating into an arm or leg
• Limited movement
Because symptoms associated with disc injuries may develop gradually, an accident victim should not assume that the absence of severe pain immediately after a crash means that no injury occurred.
4. Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head injuries are among the potentially serious consequences of motor vehicle accidents.
A person does not necessarily have to strike their head against the steering wheel, dashboard, window, or another object to suffer a concussion or other traumatic brain injury. The rapid movement of the head during a collision can potentially cause injury.
Possible symptoms may include:
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Memory problems
• Nausea
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Changes in mood
• Changes in sleeping patterns
Symptoms involving the head or brain should be taken seriously, particularly when they develop or worsen following an accident.
5. Broken Bones and Fractures
The force of a collision can cause fractures throughout the body.
Areas commonly injured in motor vehicle accidents may include the:
• Arms
• Wrists
• Hands
• Legs
• Ankles
• Ribs
• Hips
• Facial bones
Some fractures can heal with relatively straightforward treatment, while more serious fractures may require surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation, or an extended period away from work.
Under New York law, a fracture is also one of the categories specifically included within the statutory definition of a “serious injury” for purposes of certain motor vehicle injury claims.
6. Shoulder and Knee Injuries
Shoulders and knees can sustain significant trauma during a collision.
A driver’s or passenger’s knee may strike the dashboard or another part of the vehicle. Shoulders can be injured by the seat belt, airbag, steering wheel, door, or the force of the body moving during the collision.
These injuries may involve muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, joints, or other structures and can potentially result in pain, weakness, instability, or restricted movement.
7. Soft-Tissue Injuries
Sprains, strains, bruising, and injuries involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments frequently occur following motor vehicle accidents.
Although these are often referred to as “soft-tissue injuries,” that does not necessarily mean they are insignificant.
Persistent pain or restricted movement can interfere with work, sleep, exercise, childcare, and other normal daily activities.
8. Cuts, Bruises and Lacerations
Broken glass, airbags, seat belts, loose objects inside the vehicle, and contact with the dashboard or other surfaces can cause cuts, bruises, abrasions, and lacerations.
Some injuries may require stitches or other medical treatment. More significant wounds can potentially result in scarring or disfigurement.
9. Internal Injuries
Some of the most dangerous injuries caused by a car accident may not be visible.
A serious collision can potentially cause internal bleeding or damage to internal organs. Because these injuries may require immediate medical treatment, concerning symptoms following a crash should never be ignored.
If you believe you may be experiencing a medical emergency after an accident, seek emergency medical assistance immediately.
Can Car Accident Injuries Appear Hours or Days Later?
Yes.
One common misconception about car accidents is that a person who feels relatively normal immediately afterward could not have been injured.
Some symptoms may not become apparent until hours or days after a collision. The stress and adrenaline associated with an accident may also make pain or discomfort less noticeable initially.
Neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness, soreness, dizziness, and other symptoms may become more noticeable later.
If you develop new or worsening symptoms following a car accident, obtaining appropriate medical attention is important.
Why Is Medical Documentation Important After a Car Accident?
Medical attention after an accident is first and foremost about protecting your health. Medical records can also become important if you later pursue a personal injury claim.
Medical documentation can help establish when symptoms were reported, what conditions were diagnosed, what testing was performed, what treatment was recommended, and how an injury progressed over time.
Waiting an extended period before seeking treatment may also raise questions about when or how an injury occurred.
For these reasons, accident victims should take their symptoms seriously and follow appropriate medical advice.
What Is Considered a Serious Injury After a New York Car Accident?
New York has specific rules governing claims for certain losses following motor vehicle accidents. New York Insurance Law § 5102(d) defines “serious injury” using several categories.
Depending on the circumstances and supporting medical evidence, those categories include injuries resulting in:
• Death
• Dismemberment
• Significant disfigurement
• A fracture
• Loss of a fetus
• Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system
• Permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member
• Significant limitation of use of a body function or system
• Certain medically determined injuries or impairments that prevent a person from performing substantially all of their usual and customary daily activities for at least 90 of the 180 days immediately following the injury
Whether a particular car accident injury satisfies New York’s serious-injury threshold depends upon the individual circumstances and medical evidence involved.
Simply experiencing pain does not automatically determine whether the legal threshold has been met.
Injured in a Brooklyn Car Accident?
If an injury is affecting your ability to work, move comfortably, or carry out your normal daily activities, it may be important to understand your legal options.
Gelbstein & Associates represents car accident victims in Brooklyn and throughout New York City.
Every case is different. The circumstances of the collision, evidence concerning fault, medical documentation, insurance coverage, lost income, and the nature and extent of the injuries can all potentially affect a personal injury claim.
To discuss the circumstances of your accident and injuries with Gelbstein & Associates, call 855-LAW-24-07.
What Should You Do If You Are Injured in a Brooklyn Car Accident?
Your health should be the first priority after an accident. Seek appropriate medical attention if you are injured or begin experiencing symptoms.
When circumstances permit, it can also be helpful to preserve information relating to the collision, including:
• Photographs and videos of the accident scene
• Photographs of vehicle damage
• Witness names and contact information
• Driver and insurance information
• Police documentation
• Medical records
• Receipts for accident-related expenses
• Documentation of missed work or lost income
Avoid making assumptions about the seriousness of an injury simply based on how you feel immediately after the collision.
You should also be cautious about accepting an insurance settlement before the nature and potential long-term effects of your injuries are understood.
If you are unsure about your rights following a New York car accident, Gelbstein & Associates can review the circumstances of your accident and explain the legal options that may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Injuries
What is the most common injury from a car accident?
Neck, back, and other soft-tissue injuries are frequently associated with motor vehicle accidents. However, there is no single injury that occurs in every accident. The type and severity of an injury depend on the circumstances of the collision.
Can you be injured in a minor car accident?
Yes. The amount of visible damage to a vehicle does not necessarily determine whether an occupant has suffered an injury. Even an accident that appears relatively minor can potentially cause injuries.
How long after a car accident can injuries appear?
Some injuries cause immediate symptoms, while others may become noticeable hours or days after an accident. Anyone experiencing new, persistent, or worsening symptoms following a collision should seek appropriate medical attention.
What if my neck or back started hurting the day after my accident?
Delayed neck or back pain can occur following a motor vehicle accident. If symptoms develop after a collision, consider obtaining medical evaluation and explain when the accident occurred and when you first noticed the symptoms.
Should I see a doctor after a car accident if I feel okay?
Not every car accident requires emergency medical treatment. However, if you are concerned that you may have been injured or develop symptoms after the accident, seeking appropriate medical evaluation can be important. Certain injuries may not produce obvious symptoms immediately.
Can I file a personal injury claim after a car accident in Brooklyn?
Potentially. Whether you have a viable personal injury claim depends on the circumstances of the accident, liability, the nature and severity of your injuries, available insurance coverage, medical evidence, and applicable New York law.
Gelbstein & Associates can review the circumstances of a Brooklyn car accident and help an injured person understand what legal options may be available.
How can a Brooklyn car accident lawyer help?
A personal injury attorney can investigate an accident, review available evidence, communicate with insurance companies, obtain relevant records, evaluate damages, and determine what legal options may be available based on the circumstances of the case.
Speak With Gelbstein & Associates After a New York Car Accident
Car accident injuries can affect much more than your immediate physical health. A serious injury can lead to medical treatment, missed work, rehabilitation, ongoing pain, and significant changes to everyday life.
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Brooklyn or elsewhere in New York City, Gelbstein & Associates can review the circumstances of the accident and help you understand the legal options that may be available.
Gelbstein & Associates focuses on representing people who have been injured because of the negligence of others.
Don’t make assumptions about your rights based solely on what an insurance company tells you or how you feel immediately following an accident.
Call Gelbstein & Associates at 855-LAW-24-07 to discuss your car accident and potential personal injury claim.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article or contacting Gelbstein & Associates does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship