The Short Answer:
According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, a motorist is injured every 13.5 minutes. Common car accident injuries range from whiplash and neck pain to concussion, spinal cord injuries, and internal bleeding. Regardless of the severity, make sure to visit a doctor as soon as possible to protect your health and establish documentation that supports your insurance claim.
Key Takeaways
- Minor car accidents and rear-end collisions often result in sprains, contusions, and soft-tissue injuries.
- Whiplash and other crash-related injuries may take several days to develop.
- In Alabama, more accidents occur in cities like Montgomery, but severe and fatal accidents are more common in rural areas.
- Rollover accidents, head-on collisions, and high-speed accidents are more likely to cause serious or fatal injuries.
- Head trauma, internal bleeding, and organ damage are among the most serious car accident injuries.
- Seatbelts and airbags save lives, but they can also cause bodily harm in the event of a crash.
- If a defective auto part caused the accident or injury, you may be able to file a product liability claim.
- Always visit the doctor to be evaluated for injuries and to establish a record that supports your claim.
Common Car Accident Injuries by Body Part
Every year, over 140,000 car accidents are reported in Alabama, including some 37,700 injury collisions. Car accidents cause a wide range of injuries from minor soft-tissue damage to catastrophic, life-altering trauma. Some injuries are immediately obvious, while others develop hours or even days later. Recognizing the most common car accident injuries can help you seek appropriate care, secure medical evidence, and understand your rights. The table below outlines the most common car accident injuries and affected body parts.
| Body Part | Most Common Car Accident Injuries |
|---|---|
| Head | Concussions, brain injury, skull fracture, brain bleeding |
| Face | Facial fractures, dental injuries, eye injuries, lacerations |
| Neck | Whiplash, cervical sprain/strain, herniated discs |
| Spine/Back | Bulging or herniated discs, spine injuries, paralysis, chronic back pain |
| Shoulders | Rotator cuff tears, dislocations, collarbone fractures, contusions |
| Chest/Ribs | Broken ribs, collapsed lung, internal organ damage |
| Arms/Hands | Fractures, nerve damage, soft-tissue injuries |
| Hips/Pelvis | Pelvic fractures, hip dislocations |
| Legs/Knees | ACL/MCL tears, broken bones, crush injuries |
| Internal Organs | Internal bleeding, organ rupture (liver, spleen, kidneys) |
Most Common Injuries in Rear-End Car Accidents
Rear-end collisions are among the most frequent car accidents in Alabama. In addition to damaging the front or back of your vehicle, these collisions can cause soft-tissue injuries and spinal cord damage, even at low speeds. Here are the most common injuries in rear-end car accidents.
- Whiplash (hyperextension/hyperflexion)
- Neck and upper back strains
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Lower back injuries
- Knee injuries
- Contusions and lacerations
- Shoulder injuries from bracing against the steering wheel
- Head injuries or concussion (possible without impact)
Symptoms of soft-tissue injuries may take time to develop and worsen over the course of several days. Many people find that they have only mild pain or stiffness in the first 24 hours but that their car accident symptoms peak over the next few days. Adrenaline may mask the pain initially, but then discomfort increases as inflammatory chemicals build up in the tissue and the muscles tighten to protect the injured area.
Most Common Fatal Car Accident Injuries
Nearly 900 fatal car accidents are reported in Alabama each year. According to ALDOT’s 2023 Crash Facts booklet, 3 out of 4 traffic crashes occur in urban areas where traffic is heavier. However, 58% of fatal accidents happen in rural areas.
Country roads are often curvy and narrow with limited room to avoid an accident. Meanwhile, limited traffic may encourage drivers to go faster than they normally would, which can be a deadly combination. In general, high-speed accidents, rollovers, and head-on collisions are more likely to cause fatal injuries. The most common injuries in fatal accidents include:
- Head and brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Aortic rupture
- Crushing chest injuries
- Blunt force trauma
In case of a fatal accident, surviving family members may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver. This allows you to seek compensation for the personal and emotional losses that you have experienced.
Seatbelt and Airbag Injuries
Seatbelts, airbags, and other safety features save thousands of lives every year. Front seat occupants who aren’t wearing a seatbelt are approximately 50 times more likely to die in an accident than those who use safety restraints, but these features aren’t failproof. Seatbelts and airbags can cause injuries during deployment or in high-impact crashes. Because airbags must deploy quickly in the event of a crash, the components may travel up to 200 miles per hour as they expand.
Common Seatbelt Injuries
- Shoulder and collarbone injuries
- Bruising across the chest or abdomen
- Rib fractures
- Internal organ injuries
- Abdominal trauma
Common Airbag Injuries
- Facial trauma and fractures
- Chemical burns or abrasions
- Head, chest, and neck injuries
- Wrist, arm, and hand fractures
- Hearing damage
- Eye injuries
Automotive Parts and Product Liability Claims
Design or manufacturing defects play a role in some car accident injuries. Depending on the situation, defective parts or improper warnings, such as inadequate instructions for child car seats, may result in a product liability claim.
One example is the faulty Takata airbags that can suddenly explode and send shrapnel through the cabin. These products were installed in some 10 million vehicles and resulted in the largest automotive recall in history. Here are examples of automotive defects that may result in a product liability claim.
- An airbag deploys improperly or unnecessarily
- A seatbelt fails or unlatches during a crash
- An airbag deploys with excessive force
- A known defect was not corrected or recalled
These cases may involve claims against:
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Parts manufacturers
- Distributors or designers
- Automotive service centers
Why Medical Documentation Matters
Whether you were injured by a reckless driver or were harmed by an automotive defect, it’s important to document your injuries starting on day 1. Here are 3 key reasons to visit your doctor even if you feel fine.
1. Protect Your Health
Even serious internal injuries may have few symptoms. Visiting the doctor or hospital helps ensure that you’re evaluated for possible injuries and receive appropriate treatment if trauma is found.
2. Provide Evidence
Medical records create a paper trail linking your injuries to the car accident. They document your out-of-pocket expenses as well as the severity of your injuries, which determines how much compensation you receive for pain and suffering.
3. Resolve Disputes
Whether you’re dealing with your own insurance company (MedPay or UM/UIM) or filing a claim through the other driver’s bodily injury insurance, medical records help document the severity of your injuries to prevent delays and denials and ensure that you’re fairly compensated for your car accident injuries.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
After a car accident, many people aren’t sure what to do next or if they even have a personal injury case. If you were injured or had to take time off work while you were healing, a car accident lawyer can help to evaluate your losses and negotiate with the insurance company to secure a favorable settlement.
Insurance companies often downplay car accident injuries, especially with whiplash, sprains, concussion, and back or neck trauma. They may try to claim that your injury was pre-existing or that you were partially at fault, which can prevent you from recovering compensation. A lawyer knows what to expect and can help you understand your rights and navigate the car accident claims and settlement process.
If you’re in Montgomery or the River Region and have questions, get in touch. At Floyd Hunter Injury Law, we’re called Those Thumbs Up Guys® because we make things easy when life is hard.
