Common Injuries After a Car Accident
Short answer: The most common car accident injuries are whiplash and other neck strains, back injuries, headaches, and concussion. Many of them don't hurt right away. The absence of pain is not the absence of injury, so get checked after any crash.
Many Fort Worth crashes are rear-end and merging collisions on freeways and frontage roads, the kind of crash most linked to neck and back injuries.
Injuries we see most often after crashes
Crash injuries range from neck strains to emotional effects that show up weeks later. These are the problems that come up most often after car accidents:
Neck and back
- Whiplash and neck strains
- Upper, mid and low back pain and strains
- Disc herniations and stenosis
- Pinched nerves and sciatica
- Stiffness and decreased mobility
Nerve symptoms
- Tingling or numbness
- Burning
- Weakness
Head
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Memory loss
- Concussion
Chest, arms and legs
- Rib and chest pain
- Shoulder pain and rotator cuff strains
- Wrist pain
- Hip pain
- Knee sprains and meniscus strains
Emotional and behavioral
- Fear of getting back on the road
- Irritability
- Changes in appetite
- Depression
emergency room visits a year in the U.S. are for crash injuries. The South, which includes Texas, has the highest rate.
Source: CDC/NCHS Data Brief 466 →Injury guides
Whiplash
The most common crash injury, how it’s graded, and how long it can last.
Read more →Delayed symptoms
Why pain can start a day or more after the crash.
Read more →Head injury and concussion
Concussions can happen even in low-speed crashes.
Read more →Back and neck injuries
Disc injuries, pinched nerves, sciatica, numbness and tingling.
Read more →Emotional effects
Fear of driving, anxiety, irritability, depression and PTSD.
Read more →Headaches after a crash are common
Headaches are one of the most common problems after whiplash, and for many people they last. Tell your provider about any new headache, especially with dizziness or memory trouble. Read about head injury and concussion.
A seat belt bruise needs a same-day check
A bruise across your belly or chest from the seat belt can be a sign of an internal injury. Get it checked at an emergency room the same day. Seat belts still save lives: 45.34% of people killed on Texas roads in 2024 were not buckled up (TxDOT).
Absence of pain is not absence of injury
Adrenaline and the way your nervous system filters pain signals can hide an injury for hours or days. That's why the first visit isn't always the full picture. Learn why symptoms show up late and who to see after a crash. Back to the Fort Worth accident guide.
Want a lawyer to look at your case for free?
If you were hurt in a crash that wasn't your fault, in Fort Worth or anywhere else in Texas, you can ask for a free consultation. A participating personal injury law firm will reach out to you promptly. There's no cost to ask and no obligation.