Posted on Friday, August 1st, 2025 at 9:00 am
Whether a sideswipe or a head-on collision, your body may not always bounce back quickly after a car accident. Some injuries heal fast, but others linger, rack up bills, or force you to alter how you move through daily life, especially when it comes to common car accident injuries like whiplash, fractures, or back pain.
Specific injuries appear in crash after crash. Some show up right away. Others stay hidden at first. You’ll best be able to protect your health and your legal rights when you know what to watch for and when to call a car accident lawyer in Birmingham for assistance.
Whiplash: A Pain in the Neck That Lingers
Rear-end collisions often cause the head to snap forward and back in a violent whip-like motion. Even at lower speeds, that force can strain the soft tissue around the neck and upper back.
Whiplash won’t always show up on an X-ray, which makes it easy for insurers to downplay it. But the pain, stiffness, headaches, and limited range of motion feel real. Some people recover in weeks, while others may deal with long-term discomfort or nerve damage outcomes that are often tied to common car accident injuries such as soft tissue damage, concussions, or spinal issues.
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
When your head strikes a window, seat, or steering wheel – or even just jerks hard enough – your brain shifts inside the skull. That movement may cause a concussion or something more serious.
Concussions are common in car accidents and may bring confusion, nausea, memory problems, or mood swings. Some symptoms take hours to show up, which makes early documentation important.
More severe traumatic brain injuries can cause internal bleeding, swelling, or loss of consciousness. These injuries need emergency care and may lead to lasting impairment.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Disc Trauma
A sudden blow to the back or spine can cause anything from slipped discs to partial paralysis. Some people walk away feeling fine, only to develop numbness, tingling, or weakness days later.
Spinal injuries can interrupt signals between the brain and body, affecting movement, bladder control, or sensation. Even herniated discs or pinched nerves may require surgery or rehab, and missing work only adds to the stress. These are just a few examples of common injuries resulting from car accidents that can seriously disrupt your life.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Crash force doesn’t care how strong your bones are. Wrists, ribs, arms, and legs frequently break during collisions, especially in T-bone and head-on accidents.
Fractures range from clean breaks to shattered bones that require pins, plates, or surgery. These injuries usually appear on scans so that insurance companies will acknowledge them. But the road to recovery may still involve pain, lost wages, and physical therapy.
In more severe cases, broken bones may also damage surrounding nerves or blood vessels, leading to additional complications that extend the healing timeline.
Soft Tissue Damage and Lacerations
A crash can strain or tear the muscles, ligaments, and tendons you rely on daily. You may not see the damage immediately, but even minor soft tissue injuries can make moving, lifting, or getting through your routine hard.
Soft tissue damage includes sprains, strains, swelling, and deep bruises. Without proper treatment, some injuries may heal poorly or not at all. Sharp metal or broken glass often causes deep cuts, which may lead to infection or lasting scars, even with stitches or surgery.
Internal Injuries and Bleeding
Not all injuries show on the surface. High-speed impacts can rupture organs or cause internal bleeding, especially in the chest or abdomen.
These injuries may turn life-threatening quickly. A torn spleen or punctured lung won’t always feel painful at first, which is why doctors often order scans even when you look okay.
Seatbelts save lives, but the force during a crash may bruise or damage internal organs. Broken ribs can also puncture lungs and make breathing harder.
Chest Injuries and Airbag Trauma
The chest absorbs a lot of impact during a crash. If your body slams into a seatbelt, steering wheel, or dashboard, the ribs and sternum may crack under pressure.
Even without fractures, the muscles and cartilage in your chest may ache for weeks. Some people struggle to breathe deeply, cough, or sleep comfortably after the injury.
Airbags deploy fast, usually within milliseconds, and with significant force. While they save lives, they can also cause injuries. Some people leave the scene with burns, eye trauma, or broken noses. These injuries may seem minor initially, but they still need medical attention and can hinder healing.
Emotional Trauma After a Car Accident
Not every injury leaves a visible mark. Car accidents can trigger emotional distress, flashbacks, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms, especially in children or those who witnessed something terrifying.
You may feel nervous about driving, riding in a car, or passing the intersection where the crash happened. Some people experience panic attacks or nightmares. That distress is real and may require counseling, medication, or both.
Unfortunately, insurers often try to minimize psychological harm. That’s why documentation and honest conversations with your doctor and lawyer will matter. Mental health recovery deserves just as much attention as physical healing.
Why These Injuries Deserve Immediate Attention
Many people downplay their pain or try to push through discomfort after a wreck. But untreated injuries often get worse. Minor issues may grow into chronic problems, and the legal window to act won’t stay open forever.
You don’t have to prove that your injuries are the worst anyone’s ever seen. You only need to show that they affected your life and someone else caused them. Medical records, photos, and accident reports will help build that story, especially in the first few days after the crash.
By taking action early, you’ll give yourself the chance to recover fully and protect your right to compensation.
Call the Car Accident Lawyers in Birmingham Who Know What You’re Going Through
If you or a loved one has suffered from any of these injuries, our car accident lawyers in Birmingham will want to hear your story. At Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, we’ve represented people across Alabama who never expected to need a lawyer until someone’s careless decision changed everything.
We won’t expect you to know all the answers. That’s our job. When we take your case, we’ll treat you like our family. We’ll explain every step in plain language, gather the records that matter, and push for the best outcome possible – whether negotiating with the insurer or preparing for trial. Our team is here to help you understand your rights and take the first step toward securing the necessary benefits.
You deserve to be heard. Reach out and give us a call at (205) 324-1212. Let us be the ones who listen.
