Common Car Accident Injuries

“Man, my back hurts!”

“My neck feels really stiff!”

“It’s so weird, but I feel sore all over my body!”

I often hear these statements from clients after they have been involved in car accidents. Their bodies hurt all over, and the pain usually worsens before it gets better. Even the toughest humans I know have been reduced to tears due to the pain they suffer due to being rear-ended or “T-boned” in their car.

As common sense would dictate, our bodies were not created to handle the powerful forces that occur when two massive metal objects collide, as is usually the case in a car accident. Automobile safety standards have become measurably better through the use of bumpers, airbags, seatbelts, and other equipment in the past 50 years, but, despite these advancements, the automobile industry experts have not figured out a reliable way to avoid human injuries resulting from car accidents. Both automobile manufacturers and insurance companies agree that humans will become injured in a car accident because we are fragile. We are a combination of tendons, ligaments, bones, blood, and muscles and have not yet evolved to withstand the brutal forces of cars smashing into other vehicles.

Types of Car Accident Injuries

Although there are limitless injury types suffered by car accident victims, some injuries occur more than others. The following list describes the more common injuries occurring during a “run of the mill” non-fatal automobile accident.

Neck Injury

Neck Injury can occur bilaterally, on both sides of the neck, or unilaterally, on one side of the neck. Injury is usually a result of damage to the connective tissue involving ligaments, muscles, or tendons. Neck pain can also occur when the soft, jelly-like discs that naturally prevent the bones in the spine from slamming against one another are herniated or ruptured. With this type of injury, you may hear your doctors use the following medical terminology:

• Cervical
• Disc
• Herniation
• Extrusion
• Ligament laxity
• Spasm
• Discectomy
• Fusion

Back Injury

As with neck pain, common back injuries can occur as a result of the connective tissue, made up of muscles, ligaments, and tendons, or the soft, jelly-like discs that sit in between the backbones we commonly refer to as the spine. Back injuries can occur in your lower, middle, and upper back. With this type of injury, you may hear your doctors use the following medical terminology:

• Lumbar
• Disc
• Herniation
• Extrusion
• Spasm
• Discectomy
• Fusion
• Disc replacement

Shoulder Injury

Shoulder injuries occur when the ball and socket joint is damaged, causing pain and limitations of use in the shoulder area. With this type of injury, you may hear your doctors use the following medical terminology:

• Rotator cuff
• Labrum tear
• Frozen shoulder
• A/C joint

Open Head Injury

Open head injuries are so-referred because they are scrapes, cuts, or bruises that exist externally or on top of the skin – these are usually visible. A head injury isn’t always a brain injury as a brain injury occurs inside the skull, not on the surface.

Brain Injury

Brain injuries are often referred to as closed head injuries because they deal with damage to the brain or skull that may not be visible to the naked eye. Brain injuries can be severe. A loss of consciousness is one indicator that a person may have suffered a brain injury. If they don’t remember the accident, it may indicate that they have suffered a concussion and possible traumatic brain injury.

Meldon Law Is Here for You

When you have been involved in a car accident and have suffered injuries, whether they are included on this list or not, it is essential to retain the services of knowledgeable and experienced attorneys immediately. At Meldon Law, we have the expertise and experience to assist you in every aspect of your case. Our attorneys are dedicated to fighting for you and the compensation you deserve following a traumatic car accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call us at or fill out our contact form for a prompt response to schedule your free consultation. We want to help you get started on the path to getting your life back today.