What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?
As outlined below, the most common car accident injuries include broken bones, internal bleeding, and damage to the brain or spinal cord:
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries frequently cause nerve damage and may result in paralysis. Injuries to the upper spine can cause paralysis throughout the body, while lower spine injuries are more likely to cause lower-body paralysis.
- Broken bones: Car accidents rank among the most common causes of bone fractures, primarily because of impact intensity. Improper healing can prompt serious complications, particularly among older patients and other higher-risk individuals.
- Cuts and lacerations: Projectile debris and auto body damage can cause structural damage to the skin. Poor injury management and certain risk factors can trigger infection, which may cause scarring and even death.
- Soft tissue injuries: The impact of a car crash can also affect soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Some soft tissue injuries, including severe sprains, may require surgery.
- Head and brain injuries: Car crashes are one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Even mild TBIs can cause long-term medical issues, while severe cases may create permanent and long-term disabilities.
- Arm and leg injuries: Injuries to the limbs may make it impossible for car accident victims to work or perform basic day-to-day tasks. Some severe limb injuries may require amputation or involve traumatic limb loss at the scene of the crash.
- Internal injuries: Trauma to the abdominal region can cause dangerous internal bleeding and organ damage. According to studies, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of blunt abdominal trauma in the United States.
- Whiplash: The sudden stop of a car crash often causes trauma to the neck and upper back. These injuries may have severe long-term consequences.
Injuries such as these can be catastrophic, potentially causing death in worst-case scenarios.
What Types of Auto Accidents Lead to Injuries?
Approximately 2.44 million people nationwide suffered car accident injuries in 2023, a 2.5 percent increase from 2022. Roughly 80 percent of injuries happen in crashes between two or more motor vehicles, including the following:
- Distracted driving accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Hit and run accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Truck accidents
Multi-vehicle crashes are the deadliest type of accident, causing more than 19,000 deaths in 2023 alone. Injuries also can occur in pedestrian accidents, collisions with fixed objects, and single-vehicle incidents, such as rollover accidents.
If you have suffered an injury from a car crash, you might be entitled to compensation. It’s important to check for symptoms and seek immediate medical care, even if you feel “mostly okay.” Injuries may not be immediately apparent but become more noticeable over time. Meanwhile, medical records establish a paper trail documenting your damages and providing evidence for a claim.
Victims also benefit from reaching out to an attorney soon after the incident. Contact us if you experience any symptoms of possible auto accident injuries, including:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Severe headaches
- Dizziness or fatigue
- Memory or concentration problems
- Weakened arm or arm pain
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Nausea or vomiting
- Nerve or soft tissue damage
- Blurred vision
- Anxiety
- Excessive stress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD
Working with an attorney can improve your chances of building a strong case, as evidence can disappear quickly after an accident.
What Damages Am I Able To Recover After an Auto Accident?
If you were injured in a car accident, you deserve compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate for out-of-pocket expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with your injuries and recovery. Short-term and long-term health care costs fall into this category.
Non-economic damages cover less tangible losses, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress. While it can be challenging to put a dollar value on what you’ve been through, a lawyer can determine what’s fair.
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident, you may be eligible to collect wrongful death damages. A wrongful death lawsuit can compensate you for the costs of your family member’s injury, as well as funeral expenses, end-of-life costs, and potentially even loss of family income.
Every car accident is different, and no two lawsuits hold the same value. Your potential compensation depends on the circumstances of your accident.
How To Seek Compensation After Being Injured in a Car Accident
If you are considering pursuing financial compensation for your car accident injuries, an experienced attorney is an important resource. Our car accident lawyers understand injury law and can review your case to determine what compensation you may be eligible to receive. We’re here to explain your options and help you choose a path forward.
Hiring an attorney is not a legal requirement when seeking compensation, but it is in your best interests. Filing a claim or lawsuit alone can leave you vulnerable to insurance companies that may deny or minimize your claim to preserve their bottom lines. A skilled personal injury lawyer will fight for your rights and help you pursue full compensation for your damages.
Our attorneys have secured millions of dollars in car accident settlements and verdicts. Consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
$16.5M
Settlement for bicyclist who suffered a traumatic leg amputation after being struck by a truck
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$1.9M
In which mother of two children was killed: Investigation revealed defective truck parts played a role in accident.
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$2M
Motor vehicle accident wrongful death claim- Wife brought action for 38 year old husband and father killed as a result of a head on collision with an 82 year old defendant driver.
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$2.1M
Involving street sweeper and automobile.
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$2.4M
Settlement for claim resulting in leg amputation.
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$7.9M
Trucking accident resulting in serious injuries.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
If You Were Injured in a Car Accident, KJSR Is Here To Help
Our firm has helped injury victims recover compensation for 30 years. Clients choose us for our reputation, experience, and track record of success in accident cases.
We have attorneys in communities across Connecticut, including New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, and West Hartford. Don’t wait—call us at 203-865-8430 or contact us online to speak to a personal injury attorney today.
