29 Oct, 2024

Types of Car Accident Injuries

Author Todd A. Strong

Common types of car accident injuries include head and back, soft tissue, arm, and leg injuries, as well as penetrating injuries, organ damage, and emotional trauma. Car accidents can vary in severity, from minor fender benders to major multi-vehicle collisions. Regardless of the extent of the accident, it can result in injuries that impact your life and your financial situation. Contact Strong Law Offices at (309) 393-2928 to ensure you receive fair compensation for your damages.

Car crash traffic accident scene paramedics saving life of the victim lying down on a stretcher. Types of car accident injuries
Car crash traffic accident scene paramedics saving life of the victim lying down on a stretcher. Types of car accident injuries

What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accident Injuries in Illinois?

Injuries sustained in a collision can be broadly classified into two categories: impact and penetrating injuries.

Impact injuries occur when a person collides with the car’s interior or is thrown out of the vehicle, leading to contact with the ground or other objects. For instance, if a driver sustains a head injury from hitting the side window. Penetrating injuries happen when loose objects inside the vehicle strike the passenger. For instance, a person involved in a collision may suffer cuts from shattered glass.

A car accident lawyer can help you recover compensation after suffering any of these injuries. Knowing how to document your car accident injuries when seeking compensation for damages resulting from the crash can have an impact on your ability to pursue damages.

Head and Back Injuries

Injuries to the head and back can be serious and difficult to recover from. This category of injuries encompasses traumatic brain injuries (TBI), concussions, spinal cord injuries, neck and chest injuries, as well as broken or bruised ribs, and whiplash injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injury

TBI, or traumatic brain injury, happens when the brain experiences a jolt, often in situations like car accidents. The severity of this injury can vary, and it’s crucial to seek prompt treatment for recovery. A concussion is a particular form of TBI that necessitates medical attention, regardless of whether it’s classified as mild.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord is damaged, either directly or indirectly, by the force of an impact. These injuries can result in complete or incomplete paralysis and should be treated as serious.

Neck and Chest Injuries

In car accidents, injuries to the neck and chest are frequently seen. The force of getting propelled forward can lead to bruising and other injuries from the seatbelt or contact with the steering wheel. Chest injuries can be quite serious and even life-threatening. Car accidents often result in broken or bruised ribs, which can lead to further complications.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a frequently occurring injury from the neck snapping backward or forward. While most individuals recuperate within a few weeks, some may require months or longer to fully recover. It can also be the result of a malfunctioning airbag deployment.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries from car accidents include whiplash, sprains, and bruises, often causing pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Prompt care is essential.

Sprains and Strains

A sprain occurs when the ligament between two joint bones, like the knee or elbow, is injured. Conversely, a strain is an injury to the muscle or the tendon that connects muscle to bone. While sprains and strains are generally less serious than other injuries, they should not be disregarded or underestimated.

Bruising

Bruising occurs when blood vessels break and release blood into nearby tissue, a common result of a car accident. Although most bruises will heal without treatment, serious bruises can pose health risks. For instance, severe chest injuries can lead to bruising of the heart and result in lasting harm.

Arm and Leg Injuries


Arm and leg injuries can involve fractures, sprains, or dislocations, leading to pain, swelling, and difficulty moving. Treatment often requires rest and rehabilitation.

Broken Bones

Broken bones can occur as a result of motor vehicle accidents, leading to fractures in the limbs. While some broken bones are easy to see, others may not be immediately obvious. You might not be aware of a broken bone until after the accident. It’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly for the best possible outcomes.

Loss of Limb

Severe injuries, such as limb loss, can occur as a result of trauma at the scene or complications afterward. If you have experienced limb loss in an accident, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention. Notify the medical or law enforcement personnel about your injury immediately.

Other Car Accident Injuries

Penetrating injuries

Penetrating injuries occur when a foreign object enters the body. They can occur in car accidents when loose objects are thrown around during impact or when car parts penetrate the body.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing a distressing event, such as car accidents. PTSD is characterized by intense negative reactions to cues that remind the individual of the event. It is a health concern that may necessitate medical intervention.

Diagnosing PTSD can be difficult due to the absence of physical symptoms, and it may manifest long after the initial event. PTSD is not a reflection of weakness or an inability to cope. If you are displaying signs of PTSD, you should seek assistance promptly.

What Types of Car Accidents Can Cause Severe Injury?

Whenever you operate a motor vehicle or walk or bike near a road, there’s always a risk of an accident. Collisions can lead to severe injuries, property damage, and even fatalities. However, certain collisions, such as pedestrian accidents, head-on collisions, rollovers, T-bone accidents, and off-road collisions, are particularly hazardous.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents can lead to severe injuries, such as broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and brain damage. In 2020, they accounted for 1.1% of all accidents in the US but 16.7% of car-related deaths. Pedestrians lack protective gear, making their injuries more severe. While cyclists have helmets, cars have airbags and seatbelts, pedestrians have no protective gear. This leaves their bodies exposed directly to the vehicle. Unlike in other types of car crashes where the vehicle takes the initial impact, the pedestrian’s body is the point of impact with the vehicle, and the area of the body making first impact, whether it be legs, head or spine, can suffer severe injuries.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions are among the most hazardous types of car accidents. These collisions involve the full force of both vehicles colliding head-on, which can result in damage and even fatalities. The impact force is particularly high because it comes from the combined speed of two vehicles traveling in opposite directions. For instance, the force of two vehicles colliding head-on at 40mph is equivalent to a stationary object getting hit by a vehicle traveling at 80mph.

These accidents may occur when a driver is distracted by texting and swerves into oncoming traffic, or when a driver is impaired and unable to stay in the correct lane. While head-on accidents are relatively uncommon, accounting for only 2% of car accidents in 2020, they are considered one of the most difficult.

T-Bone Accidents

A T-bone accident occurs when a car crashes into the side of another vehicle. The sides offer less protection than a vehicle’s front and rear ends. Therefore, passengers are at a greater risk of severe injuries in this collision.

The severity of a T-bone accident depends on factors such as the speed and size of the vehicles involved, as well as the location of the impact. Common injuries from these accidents include whiplash and concussions. In contrast, more serious injuries can include spinal cord damage, broken bones, or harm to internal organs such as the lungs, kidneys, intestines, and spleen. In some cases, a T-bone accident can even cause the other car to roll over, leading to severe injuries or fatalities.

Off-Road Collisions

An off-road collision usually involves a single car veering off the road and colliding with objects such as poles, concrete barriers, or trees. These parts of the car lack crumple zones and cannot absorb the impact, leading to more direct and stronger forces on the vehicle and its occupants. Once off the road, the terrain becomes unpredictable, with uneven surfaces and obstacles like ditches that can further destabilize the vehicle, increasing the risk of rollovers or passengers getting ejected.

These accidents are often caused by over-corrections, adverse weather or road conditions, distracted or drowsy driving, and driving under the influence. There were 1,030,048 off-road crashes in the United States in 2020, resulting in 13,727 deaths and 337,221 injuries.

Vehicle Rollover

Rollover crashes typically involve a single vehicle that loses traction or balance and tips over. A car may overturn if the driver travels too fast for the road conditions and loses control around sharp turns. Depending on the speed, the vehicle may roll over multiple times. In a rollover accident, the vehicle may end up on its side or roof, putting passengers at risk from flying debris and other vehicles. Due to the impact on the side or roof, airbags may fail to deploy. This accident has a higher likelihood of passengers getting thrown from the vehicle.

Rollover accidents can lead to severe spinal, brain, and head injuries. Recent statistics indicate that in 2020, there were 2,694 fatal rollover accidents in the United States.

Who Is Responsible for Paying My Medical Bills After an Accident?

You will ultimately be responsible for covering your healthcare expenses if you’ve been injured. While your insurance may cover some costs, remaining expenses will be your responsibility. However, you can still seek compensation from the party at fault. By filing insurance and civil claims, you can pursue compensation to help with these costs.

In Illinois, the party responsible for paying for injuries in a car accident depends on the cause of the crash. Illinois follows a fault system, which means the individual determined to be at fault for the accident must compensate the innocent party for their injuries. Victims can receive compensation through a settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurer or a successful personal injury claim. Having an attorney to help you pursue compensation at this stage is essential. He or she may know the average settlement for a car accident and how long a car accident lawsuit takes if you have to file one.

While you are responsible for ensuring the medical bills are paid when seeking treatment, it’s a combination of your funds, your health insurance, your auto insurance, the at-fault driver’s insurance, and the at-fault driver themselves. Contact us at Strong Law in Bloomington for assistance with seeking compensation for your medical bills after an accident.

About The Author

author-bio-image
Personal Injury Lawyer Todd A. Strong Illinois workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer Todd A. Strong is the founder of Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Todd brings considerable legal knowledge, experience, and skill to the table to ensure injured victims throughout the state are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness.
Years of Experience: More than 20 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: Illinois State, 1994
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2022
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2023
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About The Author

author-bio-image
Personal Injury Lawyer Todd A. Strong Illinois workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer Todd A. Strong is the founder of Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Todd brings considerable legal knowledge, experience, and skill to the table to ensure injured victims throughout the state are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness.
Years of Experience: More than 20 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: Illinois State, 1994
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2022
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2023