The Anatomy of a Car Crash and The Injuries that Result.

The Anatomy of a Motor Vehicle Accident and The Injuries That Result From A Crash

Car Accidents are really three separate impacts, not one as most believe. Here's what I mean by that:

1. Vehicle Impact - this occurs when the car impacts either with another car or a static object, such as a tree, barrier or embankment;

2. Body Impact - this occurs when the person occupying the car hits something inside the car, such as the windshield, the steering wheel or the dashboard;

3. Organ Impact - this occurs within the body of the person occupying the car, when organs impact with the supporting structure, such the brain with the skull, the heart with the sternum, the spleen with the ribs or spine, or the intestines with the pelvis. 

With a better understanding that each car crash involves 3, not 1, impacts, let's examine a head-on collision.

Head-On Car Crashes

With head-on collisions, there is always some extent of front-end damage to the car. This is our Vehicle Impact, our first impact is the car hitting something else or being hit by something else.  

Windshield damage, steering wheel damage or dashboard damage would be indicative of our second impact - Body Impact. This is when the occupant comes into contact with some part of the interior of car after the initial Vehicle Impact.  When some part of the body comes into contact with the windshield, steering wheel or dashboard.  As this Body Impact is happening, the occupant would be experiencing the third impact, the Organ Impact.

Windshield Damage

When the windshield of the vehicle is damaged, the organ impact would be evident by observing obvious injuries, such as soft tissue injuries, like lacerations, abrasions, bruising and contusions. Or, more traumatic injuries such as fractures to the head, neck, sternum or ribs.

Windshield damage after a Vehicle Impact would likely result in the following injuries:

• Soft Tissue Neck Injuries;
• Traumatic Brain Injury;
• Broken Nose;
• Facial Bone Fractures;
• Larynx and Tracheal Injuries;
• Fractured Sternum;
• Myocardial Contusion;
• Pericardial Tamponade;
• Pneumothorax;
• Hemothorax;
• Flail Chest; and
• Intraabdominal Injuries (ruptured spleen, liver or bowel).

 Dashboard Damage

The major indication that an occupant and his/her body impacted with the dashboard include: 

• Knee Injuries;
• Femur, Hip, Or Pelvis Injuries;
• Head, Face Injuries; and
• Cervical Spine/Neck Injuries.

T-Bone Crashes or Lateral-Impact Collisions

The Vehicle Damage in a T-Bone or Lateral-Impact Crash is evident by damage to the driver's or passenger's side of the car.  The Body Impact for these types of crashes would be an intrusion of the door, arm rests, window, or other parts of the car into the occupant's space.

The third, Organ Impact, would likely result in the following injuries:

• Head Injury;
• Cervical Spine Injury (the combination of flexion and rotation of the spine that occurs  with a lateral impact produces more frequent and severe cervical injuries, and fractures  of the spine are more common with this type of crash than with rear-end collisions);
• Chest and Abdominal Injuries to the side of impact;
• Upper Arm, Shoulder and Clavicle Injuries on the side of the impact; and
• Pelvic, Hip or Femur Injuries on the side of the impact.

 Rear-End Car Crash

The most common of the rear-end car crashes occurs when a stationary car (stopped at a stop-sign or red light) is hit from behind by another car.  The Vehicle Impact would be the wrongdoer's car colliding into the rear of another vehicle.  The Body Impact in a rear-end crash would occur then from some part of the occupants body coming into contact with the interior of the vehicle.  The Body Impact will occur as the torso and seat shoot forward, and then back.  

The Organ Impact and/or injuries most likely are:

Hyperextention of the Neck (if the headrest is too low, the neck will end up hyperextended over  the top of the headrest);

• Low Back Injuries;
• Mid Back Injuries;
• Wrist/Hand Injuries (due to grasping on the steering wheel);

Accidents occur very frequently in the Lehigh Valley. Even more frequently for those traveling Route 22 or I-78. Regardless of what you hear, Accidents Do Not Just Happen.

The Root Cause all car crashes is due to the actions or inactions of a driver. This is what we call Negligence.  For example:

• Speeding - Driving Too Fast To Be Able To Stop In Time;
• Tailgating - Failing To Keep A Safe Distance Between your Car And The Car In Front;
• Inattentiveness - Distracted By Reading, Texting, Talking On Phone;
• Driving While Intoxicated;
• Unsafe Lane Change - Changing Lanes And Cutting Off Other Cars;
• Weather Conditions - This Effects Visibility and Driving Conditions;
• Road Conditions - Wet, Snowy, Icy Roads, and Driving In An Unsafe Manner For Those  Conditions; and
• Defective Vehicles - Bald Tires, Bad Brakes.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash, our Attorneys at Snyder & Wiles, PC can help you. Call us immediately, so we can explain and protect your rights to ensure that you obtain all that you are entitled to after a car accident. In Pennsylvania, proving a car accident begins with proving liability - who is at fault, then proving damages - the injuries that resulted from someone else's fault.  Our Auto Accident Attorneys understand the anatomy of a car accident and the injuries that result from it. We will fight for you as we stand up against insurance companies every day, fighting for all those injured in the Lehigh Valley.

At Snyder & Wiles, PC, Gladys Wiles understands the specific emotional components and legal aspects associated with motor vehicle accidents. Car accidents occur in a split second, but cause tragic and permanent injuries lasting a lifetime. Even more tragic is when these injuries are caused to Victims by distracted drivers, texting while driving or drinking and driving.

Our Lehigh Valley Injury Attorneys help you in recovering your lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses and for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of a Car Accident. Contact our Injury Attorneys for a free consultation today. We are your Route 22 and I-78 Injury Lawyers.

For a free consultation regarding your personal injury, call today! 

Gladys Wiles at 610-391-9500.