Types of Car Accident Injuries

Types of Car Accident Injuries

Vehicle-related injuries are an unfortunate reality for the millions of Americans who rely on cars on a daily basis. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 30% of car accidents in the U.S. result in injuries. In 2022 alone, more than two million people were hurt in crashes on the road.

While the severity of the injuries sustained in car accidents depends on a number of different factors, there are a few types of car accident injuries that are more common than others.

The most severe of these injuries can cause significant pain, disfigurement, and even permanent disability, the treatment for which can be ruinously expensive.

This blog post will give an overview of some of these common types of car accident injuries, discuss how theyโ€™re treated, and explain how to protect yourself if youโ€™re hurt in a collision on the road.

For immediate help seeking compensation for your own car accident-related injuries, please contact our experienced auto accident attorneys in Greenville today.

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries in South Carolina

The type and severity of the injuries suffered by car accident victims depends on a number of different factors, including:

  • The number and type of vehicles involved in the collision;
    • Whether the occupants of the vehicles involved were wearing seat belts;
    • Whether the vehicle was equipped with properly functioning airbags;
    • The speed at which the vehicles were traveling prior to the collision;
    • Whether the injured partyโ€™s vehicle was struck from the rear, front, or side; and
    • How the vehiclesโ€™ occupants were sitting at the time of the collision.

Car accident victims are generally vulnerable to two broad types of injuries: impact injuries and penetrating injuries. 

Impact injuries happen when a victimโ€™s body strikes the interior of the vehicle during a collision. Bruises and broken bones are typical examples of impact injuries.

On the other hand, penetrating injuries come from contact with debris caused by the crash, such as shattered glass or loose objects in the car that become dislodged upon impact. Cuts, puncture wounds, and lacerations are common penetrating injuries that happen during car crashes. 

Letโ€™s walk through some of the specific conditions that car accident victims often face after a collision.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Of the many types of impact injuries that a car accident victim can suffer, soft tissue injuries, which involve damage to the bodyโ€™s connective tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments are perhaps the most common. Soft tissue injuries can take a variety of forms, including:

  • Contusions, which are caused by blunt force trauma and often result in pain and swelling due to bleeding in the tissue;
    • Strains, such as whiplash, which are caused by the overextension of the muscles and ligaments, often in the neck or back;
    • Sprains, which take the form of a partial tear in a ligament, or the fibrous bands of tissue that connect and stabilize the bones; and
    • Bursitis, which involves inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that provide a cushion between the bones, tendons, and muscles and is often caused by direct trauma to the joints in the shoulders, knees, elbows, and hips.

Soft tissue injuries are often accompanied by discoloration, swelling, and significant pain and in most cases, can be treated with rest, elevation, and compression.

Penetrating Injuries

Cuts and lacerations are one of the most common types of penetrating injuries that a person can sustain and are usually the result of coming into contact with shattered glass or loose items inside the car. Surface-level cuts are the least severe type of broken glass injury, as they do not penetrate the tissues that lay below the skin.

Deep-level lacerations, on the other hand, are much more serious because they involve the severing of the skin, as well as the underlying tissue and muscles. If a particularly large piece of glass penetrates a personโ€™s bone or strikes an artery, a person could suffer life-threatening blood loss and even risk losing a limb.

Immediate medical attention, such as stitches or emergency surgery, is critical for caring for these wounds and preventing further complications due to blood loss.

Head Injuries

Many car accident victims suffer lacerations to the head due to impact with a side window or steering wheel. Since the head and face are home to several major sensory organs, wounds in this area can cause serious damage with potentially long-term consequences. Accident victims may suffer:

  • Disfigurement.
  • Temporary or permanent blindness,
  • Tooth loss,
  • Hearing damage,
  • Facial bone fractures,
  • Permanent scarring, and
  • Disfigurement.

Not all head wounds are visible, however, as some of the most severe head injuries involve damage to the fluid and tissue inside the skull.

Known as closed head injuries, this type of damage often results in concussions, or more serious types of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Even a minor concussion can lead to cognitive impairment, memory loss, and mood changes. More severe TBIs can cause permanent brain damage, leading to loss of motor function and speech difficulties.

Severe TBIs could require surgical intervention to stop bleeding or relieve pressure, as well as long-term rehabilitation to address the speech or cognitive impairments that often arise.

Bone Fractures

Broken bones are some of the most common injuries sustained by car accident victims. There are a variety of types of broken bones and which type a person suffers depends in large part on the amount of force applied to the bone and the direction of impact.

Broken ribs, arms, legs, and pelvises are especially common and can cause excruciating pain and long-term complications if not properly treated. In some situations, an extreme amount of pressure, for example, could cause a victim to suffer from a compound fracture, in which the bone is so severely broken that it actually punctures the skin.

Stable fractures, which occur when the ends of a broken bone line up and are only slightly out of place are the least serious type of broken bone and often heal within a matter of weeks. However, when a bone breaks into several pieces (i.e., comminuted fractures), victims may require surgery and significant physical rehabilitation to recover. Burns Accident victims can suffer burns from explosions, fire, or contact with hot metal or liquids. Burns are classified into three degrees:

  • First-degree burnsโ€”impact only the outer skin and cause redness and mild pain;
  • Second-degree burnsโ€”damage deeper skin layers, leading to blisters and severe pain; and
  • Third-degree burnsโ€”destroy skin and underlying tissue, often requiring skin grafts and extensive medical treatment.

Burn victims often need emergency care, wound management, and, in severe cases, reconstructive surgery.

Spine Injuries

The spine is particularly vulnerable in car accidents. Many crash victims suffer from whiplash after a collision, caused by the rapid back-and-forth motion of the head and neck. Symptoms may not appear immediately but can include neck stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and tingling sensations in the arms. In some cases, whiplash can lead to chronic pain and reduced mobility. 

More serious damage to the spineโ€™s vertebrae, discs, or nerves can lead to debilitating pain, loss of mobility, or even paralysis. Treatments for spinal injuries can range from physical therapy and pain management to spinal fusion surgery or other corrective procedures. Victims of paralysis require lifelong medical care, including physical therapy, assistive devices, and modifications to living spaces to accommodate their needs.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The psychological impact of a car accident can be just as devastating as physical injuries. Many accident survivors suffer symptoms of PTSD after a crash, including flashbacks, severe anxiety, and a fear of driving. Symptoms may also include nightmares, emotional numbness, and difficulty sleeping. Mental health treatment, including therapy and medication, is often necessary to help victims cope with trauma and regain confidence.

Legal Compensation for Car Accident Injuries

When someone else was at fault for the car accident that caused your injuries, you have a legal right to seek compensation for the harm you suffered. South Carolina accident victims can be reimbursed for the financial toll of their injuries, including:

  • Emergency medical treatment,
  • Hospital bills,
  • Surgical costs,
  • Medication, and
  • Wages lost while out of work.

In some cases, victims may also be able to receive compensation for the psychological and emotional harm caused by their physical injuries from the crash.

What to Do If Youโ€™re Injured in a Car Accident

Here are some essential ways to protect your health and legal rights after youโ€™re hurt in a collision: 

  • Call 911 immediatelyโ€”explain the types of injuries that occurred in the car accident, where you are, and how many other people are involved;
  • Seek medical attentionโ€”even if injuries seem minor, see a professional who can properly evaluate you for any unseen damage;
  • Document your injuriesโ€”take pictures of visible injuries and keep records of medical treatment you receive;
  • Document the sceneโ€”if you can, take photos of the accident scene, damage to the vehicles, their positions in relation to one another, and anything else that seems relevant;
  • Follow treatment planโ€”stick closely to your doctorโ€™s instructions for rest, medication, and other aspects of your recovery; and
  • Contact a personal injury attorneyโ€”an experienced lawyer can help you pursue compensation for the financial and emotional toll of the crash.

Taking these steps can help ensure that you receive the medical care you need while also strengthening any potential legal claim you may have.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

If you need help with your own car accident injuries, please contact the Peace Law Firm to schedule an initial consultation with a dedicated car accident lawyer.

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