After a crash, your car isn’t the only thing that takes a hit. Your body absorbs the force quickly. Muscles tense. Joints shift. Pain can initially feel minor, only to show up hours or days later. It might not seem serious right away, but it needs real attention when it lingers or gets worse.
This post covers the most common car crash injuries, not just in medical terms, but also how these injuries feel, what causes them, and what you should do next. If you’re dealing with symptoms and aren’t sure whether they matter, this will help you understand what you’re experiencing—and why you shouldn’t ignore it.
To speak with an experienced Texas or New Mexico car accident lawyer, please call (575) 222-1000 or fill out our online form today.
1. Neck and Shoulder Strain
What it feels like:
- Stiff neck,
- Pain when turning your head,
- Tension in your upper back, and
- Discomfort while driving or sleeping.
How it happens: Even a “small” fender bender can whip your head and neck violently back and forth. That quick snap stretches muscles and ligaments past their limit. You may feel fine at first until the soreness hits hours later.
What to do: These injuries often don’t appear on X-rays and are easily overlooked. But waiting too long to treat them can slow your recovery and weaken your legal case. Early diagnosis and documentation are critical.
2. Lower Back Injury
What it feels like:
- Achy or sharp pain in your lower back;
- Numbness or tingling in one leg;
- Pain when sitting, bending, or lifting; and
- Discomfort that worsens over time.
How it happens: Collision forces travel through your spine, often damaging discs, nerves, and joints. If your body braces for impact, pressure builds up fast, especially in the lower back.
What to do: Back pain that affects walking, lifting, or sleeping needs immediate attention. Leaving these injuries untreated can lead to long-term problems like chronic pain or mobility loss.
3. Concussion or Mild Brain Injury
What it feels like:
- Headaches,
- Light sensitivity,
- Brain fog,
- Trouble concentrating or remembering things, and
- Mood swings or unusual fatigue.
How it happens: You don’t need to hit your head to get a concussion. The brain can shift inside the skull when your body stops suddenly, causing injury without visible trauma.
What to do: Brain injuries are often missed because symptoms show up slowly. If you notice any changes in memory, focus, or mood, get checked right away. It’s not just stress; it’s your brain signaling something’s wrong.
4. Wrist, Arm, and Shoulder Injury
What it feels like:
- Aching or sharp pain when lifting or reaching,
- Numbness or tingling in your hands,
- Loss of grip strength, and
- Pain traveling through the shoulder or arm.
How it happens: Your instinct is to brace for impact, gripping the wheel and locking your arms. That moment of tension puts a massive strain on your joints. Add in the twisting motion of a crash, and soft tissue damage is almost guaranteed.
What to do: These common car crash injuries make everyday tasks—driving, working, even typing—painful. Left untreated, they snowball into bigger orthopedic problems. Get them checked and documented right away.
5. Knee, Hip, and Ankle Injury
What it feels like:
- Pain when walking or climbing stairs,
- Clicking or catching in the knee,
- Stiff ankles or tight hips, and
- Discomfort getting in or out of the car.
How it happens: Your knees can slam into the dashboard, your ankles twist, and your hips rotate. Even without a direct hit, the impact is brutal on your lower joints.
Why it matters: Lower body joint injuries can interfere with balance, walking, and overall mobility. Many common injuries in a car accident like these don’t show up immediately, but can lead to long-term impairment if ignored.
6. Chest Injury and Rib Strain
What it feels like:
- Pain when breathing deeply,
- Soreness in your ribs or chest wall, and
- Sharp pulling pain when stretching or lying down.
How it happens: Seatbelts save lives, but they apply enormous pressure during impact. The pressure from the seatbelt strains your rib muscles and cartilage, even if you don’t break a bone.
What to do: Any chest pain after a crash needs evaluation. While fractured ribs are serious, soft tissue injuries hurt just as much and take just as long to heal when ignored. If you’re experiencing pain with breathing or movement, don’t ignore it.
7. Eye, Facial, or Dental Injuries
What it feels like:
- Blurred vision or light sensitivity;
- Facial swelling or bruising;
- Tooth pain, cracked teeth, or jaw soreness; and
- Dry eyes or sharp eye pain after impact.
How it happens: Airbags, shattered glass, and steering wheel impacts often cause facial injuries, even at lower speeds. The pressure and debris can instantly damage the nose, jaw, eyes, or teeth, but some effects (like vision distortion or dental pain) may take hours or days to appear.
What to do: These injuries can interfere with basic activities like eating, speaking, driving, or even concentrating. Whether dealing with facial trauma or blurred vision, these qualify as high impact car accident injuries that can affect daily life and significantly increase long-term medical needs.
8. Emotional and Psychological Trauma
What it feels like:
- Anxiety or fear while driving,
- Trouble sleeping,
- Feeling jumpy or disconnected, and
- Difficulty focusing or staying calm.
How it happens: Car accidents trigger your fight-or-flight response. Sometimes, the body stays in that high-alert state long after the crash. That can lead to PTSD-like symptoms, even if there’s no visible injury.
What to do: Emotional and psychological effects are real injuries. They deserve real treatment and are just as important to your recovery and legal case as physical wounds. Many people overlook serious car accident injuries like these, even though they warrant professional care.
Hurt? Get Help for Common Injuries in a Car Accident.
Whether it’s whiplash, a concussion, a herniated disc, or something more serious, common car accident injuries can have lasting consequences. You may qualify for compensation if a crash leaves you with pain, limited mobility, or missed work.
Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. helps injured car accident victims understand their rights and fight for the compensation they deserve.
Our attorneys have handled a wide range of accident injury claims and know how to deal with insurance companies, so you don’t have to.
Call (575) 222-1000 or send us a message to schedule your free consultation today.
Alejandro Acosta
Mr. Acosta is a lifelong resident of El Paso. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 2000 and graduated from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio in 2004. Mr. Acosta went on to attend Sandra Day O’ Connor College of Law (Arizona State Law School). He graduated in 2008, receiving his J.D. and his Indian Legal Certificate for his work in Indian Law and dealings with various tribal nations throughout Arizona. Alejandro has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 2008 and has been licensed in the State of New Mexico since 2011.
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