What Happens to Your Body in a Car Crash?

Getting into a car accident can take a severe toll on the human body. The physical force of a collision can violently shake your body, leading to injuries and damage. Victims commonly suffer from whiplash, head injuries, spinal cord trauma, and limb injuries.

When you get behind the steering wheel, you trust yourself and other motorists to drive carefully and defensively to prevent collisions. Unfortunately, car crashes still happen, and it’s important to understand their impact on the body. An Atlanta car accident lawyer familiar with Georgia law can help you recover compensation for your injuries. 

What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

In a collision, injuries occur due to the transfer of kinetic energy, and their severity can vary widely. Common injuries resulting from such incidents include:

• Head trauma
• Neck injuries
• Spinal damage
• Upper body injuries
• Broken bones
• Psychological conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

In some cases, these injuries can lead to long-term disability or even result in death. Recognizing the potential seriousness of these injuries is critical. Seeking immediate medical attention and obtaining legal representation can help protect your health and your rights following a collision.

Head Traumas

Right after impact, your head and body keep moving at the same speed as before the crash, even though the vehicle has stopped or slowed down.

That speed is only stopped when your head comes into contact with another object, such as an airbag, car door, dashboard, windshield, or other items in the car.

Survivors may experience the following mild or severe head injuries:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Concussion
• Skull fractures
• Contusions
• Intracranial hemorrhages

Neck Injuries and Whiplash

If the vehicle is in a rear-end collision, your neck can get thrown backward from the impact before rebounding forward.

This is known as whiplash, a condition that stretches the tendons and muscles in the neck. Whiplash is a soft-tissue injury that causes minor to major damage to the neck, back, and spine.

Spinal Injuries and Trauma

The discs between your spine can also experience trauma and disc herniation from whiplash and the impact of the car crash. A blow to the spinal cord can lead to broken vertebrae or crushed sensitive tissue.

While it is not common, some spinal cord injuries can lead to bleeding.

Upper Body Injuries

Your collarbone is one of the most vulnerable areas of your upper body during a collision, often impacted by the seat belt positioned over it. In high-speed crashes, the ribs are also at risk of breaking due to the force of the impact. Since the ribs protect the lungs, rib fractures can significantly increase the risk of a lung collapsing, a potentially life-threatening complication.

Internal Injuries

During a collision, your internal organs, such as the stomach, intestines, and other abdominal contents, are thrust forward at the same speed as your vehicle. Upon impact, these organs can collide with the abdominal wall or absorb the tension from the seat belt. 

This force can cause organs to rupture or bruise, potentially releasing waste products into the body or resulting in severe blood loss.

Additionally, the heart is forced forward along with the rest of the torso and can collide with the chest cavity or ribs, leading to bruising. Such injuries to the heart may result in significant blood loss and, in severe cases, can be fatal.

Broken Bones and Fractures

Pelvic fractures are among the most severe injuries sustained in car crashes. These injuries often require surgical intervention and prolonged rehabilitation. If you experience a pelvic or hip fracture in a collision, the financial burden of medical care can be overwhelming, making it essential to seek compensation for your losses.

Injured Limbs

Arms and legs are particularly susceptible to injury during a crash because they are less protected from movement compared to other parts of the body. As a result, limbs are more likely to collide with interior surfaces, leading to cuts, bruises, fractures, and other injuries. Prompt medical attention is crucial to address these injuries and minimize long-term effects.

Psychological Impact (PTSD)

The effects of a car crash on the human body are far-reaching. Besides the physical injuries your body can experience, your brain responds to the traumatic event.

The brain will release adrenaline and endorphins to elevate mood and increase physical alertness, helping the body and mind handle the accident. Some victims may seem calm after a collision because these hormones help block pain and stress.

The psychological impact of a car crash can also be significant, especially if the victim suffered a great amount of pain, damage, loss, or death of a loved one. Survivors can experience anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other disorders. It may vary how long it takes to feel pain after an accident due to adrenaline, shock, and other factors. 

How Kinetic Energy Can Cause Traumatic Injuries in a Crash

When you’re driving, both your body and the vehicle carry kinetic energy. When you press the brakes to stop, this energy is transferred into the braking system, allowing the vehicle to come to a controlled halt. This process minimizes the energy absorbed by your body, helping to prevent harm during routine stops.

In a sudden, unexpected collision, however, your body absorbs much of the kinetic energy instead. This energy transfer can result in serious injuries, as the human body is not designed to withstand such forces. While modern vehicles are equipped with safety features to absorb some of the impact, these measures are often insufficient to fully protect passengers.

How Can an Attorney Help if You Were Injured in a Crash?

A lawyer can help you gather the necessary documentation to prove the severity of your injuries and how these impact your life. This includes medical documentation from your doctor and proof of the damage to your car.

Additionally, a lawyer can help you calculate all the damages you are entitled to, ensuring nothing gets left out. You may have future treatment costs or lost wages due to missing work while you recover. An experienced lawyer can help you pursue these things and ensure you receive a fair car accident settlement.

Types of Damages You Can Include in Your Claim

When filing a car accident claim as the injured party, you can seek compensation for a range of damages. Understanding the different types of damages available is essential to ensure your claim is thoroughly evaluated and fairly compensated.

• Economic damages cover out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a direct or indirect result of the collision. These may include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and property damage to your vehicle or other belongings. These damages are often easier to quantify because they are tied to specific financial losses.
• Non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. While these damages are harder to calculate, they are crucial in addressing the broader impact of the accident on your well-being.
• Punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the at-fault party acted with malicious intent, extreme recklessness, or gross negligence. These damages are not meant to compensate the injured party directly but serve to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future.

By understanding these categories of damages, you can better advocate for a comprehensive settlement that addresses both your financial and emotional losses.

Dying on Impact in a Car Accident

In a collision where a person dies on impact, the fatality is typically caused by severe trauma to vital organs, such as the brain or heart. This often occurs when a vehicle collides with an immovable object, like a wall or tree, at high speed. The immense force of such impacts can result in immediate, catastrophic injuries.

When vehicles collide, the force of impact depends on factors such as the speed, mass, and trajectories of the vehicles involved. Under these circumstances, the transfer of massive kinetic energy can lead to instantaneous death, commonly referred to as dying on impact.

If a person dies in a crash caused by another individual’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions, the deceased’s family may have the right to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. 

A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover

At John Foy & Associates, we bring over 350 years of combined experience assisting personal injury victims in recovering the financial compensation they deserve after a car accident. Our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys is committed to listening to your story, understanding your needs, and advocating on your behalf throughout this challenging process.

Unlike others, we never side with insurance companies. Our priority is always you and your rights. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today for a free consultation. Let us fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.