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Motor Vehicle Injuries

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Car Accident Injury Pain: Causes, Treatment & Pain Relief

Traffic accidents and the injuries accrued are an unfortunate consequence of our reliance on transportation. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) Crash Dashboard showed nearly 400,000 reported accidents in 2023. Their statistics include accidents involving drivers, passengers, pedestrians, motorcycles and bikers. Car accidents aren’t limited to just those inside personal or work vehicles; they also include bystanders walking or biking Florida’s roadways. Collisions can involve minor, moderate and severe injuries, depending on the type of crash and impact force.

About Injuries Due to Car Accidents

Car accidents are a significant public health issue resulting in 5.2 million people seeking medical care for injuries in 2022.[1] These injuries can range from minor bruising and sprains to severe conditions such as fractures, impalements and traumatic brain injuries. Many motor vehicle crash victims face long-term issues, including chronic pain and disability that can drastically affect their lives. Learning more about the types of injuries sustained in traffic incidents is essential for finding the best care to ensure a successful recovery and rehabilitation outcome.

Types of Road Traffic Accidents

Crashes are categorized based on the incident type, and the severity of injuries often correlates with the accident’s impact.[2] Injuries can range from minor fender benders to severe collisions. While this list isn’t exhaustive, it includes common terms that many are familiar with in the context of car accidents.

  • Rear-end collisions
  • Head-on collisions
  • Side impact (T-bone) accidents
  • Rollovers
  • Single-vehicle accidents
  • Multi-vehicle accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents (bikers)
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Bicycle accidents (Cyclists and pedalers)

For more information on types of car accidents and associated injuries, you can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the National Safety Council.

Who Is Most Likely to Experience Motor Vehicle Injuries?

Motor vehicle injuries can affect anyone, but specific groups are at higher risk of accidents. Teens and young adults have the highest rate of car crashes, often caused by inexperience, speeding and impairment. [3] Pedestrians and cyclists are also vulnerable groups out on the roadways that can get injured severely when colliding with moving vehicles.[4] While age is not a direct indicator of accident or injury risk, older people experience changes in vision, reflexes and fitness levels that may cause safety concerns.[5]

Risk Factors for Car Collision Injuries

Whether or not you drive, most people are in or around motor vehicles at least once a day. Transportation can be anything from buses, taxis and Ubers to walking, biking and motorcycling. Being on the roads in any way puts you at risk for accidents and injuries.

Let’s examine several well-known risk factors that contribute to road traffic accidents:

  • Speeding: Increases the severity of impacts and causes more severe injuries.[6
  • Distracted Driving: Includes texting, talking, or other activities that take attention off the road, affecting drivers and putting nearby pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists at risk for injuries due to accidents.[7]
  • Impaired Driving: Drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs are leading causes of motor vehicle crash injuries.[8]
  • Failure to Use Seat Belts or Helmets: Failing to buckle up or put on a helmet increases the risk of injury for drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, and cyclists in a crash.[9]
  • Fatigue: Drowsy driving (driving when tired or sleep-deprived) causes a significant amount of accidents and is just as dangerous as drunk driving.[10]
  • Inexperience: Young drivers are likelier to be involved in accidents due to limited experience and riskier behaviors.[Risk Factors for Teen Drivers | Teen Drivers | CDC]
  • Unsafe Road Conditions: Drivers aren’t always to blame. Hazardous road conditions like potholes, uneven roadways, missing safety barriers, and poor signage make roadways dangerous for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.[11] Low visibility due to poor lighting increases the risk of accidents and injury.[11]
  • Lack of Protective Infrastructure: Absence of bike lanes, crosswalks, guardrails and pedestrian signals raises the risk for cyclists and pedestrians.[Drivers aren’t always to blame. Unsafe road conditions like potholes, uneven roadways, missing safety barriers, and poor signage make vehicle travel dangerous.[11] Low visibility due to poor lighting increases the risk of accidents and injury.[11]
  • Weather Conditions: Rain, fog, or intense sunlight reduces visibility and traction, endangering everyone on the road.
  • Child Passenger Restraints: Children and infants face a higher risk of injury if infant car seats, booster seats, or seat belts are not used.[12]

This list highlights preventable and environmental risk factors impacting different road users. Awareness can significantly reduce the likelihood of severe injuries in road traffic accidents.

Common Motor Vehicle Injuries

Road traffic crashes can cause injuries affecting drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Below is a categorized list of injuries, organized by severity and type.

Depending on the type of crash, the resulting injuries may vary, but common injuries include:

Factures

Motor vehicle collisions cause trauma that can lead to broken bones. Breaks are classified as open (compound) or closed. Your doctor may use terms like oblique, transverse or greenstick. This refers to their break pattern.[13]

Common fractures include:
  • Arm, shoulder or elbow
  • Leg (femur, fibula and tibia)
  • Hands, feet or ankle
  • Back (spinal fracture)
  • Tailbone (coccyx)
  • Ribs or breastbone (thorax)
  • Collarbone (clavicle)
  • Hip or pelvis
  • Facial fractures
  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) [14]

Sprains and Strains

These occur when soft tissues like ligaments, muscles, or tendons are overstretched or torn.[15]

Common sprains include:
  • Sprained ankle
  • Sprained wrist
  • Sprained knee
  • Jammed fingers (finger sprains)
  • Thumb sprains
Common strains include:
  • Strained lower back
  • Strained neck
  • Strained hamstring or quadriceps

Neck and Back Injuries

Neck and back pain from car accidents can range from minor muscle strains to serious spinal injuries, often necessitating medical care and physical therapy. Symptoms like stiffness, discomfort, or radiating pain may not appear right away, making it crucial to seek a thorough evaluation after any crash.

Common neck and back injuries include:
  • Whiplash
  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal fractures
  • Muscle strains
  • Ligament sprains
  • Cervical (neck) fractures
  • Thoracic (mid-back) spine injuries [16]
  • Lumbar (lower back) strains or sprains
  • Pinched nerves (radiculopathy)
  • Facet joint injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Sciatica [16]
  • Compression fractures
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Spondylolisthesis (vertebra slipping out of place) [17]

Head Injuries

Head injuries often occur in car collisions and can involve the scalp, brain or face. The term head injury encompasses the mildest bump to serious head trauma and everything in between.[18]

Common head injuries include:
  • Concussions
  • Post-traumatic headaches [19]
  • Skull fractures
  • Hematoma [20]
  • Hemorrhage [20]
  • Contusion (bruising or bleeding)
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) [21]

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue damage is common in motor vehicle accidents due to the force of the impact or the restraint devices themselves. [22] Accidents can also cause bruising and internal organ damage. [22]

Common soft tissue injuries include:
  • Spains
  • Strains
  • Contusions (bruises)
  • Tendonitis
  • Bursitis
  • Stress fracture
  • Chronic pain syndrome

Dislocations

When a joint is forced out of position, it can result in significant pain and reduced mobility. Dislocated joints are classified as complete dislocations (luxation) or partial dislocations (subluxation).[23]

Common types of dislocations:
  • Dislocated shoulder
  • Dislocated hip
  • Dislocated elbow
  • Dislocated wrist
  • Dislocated knee
  • Dislocated ankle
  • Dislocated fingers
  • Dislocated jaw (mandible – lower jaw) [23]

Wounds

Car accidents can involve various types of wounds from broken glass, sheet metal, or being dragged on the pavement. Blunt trauma can cause internal bleeding and organ damage. Wounds may require stitches, surgery and pain management.

Common wounds caused by accidents:
  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Punctures
  • Impalement
  • Road rash (abrasions)
  • Abrasion
  • Avulsion (removal of skin and tissue) [24]
  • Internal abdominal injuries (organs like spleen, liver and kidneys)
  • Internal bleeding from blunt force trauma [25]
  • Crush injuries
  • Burns
  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) [14]

Symptoms of a Motor Vehicle Injury

Depending on the type of accident and injury you sustained, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:

Acute Car Accident Injury Symptoms

  • Sudden, sharp pain
  • Swelling or bruising
  • Limited range of motion
  • Visible deformity
  • Inability to bear weight
  • Immediate stiffness or muscle spasms
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Dizziness or confusion
  • Bleeding or oozing from a wound
  • Tenderness to touch
  • Loss of consciousness

Chronic Symptoms Due to Traffic Injuries

  • Persistent or recurring pain
  • Ongoing swelling or inflammation
  • Stiffness or reduced flexibility
  • Weakness in the affected area
  • Difficulty performing daily activities
  • Chronic headaches or migraines
  • Numbness or tingling in the limbs
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Sensitivity to pressure or movement
  • Difficulty concentrating or memory issues

Pain Management for Car, Cyclist or Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pain management can be essential to recovery after a collision—whether you were the driver, operator, cyclist, or pedestrian. Even minor accidents can have underlying issues like whiplash, nerve damage or joint trauma that worsen without proper care. Consulting with a pain specialist can provide personalized solutions, from physical therapy and nerve blocks to joint injections and regenerative medicines. Addressing pain soon after injuries occur helps prevent chronic pain, eases discomfort and promotes healing, allowing you to regain comfort and mobility so you can focus on moving forward confidentially after an accident.

Immediate treatment for car accident injuries is essential for recovery. Staying alert, following safety rules, and anticipating hazards—whether driving, cycling, or walking—can help prevent accidents and protect everyone on the road.

Resources:

  1. Motor Vehicle – Introduction – Injury Facts. National Safety Council. [Internet]. Published 2017. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/introduction/
  2. Manner of Collision. Mass Crash Report Manual [Internet]. Published June 1, 2018. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://masscrashreportmanual.com/crash/manner-of-collision/
  3. National Research Council (US), Institute of Medicine (US), and Transportation Research Board (US) Program Committee for a Workshop on Contributions from the Behavioral and Social Sciences in Reducing and Preventing Teen Motor Crashes. Preventing Teen Motor Crashes: Contributions from the Behavioral and Social Sciences: Workshop Report. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US) [Internet]; 2007. 1, Introduction: A Critical Public Health Problem. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9659/
  4. Pedestrians and cyclists: unprotected road users. Mobility & Transport – Road Safety [Internet]. Published 2023. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/european-road-safety-observatory/statistics-and-analysis-archive/pedestrians/pedestrians-and-cyclists-unprotected-road-users_en
  5. Older Drivers. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Internet]. Published September 8, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/older-drivers
  6. Speed Management | FHWA. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration [Internet]. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://highways.dot.gov/safety/speed-management
  7. Distracted Driving. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Internet]. Published November 5, 2022. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
  8. Drunk Driving. NHTSA [Internet]. Published January 11, 2019. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
  9. Hakimi P. Impact Of Failure To Wear A Seatbelt Or A Helmet. Select Law [Internet]. Published January 11, 2023. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from:https://www.selectlawgroup.com/impact-of-seatbelt-helmet-use-on-personal-injury-claims/
  10. Pacheco D. Driving While Drowsy Can Be As Dangerous As Driving While Drunk. Sleep Foundation [Internet]. Published June 24, 2022. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/drowsy-driving/drowsy-driving-vs-drunk-driving
  11. Understanding the Link Between Unsafe Road Conditions and Car Accidents. Safe Roads USA [Internet]. Published March 26, 2019. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.makeroadssafe.org/understanding-the-link-between-unsafe-road-conditions-and-car-accidents/
  12. Preventing Child Passenger Injury. Child Passenger Safety. CDC [Internet]. Published 2024. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/child-passenger-safety/prevention/index.html#
  13. Bone Fractures. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Published September 1, 2022. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15241-bone-fractures
  14. Complex regional pain syndrome – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Published May 10, 2022. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from:https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crps-complex-regional-pain-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20371151
  15. What Is a Sprain? Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Published September 20, 2023. October 25, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/sprains
  16. Thoracic Spine Injuries and Conditions. St. Elizabeth Healthcare [Internet]. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.stelizabeth.com/medical-services/spine-care/your-middle-back
  17. Spondylolisthesis. NHS UK [Internet]. Published October 18, 2017. Reviewed June 01, 2022. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/spondylolisthesis/
  18. Head Injury. John Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Published 2020. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/head-injury
  19. Reiff-Ellis R. What Is Post-Traumatic Headache? WebMD [Internet]. Reviewed March 17, 2023. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/what-is-post-traumatic-headache
  20. Reed-Guy L. Head Injury: Types, Causes, and Symptoms. Healthline [Internet]. Published 2012. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/head-injury
  21. Head Injury: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatments. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Published August 21, 2024. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/head-injury
  22. Toney-Butler TJ, Varacallo M. Motor Vehicle Collisions. [Updated 2023 Aug 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441955/
  23. Dislocation. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Published 2018. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17873-dislocation
  24. Roddick J. Open Wound. Healthline [Internet]. Published August 14, 2018. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/open-wound#types
  25. Hoffman M. Internal Bleeding Due to Trauma. WebMD [Internet].February 12, 2024. Accessed October 25, 2024. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/internal-bleeding-causes-signs
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