What Are the Most Common Injuries Caused By a Car Accident?

A split second can change everything. One moment you’re driving to work, heading home from the store or picking up your children from school. The next moment, you’re dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, facing injuries that may affect you for weeks, months or even years to come. At The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., we’ve witnessed the profound impact of car accident injuries on our clients. Knowing the signs of a serious injury lets you seek appropriate medical care after a collision. Our attorney can help you learn what to expect and protect your rights if someone else’s negligence caused your accident. Some of the most common injuries we’ve seen associated with Michigan car accidents include: 

• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Spinal injuries 
• Broken bones

What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries in Michigan?

Whiplash and Neck Injuries

Whiplash happens when the head and neck are abruptly thrust forward and backward due to a sudden impact. This sudden motion can strain and tear the muscles and ligaments in your neck, causing pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. What makes whiplash particularly concerning is that symptoms often don’t appear immediately after the accident but instead can take hours or even days to manifest.

Many accident victims dismiss neck discomfort as minor, only to discover later that they’re dealing with a more serious injury that affects their ability to work, sleep and enjoy daily activities.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries encompass damage to muscles, ligaments and tendons throughout your body. These injuries include sprains, strains and contusions that can limit your range of motion. While they may not be visible on X-rays, soft tissue injuries may require extensive physical therapy to heal properly.

The challenge with soft tissue injuries is that insurance companies often undervalue them, despite the very real impact they have on your quality of life.

Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries

Head injuries range from minor concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Even a seemingly mild concussion can have lasting effects on your cognitive function, memory and emotional well-being. Severe brain injuries can lead to lifelong disabilities, impacting your capacity to work and sustain relationships and live independently.

The forces involved can cause your brain to impact the inside of your skull, leading to bruising, bleeding, or swelling that may not be immediately apparent.

Back and Spinal Injuries

Your spine bears the brunt of the impact during many car accidents. Herniated discs, compressed vertebrae, and spinal fractures can cause excruciating pain and may require surgery. Severe spinal cord injuries can especially result in partial or complete paralysis.

Back injuries often have long-term consequences, potentially affecting your ability to work in your chosen profession and requiring ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Broken Bones and Fractures

The force of a car accident can easily break bones throughout your body. Arms, legs, ribs and facial bones are particularly vulnerable. While some fractures heal completely with proper treatment, others may leave you with permanent limitations or chronic pain.

Complex fractures may require multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, keeping you out of work for months while medical bills accumulate.

Factors That Increase Your Risk of Serious Injury

Several factors can increase the severity of injuries in car accidents. High-speed collisions naturally create more force and cause more severe trauma. However, even low-speed accidents can result in significant injuries, particularly to soft tissues and the neck.

Driver behaviors like speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving and failure to yield right of way significantly increase both the likelihood of accidents and the severity of resulting injuries. When drivers ignore traffic laws and safety protocols, innocent people pay the price.

The type of collision also matters. Head-on crashes typically cause the most severe injuries, while rear-end collisions frequently result in whiplash and soft tissue damage.

Get the Help You Need

Car accident injuries can turn your life upside down. Know that you don’t have to navigate this challenging time alone. If you’re dealing with injuries from a car accident that wasn’t your fault, experienced legal counsel can help you pursue the compensation you need to move forward. At The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., we fight for your rights and help you secure the resources you need for your recovery. Contact us today for a consultation.