What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

Car accidents happen every day, with California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina occupying the top five accident-prone states, respectively. Regardless of your location, the open road can drastically change in front of you within seconds. You can swerve around hazards in 99% of situations, but there’s always the chance that it isn’t your lucky day. Hopefully, you’re left with minor damage and can walk away under your own power. But, in other situations, the victims of car accidents suffer major damage that can alter their way of life, all because someone acted negligently behind the wheel and injured another person.

There is a variety of damage that results from car accidents, including physical injuries, mental harm, and financial impairment. Physical injuries are what you’d expect—broken bones, herniated discs, and concussions. Financial damage applies to the expenses stemming from the accident itself, which you can add up relatively easily with the receipts you receive from your medical care, vehicle repairs, and other payments. Mental harm, on the other hand, is more difficult to determine, as the damage is internalized in the victim. All of these damages are translated to dollar figures and added together, with the total amount serving as the complete cost of your car accident.

Insurance coverage exists to protect you from the damage of an accident you didn’t cause, like a car accident, but it can only go so far. If you didn’t elect enough coverage or if your accident is severe, you could find yourself struggling to pay off the remaining balance of your expenses after the payout from your insurance contract. Many people find themselves in these circumstances every year, and if they’re unable to determine a way to pay off their expenses, they could find themselves under a mountain of debt—and fast. Fortunately, most states allow you to seek legal action against the at-fault party of your accident. But don’t think that you should take on the legal proceedings alone.

At-fault drivers aren’t always malicious. However, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t face penalties for injuring another party, especially in more severe cases. With a car accident lawyer by your side, you can navigate through the process with ease and, more importantly, increase your chances of reaching the finish line successfully. Car accident law firms come in all shapes and sizes, too, so you’ll have to ensure you’ve done your due diligence before you decide on a firm that will represent you in such a serious matter.

Luckily, you won’t have to do much research. You’re already on the website of America’s largest personal injury firm—Morgan and Morgan. We make it easy: with over $20 billion+ recovered, offices from coast to coast, and a proven track record of success, our firm is uniquely capable of helping you recover every penny you deserve after a car accident you didn't cause.

Complete our free, no-obligation case evaluation to take the first step toward the restitution you’re entitled to.

What Are the Top 5 Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

Car accident injuries range from minor scrapes and bruises to multiple fatalities, with even seemingly minor fender benders resulting in life-changing injuries. There’s a wide variety of damages that can occur, but here are a few of the most common.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when the head moves backward and forward rapidly, causing the victim to sustain skeletal, muscular, and nerve damage. This type of injury is especially common in situations where you stop abruptly after traveling at elevated speeds, much like in car accidents. Although whiplash might not appear to be all that severe initially, the damage can begin much later down the line, causing the victim to potentially lose mobility and suffer from chronic pain in the future.

Head Injuries

A head injury can include anything from minor facial cuts to traumatic brain injuries. Much like with whiplash, the rapid forward and backward movement of a car accident victim's head can collide with the steering wheel, the window, or other objects and cause serious damage. Victims have lost their eyes, broken their noses or orbital bones, and suffered other painful injuries in car accidents.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are especially common in car accidents. You could break your hand bracing yourself, break an arm if it’s trapped between two objects, or collide with an object and break another bone, all of which come with their respective pain and recovery times. Broken bones are more common in severe accidents, of course, but even a minor accident can leave you with broken bones or worse.

Internal Organ Damage

The sheer force of an accident often doesn’t leave visible injuries. In some cases, car accident victims sustain internal damage that won’t present itself initially. They could feel pain or discomfort, but if there’s no external indication of the damage, the victim will have to undergo further testing to determine the full extent. These unfortunate situations call for trained medical professionals and an experienced car accident lawyer to guarantee the best possible odds of success.

Cuts, Scrapes, and Bruises

Shattered glass, airborne projectiles, and broken pieces of the interior of your vehicle can all cut and collide with your person, leaving you with a painful injury. This type of injury can barely affect you or, in more serious cases, change your life forever. It all depends on the severity of your injuries, the situation surrounding your accident, and the experience of your car accident lawyer, so make sure to team up with Morgan and Morgan and increase your likelihood of success.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident Injury?

You should seek medical attention promptly following a car accident of any severity. As stated above, you can potentially sustain internal damages that won’t present themselves immediately. By seeking the care of a doctor sooner rather than later, you can detect this damage before it becomes a serious problem, potentially saving you from further injury or worse.

Medical attention is also beneficial later on in the legal process, as the list of your injuries taken by your doctor will serve as an official list of damages to recover. You’ll have the extent of each injury clearly documented for the at-fault party or insurance provider and evidence to support both your present and future condition. If your car accident lawyer is experienced, they’ll be able to recover compensation equal to the full and fair value of each of your injuries.

Once your medical evaluation is completed, you’ll likely start to file your insurance claim or consider a lawsuit against the at-fault party. However, it’s important to team up with an attorney before any of this, especially if your case isn’t clear-cut. An attorney’s involvement, starting on day one, significantly improves your probability of a successful outcome in your case and, more importantly, recovering the compensation you deserve.

There might be thousands of law firms out there, but there’s only one Morgan and Morgan. Some have to choose between the attentive touch of a small firm and the resources of a larger organization when selecting their attorney. Fortunately, our clients never have to sweat about that—we provide a best-of-both-worlds approach with a relentless intensity to never settle for less than you deserve. Best part? You can afford our assistance for no out-of-pocket costs, and we’re only paid if we win your case.

What Can I Recover After a Car Accident That Wasn’t My Fault?

Most states allow you to pursue legal action against the negligent individual(s) responsible for your harm, with almost all of them requiring some sort of negotiation before the courtroom. It’s beneficial to seek a settlement through negotiation in almost all cases, even if you aren’t required to. You can save money on legal fees, diminish the time between your accident and your recovery, and much more.

Your specific recovery will depend on the severity of your injuries, the circumstances surrounding your case, and the experience of the attorney representing you, amongst other things. Here are a few of the more common damages that car accident victims seek for recovery

• Hospitalization expenses
• Prescription costs
• Treatment and rehabilitation
• Any other medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Total loss of earning capacity
• Repair costs
• Emotional damages
• Funeral benefits, in the case of wrongful death

Emotional and mental damages are often difficult to advocate for because the majority of the damage is internal. A third party won’t be able to look across the negotiation table and accurately understand how much you’re suffering, which often leads to diminished compensation offers. Many law firms struggle to recover the rightful value of this type of injury, but not Morgan and Morgan. Our car accident lawyers are more than capable of advocating for every penny you deserve—and we have an extensive track record to prove it.

Contact a Morgan and Morgan Car Accident Lawyer

In the most difficult moments of your life, Morgan and Morgan has your back. The most common car accidents change lives every day, but you don’t have to accept the consequences if the accident wasn’t your fault. Our lawyers are ready and eager to help you advocate for every penny you’re entitled to, even if the odds are grim, and help you return to your normal life as soon as possible.

Don’t gamble with your representation; choose a Morgan and Morgan car accident lawyer and give yourself the best possible chance of success.

Complete our free, no-risk case evaluation to get started.