South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers

The Most Common Injuries from Car Accidents

July 31, 2025

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A car crash can happen when you least expect it. If you were hurt in a collision, you need to take immediate action to protect your health, safety, and legal rights. At Smith & Jones Law, LLC, we handle all types of car accident injury claims. Here, our Lexington car accident lawyer discusses the most common injuries that happen in crashes.

Common Injuries from Car Accidents

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) reports that nearly 40,000 people are hurt in motor vehicle crashes statewide each year. The nature and severity of these injuries vary dramatically. Thankfully, some victims sustain only minor harm. However, sadly, many other people suffer serious or even life-altering trauma. Some of the most common car accident injuries in South Carolina include:

  • Lacerations: Lacerations are cuts or tears in the skin caused by sharp objects or impact during a collision. These injuries can range from minor surface wounds to deep cuts that require stitches or surgical treatment. Notably, lacerations may result in scarring and carry a risk of infection if not properly treated. Some of the most common specific causes include broken glass, torn metal, or unsecured items inside the vehicle.
  • Whiplash: Whiplash is a form of soft tissue damage that is most often associated with rear-end collisions. The injury happens when the neck is suddenly and forcefully jerked back and forth, often from rear-end collisions. It affects the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck and back. Some common symptoms of whiplash include stiffness, headaches, and limited range of motion. Notably, these symptoms may take hours to develop.
  • Sprains and Strains: Sprains involve the stretching or tearing of ligaments, while strains affect muscles or tendons. These soft tissue injuries can result from the body being thrown or twisted during a car accident. Some of the most common symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and reduced mobility in the affected area.
  • Broken Bones: Fractures or broken bones are common in high-impact collisions and may affect the arms, legs, ribs, or other parts of the body. The severity ranges from relatively simple breaks that may start to heal within a few weeks to compound fractures requiring surgical intervention and could leave the victim with a permanent impairment. All suspected broken bones are a medical emergency.
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Brain injuries are also a medical emergency. They can be life-changing. TBIs result from a sudden jolt or blow to the head. A key point car accident victims should know is that concussions and TBIs can happen even without a direct impact if the brain moves inside the skull. These injuries range from mild concussions to severe. Prompt medical care for a head injury is a must.
  • Internal Injuries: Internal injuries affect organs, blood vessels, or internal structures and may not be visible right after a crash. Common internal injuries include internal bleeding, organ damage, or punctures caused by broken ribs or blunt trauma. These conditions are potentially life-threatening. They often require emergency medical attention.
  • Spinal Cord Damage: Even a very small amount of trauma to the spinal cord can be a catastrophic injury. The severity depends on the location and extent of the injury. These injuries often require immediate medical care and long-term rehabilitation. In some cases, the damage may be permanent and profoundly life-altering.
  • Amputations: Amputations may occur when a limb is severely crushed, severed, or damaged beyond repair in a car accident. They can happen at the scene or later in a hospital setting if medically necessary. Recovery involves both physical rehabilitation and emotional adjustment to life after limb loss.

All Types of Injuries from a Car Accident Require Prompt Medical Attention

Hurt in a crash in South Carolina? You should see a doctor as soon as possible. All physical injuries should be evaluated, diagnosed, treated, and followed up on by a doctor. Many car crash injuries arise with a gradual onset. In other words, you may be more badly hurt than you initially believed.

Do not wait to get medical attention. Not only is doing so a must for your physical and mental recovery, but it is also a required step in the personal injury claims process. Without supporting medical records, you will not be in a position to get car accident injury compensation in South Carolina.

Recovering the Maximum Compensation for a Car Crash Injury in South Carolina

In South Carolina, auto accident victims have the right to seek compensation for the full extent of their damages, including non-economic losses. No matter the cause, nature, or severity of your injury, it is imperative that you secure the maximum settlement or verdict. Insurance companies are not on your side. They fight to pay out less. Our South Carolina car accident lawyers can help. You may be entitled to recover compensation for:

  • Vehicle repairs or total loss value
  • Ambulance costs and emergency room care
  • Hospital bills and other medical expenses
  • Loss of wages and loss of future earning power
  • Pain and suffering & mental anguish
  • Reduced quality of life due to injury
  • Wrongful death of a family member

How Our South Carolina Auto Accident Lawyer Can Help

Motor vehicle collisions are consistently a leading cause of accidental injuries in South Carolina. No matter the nature and severity of your injury, you need immediate medical attention and the maximum available financial compensation. At Smith & Jones Law, LLC, we know how to hold the big insurance companies accountable. With a proven record of case results, our South Carolina car accident lawyers are standing by, ready to review your case during a free consultation.

Schedule Your Free Consultation With Our South Carolina Attorneys Today

At Smith & Jones Law, LLC, our South Carolina car accident lawyers are proud to provide personalized legal advocacy. If you or your family member suffered a bad injury in a wreck, please do not hesitate to contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review. From our offices in Lexington and Mauldin, we handle motor vehicle accident claims all across South Carolina.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our experienced team is dedicated to guiding you through the legal process and fighting for the justice you deserve.
How Do I Know If I Have a Case?

Generally, personal injury cases are based on someone else being at fault for an accident. It can be a person, a company, or another legal entity that has fault.

You might think that someone else needs to have hurt you on purpose to get compensation. That isn’t true! Most personal injury claims are based on negligence. Negligence just means being careless in an unreasonable way. That’s one basis for a case, but there are several different grounds for personal injury compensation. Our lawyers will explore all the ways you may qualify.

The best way to know if you have a case is to ask us for a free no-obligation consultation!

How Much Time Do I Have to File A Lawsuit?

It depends. Generally, the maximum time to file a personal injury case in South Carolina is three years. However, there are exceptions, and it can be much shorter. There are some circumstances where the timeline may be extended, too, but you should never count on this. If you miss the deadline that applies in your case, it usually means there is no way to pursue compensation.

There are things you can do right now to protect your rights and build your case. You should always contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Don’t assume that you can wait – and don’t assume you’ve waited too long, either. We’ll determine how much time you have and work quickly to pursue your case.

How Will My Lawyer Determine the Value of My Case?

Your lawyer determines the value of your case with a multi-step process. First, they total your damages. These are the losses that you are allowed to claim by law. It starts with direct, financial losses like medical expenses, lost income, and property loss. But your damages are much more than that. You may also receive compensation for physical suffering, mental health injury and emotional anguish. Our lawyers look at all the categories.

There are other factors that may influence your compensation award. The strength of the legal case and ways to collect compensation are two examples. At your consultation, we can estimate the case value, plus explain what needs to happen for you to receive the maximum award.

What Steps Should I Take Immediately After an Injury to Protect My Rights?

Get medical attention right away. Take photos of the accident scene and gather witness information if you or someone else can. Report the accident as appropriate, like the police for a car accident or your employer if the injury happens at work. Keep records and bills related to the accident.

When you choose Smith & Jones Law, our lawyers will start immediately to protect your rights.

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864-383-0377

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