The most common Las Vegas car accident injuries include broken bones, internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and whiplash. The severity of your injuries is dependent on the type of strike against your vehicle, the rate of speed, and the type of vehicle.
Some of the most common injuries in a car accident are not immediately noticeable, which is why it is always wise to seek medical care immediately after an accident, even if you feel okay. Speak with a Las Vegas car accident lawyer today.
Types of Injuries in Car Accidents in Las Vegas
While property damage is usually certain in a Las Vegas car accident, damage to the vehicle is not the only problem that crash victims experience. If you or someone you know has been involved in a Las Vegas car accident, you should make sure you get medical attention right away, no matter how minimal you think your injuries are.
This is because a medical professional can immediately identify and treat any harm sustained. Immediate care allows you to get support before any complications occur and may preserve your life. It is very important to remember that many traumatic injuries do not have initial, obvious signs. Get medical care right away to protect yourself.
Taking steps to get medical care immediately also helps make it clear that the accident caused your injuries. This is important later when you file a claim. While the types of injuries resulting from a Las Vegas accident can be as unique as the parties involved, there are some common injuries suffered. These include:
Bruises and Cuts
A Las Vegas car accident victim will likely have several cuts and bruises. Oftentimes, a victim is harmed and bruised by the car’s seat belt during impact. The pressure can break the skin or the blood vessels near the skin’s surface, causing bruises. Most bruises heal or completely disappear in a few weeks or less.
If the crash breaks windows, an accident victim may have cuts, which are openings or breaks in the skin, from broken glass. The severity of the cuts can vary with the severity of the accident and may require medical treatment.
Bone Fractures
These injuries can be partial or complete breaks of the bone and can be open or closed fractures. An open fracture breaks through the skin, while a closed one does not. The most common way a fracture occurs is when too much force is applied to the bone, causing it to break.
This typically happens in car accidents when a crash victim’s body comes into sudden contact with parts of the vehicle. Though most fractures are not life-threatening, medical treatment is still necessary, and the recovery period is dependent on the severity of the fractures.
Whiplash
This is an injury to the neck as a result of a forceful movement back and forth due to the impact of the car accident. The person’s soft tissues in their neck extend beyond the typical range of motion in a whiplash injury, causing harm to the neck’s muscles and ligaments. Most whiplash injuries are caused by rear-end accidents.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The leading causes of spinal cord damage are car and motorcycle accidents. The Mayo Clinic reports that nearly half of these types of injuries result from car and motorcycle crashes. Spinal cord injuries can cause permanent damage to a person’s sensation, strength, and other body functions.
Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder
Car accidents can also cause mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition is often the result of a dangerous, shocking, or otherwise traumatizing event. After suffering a car accident, a person may experience numbed emotions, re-experiencing trauma, increased physical reaction, and/or persistent avoidance of thoughts surrounding the crash.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reports that car accidents are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A TBI typically happens after the head or body experiences a violent blow or jolt. A TBI may result in symptoms that cause physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, and behavioral problems. TBIs can range in severity from mild to moderate to severe.
Internal Injuries
Victims of car accidents in Las Vegas often face trauma to the mid-section, resulting in internal bleeding and organ damage. This type of injury is very common but does not have immediate, obvious warning signs. This can result in life-threatening complications if you do not seek immediate care after an accident.
Disfigurement and Amputations
Victims often suffer from devastating injuries, such as burns or chemical exposure, that lead to significant disfigurement. Some face critical damage to limbs that results in amputation. This can change the course of a person’s life nearly instantly, without a clear path to recovery.
Emotional Trauma
Do not overlook the implications of emotional harm that comes from traumatic injuries like these, including the onset of mental health disorders such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Many people face years in recovery because of these mental health complications. They can also impact relationships, your ability to work, and your overall quality of life.
Skull Fractures
Victims who strike their head on the steering wheel or dashboard could suffer skull fractures, as can those who experience an object that penetrates into the skull. These accidents cause a serious risk of damage to brain tissue and may also result in complications related to infections. Skull fractures often require surgery and long-term rehabilitation.
Road Rash
Victims of Las Vegas car accidents, especially pedestrians and bike riders, are also likely to suffer from damaging injuries known as road rash, the result of being dragged by the vehicle over a period of feet. Not only is this one of the most painful injuries, but it also causes disfigurement and, in some cases, results in the loss of life.
Fatal Car Accidents in Las Vegas
Nevada had a car crash fatality rate of 12.8 out of every 100,000 people in 2024, which is higher than the national average of 11.5, according to Fatality Facts 2024 from the IIHS.
The loss of life occurs instantly in many cases or may be the result of treatments that buy time but ultimately fail. If your family member lost their life as a result of a Las Vegas car accident injury, work directly with an attorney who can help you pursue fair compensation and justice.
Call H&P Law for a Free Car Accident Consultation
The above includes some of the most common Las Vegas car accident injuries. If you or someone you know has been hurt in a Las Vegas car accident, know that you do not have to deal with the financial and legal consequences alone.
The skilled attorneys at H&P Law will explain your rights and obligations under the law and fight for the compensation you deserve.
