Common Car Accident Injuries

March 7, 2025 | By Colombo Law

Some of the most common car accident injuries include neck injuries, back injuries, head injuries, chest injuries, and broken bones. If you experience any of these injuries in a car accident caused by someone else, it is crucial to seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

Colombo Law has more than 25 years of experience advocating for people who have been injured through no fault of their own. Our car accident lawyers have an in-depth understanding of common car accident injuries, enabling us to advocate effectively for a wide range of clients.

Below, we look at common examples of car accident injuries in more detail. If you need immediate assistance, call Colombo Law at 614-362-7000 (Columbus) or 513-599-8841 (Cincinnati) for a FREE case review. Our car accident injury lawyers serve clients throughout Ohio.

Head and Brain Injuries

Mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are among the most common injuries we see in car accidents. Collisions are known to cause concussions, blunt force trauma, and long-term cognitive disability—among other problems.

Signs and symptoms may include:

• Headaches
• Changes in vision or hearing
• Seeing flashes or stars
• Difficulty concentrating
• Confusion / feeling foggy
• Memory problems
• New movement disorders, or difficulty moving any part of your body
• Ringing in ears / tinnitus
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Nausea or vomiting
• Difficulty speaking / slurred speech
• Trouble understanding others
• Delayed responses / appearing slow, sluggish, or dazed
• Loss of consciousness (even temporary)

A severe TBI can have a number of long-term impacts on cognitive ability, capacity for employment, enjoyment of life, and overall health.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of traumatic spinal cord injury, accounting for approximately one-eighth of all cases. Injury to the spinal cord can affect almost any part of the body, from your neck and shoulders to your upper or lower extremities and even your brain (particularly the central nervous system).

Signs of a spinal cord injury may include:

• Loss of movement
• Poor bowel or bladder control
• Altered sensation, or a change in the way you sense hot or cold
• Exaggerated reflexes
• Body spasms
• Difficulty coughing or breathing
• Trouble walking
• Loss of coordination
• Numbness or tingling
• Sexual dysfunction
• A visibly apparent change in the positioning of your head and neck
• Partial or total paralysis
• Extreme pain or pressure in your neck, back, or head

Any suspected spinal cord injury should be treated as a medical emergency. Call 911 right away.

Back Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord is among the most concerning back injuries in a car accident, but it isn’t the only type of back injury we see. Herniated discs are another common back problem after a car accident.

A herniated disc occurs when the cushions (“discs”) between the vertebrae in your spine are pushed out of place. In some cases, the disc may even rupture.

Signs and symptoms of a herniated disc include:

• Arm or leg pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Weakness in the affected part of the body
• Difficulty walking
• Problems holding, carrying, or lifting items
• The feeling of a pinched nerve in your arms, shoulders, neck, back, or legs

Other common types of back injuries in car accidents include soft tissue damage (which can result in pain, swelling, and stiffness that generally resolves with time) and vertebral fractures. Fractures of the lumbar spine (the vertebrae in the lower back) are particularly common in automotive collisions.

Potential signs that you have one or more fractured vertebrae after a car accident include:

• Back pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Loss of feeling and/or strength in the extremities
• Muscle spasms
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

Neck Injuries

Whiplash is the neck injury most commonly associated with car accidents. It occurs when your head and neck move back and forth very quickly due to the force of impact in the crash.

Contrary to popular myth, whiplash is very much a “real” injury. In fact, whiplash can be quite severe. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Pain or soreness in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, or upper back
• Headaches
• Reduced range of motion (stiffness, difficulty, or pain when moving your head or neck)
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Signs of concussion, which can happen at the same time as whiplash

Other neck injuries that may occur in car accidents include strains or sprains of soft tissue in the neck, slipped or herniated discs, joint injuries, and fractures of the cervical spine. Whiplash and other neck injuries may also cause a pinched nerve in the neck, resulting in sharp pain, limited range of motion, and tingling or numbness in one or both arms.

Chest Injuries

Thoracic injuries (also known as chest injuries) are extremely common in car accidents. They often occur when the forward motion of the body is halted by a seatbelt, when the upper body is struck by an airbag, or the chest comes into contact with the interior of the vehicle.

Chest injuries in a car accident can range from significant contusions and bruising to broken ribs. A broken rib may result in a punctured lung, which is a medical emergency.

Possible signs of a punctured lung include:

• Chest pain, usually limited to one side
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Elevated heart rate
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Fainting and/or collapse

Fractures and Orthopedic Injuries

A car accident can put tremendous amounts of force on the bones in your body, beyond what they are able to withstand. This can lead to a broken bone.

Common examples of broken bones in car accidents include:

• Broken ribs
• Hip fractures
• Femur, tibia, and fibula fractures (broken leg)
• Pelvic fractures
• Fractures of the patella (kneecap)
• Ankle fractures
• Wrist and arm fractures
• Fractures of the clavicle (collarbone)
• Skull fractures
• Facial bone fractures (nose, cheekbone, etc.)
• Vertebral fractures (broken neck/back)

Orthopedic injuries involve damage to the bones and soft tissue. X-rays can generally detect a broken bone, but soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and tears generally require more sophisticated imaging. This may include an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.

Knee Injuries

The knee is a complex structure that is easily injured in an auto accident. Vehicle occupants may injure their knees if they strike the dashboard during a collision or if they slam down on a gas pedal or brake to avoid the crash. Knee trauma can also occur if the legs are positioned awkwardly in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

If you are experiencing any knee pain or difficulty bending the knees or walking after a car accident, you may need to see an orthopedic specialist.

Shoulder Injuries

Make no mistake, wearing a seatbelt can save your life. Unfortunately, the strain placed on your shoulder by a seatbelt during an accident can lead to a strain or sprain, fractures of the bones in the shoulder, or a dislocation of the shoulder.

Rotator cuff tears are another shoulder injury commonly seen in car accidents. Symptoms of a torn rotator cuff may include:

• Pain in the injured shoulder
• Difficulty resting or lying on the affected shoulder
• Loss of strength or motion in the shoulder
• Popping or clicking sound when moving the shoulder

Internal Injuries

The force of a car accident can cause widespread internal injuries. Internal bleeding can be very dangerous and requires emergency medical treatment. Unfortunately, because it is happening inside the body, victims may suffer internal bleeding without knowing it.

Symptoms of internal bleeding are often non-specific, and they may vary depending on the person and the nature of the injury. The signs of concealed internal bleeding may include (but are not limited to):

• Pain (which may be referred from the injury site to other parts of the body)
• Feeling lightheaded or nauseous
• Vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Pale, clammy, or sweaty skin
• Extreme thirst
• Swollen abdomen or tight abdomen
• Weakness, numbness, or tingling
• Headache, especially if sudden or severe (may signal a life-threatening brain bleed—call 911 right away)
• Signs of heart attack or stroke (call 911 right away)
• Vision disruptions
• Coughing up blood
• Passing blood in the stool, or black and tarry stools

In severe cases, one or more internal organs may be damaged in a car accident. The organs most likely to be affected include the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys. Prompt medical treatment is essential for repairing the damage and minimizing the risk of complications.

Psychological Trauma

Victims of car accidents often experience anxiety, fear, and depression. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also possible.

Symptoms of PTSD after a car accident may include:

• Intrusive thoughts and memories of the accident
• Extreme avoidance of triggers, such as avoiding the place where the accident happened or even refusing to drive or ride in a car
• Sleep disturbances
• Changes in attitude or behavior
• Feelings of guilt or shame—even if the accident wasn’t your fault
• Increased aggression and impulsivity

You may be entitled to compensation for physical and psychological injuries following a car accident. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will pursue the full extent of damages for pain, suffering, scarring, and more.

Less-Common Car Accident Injuries

These common car accident injuries represent the major types of injury we see in car accident claims. However, they are not the only injuries someone who is injured in a car accident may experience.

Examples of less-common injuries in car accidents include:

• Abdominal injuries: Injury to the abdomen is relatively uncommon in car accidents. Nonetheless, anyone who has been in a car accident should be evaluated for abdominal injuries due to the number of vital organs in the abdomen (stomach, pancreas, bowel, etc.).
• Burn injuries: A burn injury may occur if a vehicle catches fire or hazardous materials are involved in a crash. Partial- and full-thickness burns should be evaluated without delay, as these burn injuries may be serious.
• Loss of a limb/amputation: In extreme cases, limbs may be severed from the body during an accident. This usually only happens in high-speed collisions or when there is a notable difference in vehicle sizes, such as a truck accident. Amputation may be required after the fact if a limb is badly damaged.
• Crush injuries: A crush injury occurs when the body is subject to extreme pressure. It may occur when a vehicle is struck with extreme force, rolls over, or is smashed against an unyielding object. We commonly see crush injuries when cars are hit by semi-trucks.
• Eye injuries: You may experience a stinging sensation in the eyes when the airbag deploys. More serious injuries may occur if the eyesocket or the eye itself is damaged.
• Vestibular injuries: The vestibule is part of the inner ear. Whiplash and head injuries can lead to vestibular dysfunction, which is often characterized by changes in hearing, dizziness, loss of balance, and vertigo.

Just because these car accident injuries are less common doesn’t mean they never happen. If you suffer any kind of injury in a car accident, you should start exploring your legal rights immediately.

How Long After a Car Accident Can I Claim Injury?

In Ohio, the statute of limitations for car accident claims is 2 years. The clock generally starts on the date the injury occurs, but additional time may be available if an injury is not discovered right away.

Two years probably sounds like a lot of time, but it’ll go by in a flash. People who have been seriously injured may require weeks or months of therapy before they can get back to “normal” life. Meanwhile, the insurance company is preparing its defense.

Insurance companies know the most common car accident injuries. They often employ formulas to impersonally calculate the “value” of a particular injury, then use that to make a settlement offer. Ultimately, the insurer’s goal is to pay as little as possible and resolve any claims as quickly as they can. You need a lawyer who won’t let them get away with either.

Injured in a Car Accident? Learn How Colombo Law Can Help

Bruises, abrasions, and lacerations are all common after a car accident. Sadly, these relatively minor injuries are not the only possible outcome. Colombo Law has represented clients who have suffered a wide range of injuries in car accidents. Our firm has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured drivers and passengers.

If you have suffered any type of injury in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, our car accident lawyers have the skill and experience to obtain maximum compensation on your behalf. We ready every case as though it will end up going to trial, enabling us to secure superior results for our clients.

For a FREE case review, contact Colombo Law today. Our car accident injury lawyers serve clients in Columbus, Cincinnati, and all of Ohio.