Car accidents are one of the leading causes of serious injury in Texas and across the nation. Motor vehicle collisions can cause almost every harm imaginable, from minor lacerations to disabling harm or death. However, some injuries are more common than others.
Our Dallas car accident attorneys discuss the most common harms suffered in car accidents.
Injuries Often Depend on the Accident Type
Not all collisions produce the same injuries. The type of crash plays a major role in determining what parts of the body absorb the force and how severe the resulting harm may be.
- Rear-end collisions are among the most common crash types and are strongly associated with whiplash and other neck and back injuries, since the impact snaps the head and neck forward and back in a way the body isn’t built to absorb. In many cases, these are not just “fender benders.”
- T-bone or side-impact collisions tend to cause more severe injuries because a vehicle’s sides offer far less protection than the front or rear crumple zones.
- Head-on collisions generally produce the most catastrophic injuries of any crash type, given the combined speed of both vehicles at the moment of impact.
- Rollover accidents carry a high risk of ejection injuries and spinal trauma, especially when occupants aren’t properly restrained.
While these crashes cause the bulk of most car accident injuries, even minor collisions or those involving a single car can result in significant harm to a driver or passenger.
Whiplash and Neck Injuries
Whiplash occurs when the head is forced rapidly forward and then backward, straining the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck. Symptoms often include stiffness, headaches, and reduced range of motion. In many cases, these symptoms don’t appear right away.
Head and Brain Injuries
Head trauma can range from a mild concussion to a severe traumatic brain injury, depending on the force involved and whether the head struck another surface. Even a mild concussion requires prompt medical evaluation; symptoms like confusion, dizziness, or memory issues can worsen over the following days.
Back and Spinal Injuries
Back injuries are one of the most common injuries experienced after a crash. They can range from soft tissue strains to herniated discs. In the most serious crashes, spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries can affect mobility for years after the accident and require ongoing rehabilitation.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Bone fractures are especially common in car accidents, particularly when an occupant braces for impact or is struck by a deploying airbag. The wrist, hands, ribs, and legs are especially vulnerable to harm. Fractures involving joints or requiring surgical hardware often carry a longer recovery timeline.
Chest and Rib Injuries
Seatbelts save lives, but they can also cause real harm in the process. Seatbelt compression can lead to bruised or fractured ribs, sternum injuries, and even collapsed lungs, particularly in frontal and side-impact collisions where the chest absorbs significant force against the restraint system. These injuries can make basic activities like breathing deeply or coughing painful. A rib fracture can also puncture a lung or damage nearby organs.
Internal Injuries
Blunt-force trauma from the steering wheel or the crash itself can cause internal bleeding and organ damage below the skin. Internal injuries are one of the more dangerous outcomes of a car accident precisely because they are not always visible and may have delayed symptoms.
Cuts, Lacerations, and Road Rash
Many crash victims suffer cuts and lacerations from broken glass, twisted metal, and airbag deployment. These can be minor but are often severe enough to require stitches or reconstructive treatment.
Psychological Injuries
Car accidents can also result in severe emotional distress, beyond any physical trauma they cause. A person may experience anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and a lingering fear of driving that can be extremely disruptive to daily life. Car accident claims can account for emotional and psychological harm.
What Compensation Is Available After a Car Accident Injury?
If another driver’s negligence caused your crash, Texas law generally allows you to pursue compensation for your financial losses and the personal toll of your injuries. Economic damages address monetary expenses; non-economic damages cover non-monetary harm.
The specific injuries you suffered often drive the value of your claim more than any other factor. Through a car accident claim, you may be able to seek compensation for your:
- Medical treatment, both past and future
- Lost wages and any reduction in your future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Contact Trujillo Gonzalez For Legal Help After Your Car Accident in Dallas
If you were injured in a car accident, an experienced attorney can help you understand what your injuries mean for your claim and pursue the full compensation you’re owed. Contact Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C today for a free consultation with a Dallas car accident attorney.
