Car Accidents: Common Injuries and Symptoms

A car accident can happen in the blink of an eye, but the effects can linger for months, years, or even a lifetime. Whether you’ve been in a minor collision or a multivehicle accident, it’s important to understand the most common car accident injuries and the symptoms to watch for, especially since some injuries may not show up right away.

Head & Brain

Common Injuries:

• Concussion
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Skull fracture
• Lacerations or bruising
• Symptoms:

Headaches

• Dizziness or confusion
• Memory loss
• Nausea
• Loss of consciousness
• Sensitivity to light or noise

Neck

Common Injuries:

• Whiplash
• Cervical strain/sprain
• Herniated disc
• Nerve impingement

Symptoms:

• Neck pain or stiffness
• Limited range of motion
• Headaches (often from base of the skull)
• Tingling or numbness in arms/hands

Back (Upper, Mid, Lower)

Common Injuries:

• Herniated or bulging discs
• Lumbar or thoracic sprain/strain
• Spinal fractures
• Compression injuries

Symptoms:

• Sharp or dull back pain
• Muscle spasms
• Radiating leg pain (sciatica)
• Difficulty standing or walking

Shoulders

Common Injuries:

• Rotator cuff tear
• Dislocation
• Bursitis
• Fracture or contusion

Symptoms:

• Shoulder pain with movement
• Swelling or bruising
• Weakness or reduced range of motion
• Popping or grinding sensation

Abdomen & Internal Organs

Common Injuries:

• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage (liver, spleen, kidneys)
• Seat belt syndrome (soft tissue damage)

Symptoms:

• Abdominal pain or tenderness
• Swelling or bloating
• Dizziness or fainting
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blood in urine or stool

Arms & Elbows

Common Injuries:

• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Lacerations
• Nerve damage

Symptoms:

• Pain or swelling
• Limited mobility
• Numbness or tingling
• Visible deformity

Hands & Wrists

Common Injuries:

• Fractures (e.g., scaphoid)
• Sprains/strains
• Carpal tunnel or nerve compression

Symptoms:

• Wrist or hand pain
• Swelling or bruising
• Weak grip
• Tingling in fingers

Hips & Pelvis

Common Injuries:

• Pelvic fracture
• Hip dislocation
• Soft tissue trauma

Symptoms:

• Groin/hip pain
• Difficulty walking or bearing weight
• Bruising or swelling
• Numbness in legs

Legs & Knees

Common Injuries:

• ACL/MCL tears
• Meniscus injury
• Fractures
• Contusions

Symptoms:

• Knee pain or instability
• Swelling
• Clicking or popping
• Trouble bending or walking

Ankles & Feet

Common Injuries:

• Fractures
• Sprains
• Crush injuries (from impact)

Symptoms:

• Ankle/foot pain
• Swelling and bruising
• Inability to bear weight
• Numbness or discoloration

Chest & Ribs

Common Injuries:

• Rib fractures
• Sternum injury
• Contusions from seat belts or airbag
• Cardiac or lung trauma (severe cases)

Symptoms:

• Chest pain (especially with breathing)
• Bruising across chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Tenderness when touched

To use the tool, simply click on a part of the body to view common injuries and symptoms that may occur in a car crash. While every situation is different, many of these injuries can lead to significant medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering – factors that may entitle you to a settlement. If you’ve been hurt in a crash, contact Huffman & Huffman to learn more about your legal options.

This interactive tool is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or medical advice. It is not a substitute for consulting with a qualified healthcare provider or attorney.

What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

Head, Neck, and Back Injuries

High-speed collisions often result in serious head and neck injuries, including whiplash and concussions, where the brain or spine is jostled. Symptoms of these injuries may include:

• Car accident head injury symptoms may include a persistent headache, dizziness or balance problems, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision, tinnitus, and sensitivity to light or noise.
• A neck injury after a car accident typically presents with pain and stiffness, headaches starting at the base of the skull, muscle spasms, reduced neck mobility, and sometimes tingling or numbness down the arms.
• A back injury from a car accident typically causes sharp or dull pain in the back, muscle stiffness, spasms, and limited ability to bend down or twist.

Arm and Shoulder Injuries

Arm and shoulder injuries from car accidents often occur when a person uses their arms to brace for impact or their arms strike a surface during a collision. Below are some symptoms to watch out for:

• A shoulder injury from a car accident may include symptoms such as pain that worsens at night or with movement, weakness when lifting the arm, limited range of motion, swelling, bruising, and a visibly deformed or out-of-place joint.
• Arm injuries can range from soft tissue sprains and contusions to bone fractures. Look for pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, reduced function, and deformity—especially in the elbow, forearm, or wrist .

Chest and Internal Injuries

Car accidents can cause serious chest and internal injuries that may not be immediately visible but require urgent medical attention.

• Car accident chest injuries often include bruised or broken ribs, which cause sharp pain when breathing, coughing, or moving, along with tenderness in the chest area.
• Internal injuries from a car accident may appear as abdominal or back pain, swelling, dizziness, and signs of internal bleeding like rapid heartbeat or confusion.

Lower Body Injuries

Many lower body injuries from car accidents occur in head-on collisions, where a person’s knees may strike the dashboard or their feet and ankles may be compressed by the crumpling of the vehicle’s front end. Here are some common symptoms:

• Hip injuries may cause intense pain in the hip or groin, visible swelling, stiffness, and difficulty standing or walking. In some cases, the leg may appear turned outward or shorter than the other.
• Leg injuries from car accidents can lead to deep bruising, swelling, limited motion, sharp pain with movement, and visible deformity in cases of fracture.
• A knee injury from a car accident often involves swelling, stiffness, instability, difficulty bearing weight, and a popping or locking sensation in the joint.
• Ankle and foot injuries may result in swelling, tenderness, pain with walking or standing, bruising, and reduced range of motion in the affected area.

Dealing With Car Accident Injuries? It May Be Time To Speak With a Lawyer

The effects of a car accident injury don’t stop at the ER. Pain can linger and once simple routines can feel overwhelming. If a negligent or reckless driver caused your accident, you don’t have to carry that burden alone. At Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, we help injured people across Virginia take legal action and get the support they need to move forward. Schedule a free consultation with a car accident injury attorney from our team today.