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What Are the Top 7 Worst Car Accident Injuries?

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  • Michael Burry
  • Jun 11, 2025

Car accidents can cause severe injuries such as whiplash, fractures, and sprains, thereby causing significant damage to drivers and passengers. After sustaining the worst car crash injuries, such as TBI, burns, amputations, psychological trauma, spinal cord injuries, and internal organ damage, the car accident victim must provide insight into legal rights if these injuries may affect them.

7 Types Of Worst Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can result in devastating injuries that profoundly impact the lives of those involved. While any injury sustained in a car accident can be serious, certain injuries are considered the worst due to the severity and long-term consequences. In contrast, some victims may experience minor injuries such as whiplash or bruises, which, while less severe, still require prompt medical attention.

These injuries can significantly affect a person’s physical health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. Some of the common car accident injuries include injuries so severe that they can sometimes result in even death:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Traumatic brain injuries occur when the head sustains a forceful impact during a car accident. This can result in brain swelling, bleeding, or damage to brain tissue. Common symptoms of TBI include headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, and sensitivity to light or sound.

TBIs can range from concussions with temporary effects to severe injuries leading to long-term cognitive impairment, memory loss, or even coma. TBIs after a car accident can also result in nerve damage, which may require prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent long-term complications. Victims can take pictures of the worst car accident injuries that will act as evidence in the future. 

Spinal Cord Injury

A car accident can cause damage to the spinal cord, resulting in partial or complete paralysis. Injuries to the spinal cord can lead to loss of sensation and motor function below the injury site, impacting mobility and daily life activities.

Depending on the severity, spinal cord injuries can lead to paraplegia or quadriplegia. The injury can be caused due to single-car crashes (where all passengers are in one car) or multi-vehicle collisions.

NOTE: Since 2015, spinal cord injuries have been one of the fundamental injuries sustained in car accident crashes.

Internal Organ Damage

The forceful impact during a bad car accident can cause internal organ damage. Internal organ damage, such as to the lungs or ribs, can lead to symptoms like difficulty breathing. Organs like the liver, kidneys, spleen, or lungs may suffer lacerations, contusions, or internal bleeding, and broken ribs can also contribute to internal organ damage and difficulty breathing. These injuries can be life-threatening and may require immediate surgical intervention to repair or remove damaged organs.

Fractures And Bone Injuries

Car accidents frequently result in fractures and bone injuries due to the impact. Common fractures include broken limbs, ribs, pelvis, facial bones, and knee injuries. Depending on the location and severity of the fracture, surgery, immobilization with casts or braces, and extensive rehabilitation may be necessary for recovery. A knee injury can range from minor sprains to severe fractures requiring surgery. Fractures are one of the injuries that victims can survive after the worst car accidents.

Amputations

In severe car accidents, the impact or entrapment can lead to traumatic amputations of limbs. Losing a limb has profound physical and psychological consequences for the individual, requiring extensive rehabilitation, prosthetic fittings, and adjustments to daily life activities.

Burns

Car accidents involving car fires or explosions can cause severe burns. Burns can range from first-degree to third-degree, with third-degree burns being the most severe. Severe burns may require skin grafts, surgeries, and prolonged hospitalization. Physical and emotional scars from burn injuries can have long-lasting effects on the individual’s well-being and quality of life. Some victims may experience long-term effects of burn injuries. 

Psychological Trauma

Car accidents can cause significant psychological trauma, such as 

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Phobias related to driving or being in a vehicle. 

Psychological trauma can impact a person’s mental health, daily functioning, and overall well-being, requiring therapy or counseling for recovery.

How Can an Accident Attorney Help you Get Compensation?

A car accident lawyer can increase your likelihood of recovering adequate compensation after filing a car accident claim. They will help you collect critical documents and materials, manage all interactions with the insurance companies, and defend your rights throughout the entire legal process.