What Are The Most Common Injuries From Head-On Collisions?

Some of the most deadly car accidents are those featuring head-on collisions. They occur when two vehicles hit each other straight on, often at high speeds The force involved in these deadly crashes means that the people inside the cars rarely escape unscathed without serious or even catastrophic injuries.

Today, our car accident care team at Impact Medical Zephyrhills explores some of the most common injuries that people sustain in head-on collisions, and how our team can help treat them.

The Danger of Head-On Collisions

The momentum, speed, and power involved in these accidents is what makes them so deadly. When two vehicles strike each other, their combined size and weight create an amazing amount of force upon impact.

Injuries from head-on collisions include:

• Whiplash
• Back & Spinal Cord Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Blunt Force Trauma
• Broken Bones
• Internal Injuries
• Chest Injuries
• Burns
• Facial Damage
• Scarring

Let’s discuss each of these briefly.

Whiplash

Though most common in rear-end accidents, whiplash is also quite common in head-on collisions. This syndrome is caused by your head snapping back and forth rapidly. This rapid movement causes soft tissue damage, nerve injuries, and chronic pain that can last for years.

Note: Symptoms of whiplash often don’t manifest for days after the accident. If you notice neck pain, a headache, or nausea, seek medical care immediately.

Back & Spinal Cord Injuries

Head-on collisions often cause damage to the back muscles and the discs and nerves running through the spinal column. These injuries can leave patients with long-term pain and loss of mobility.

Spinal cord injuries can cause partial or complete paralysis.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Not all head injuries sustained in a car accident cause brain damage, but head-on collisions can be quite traumatic.

Symptoms of a TBI include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Coma
• Headaches
• Speech impairment
• Memory loss
• Behavioral changes
• Motor function problems

It’s important to note that TBIs often don’t show up on CT scans or X-rays right away. Symptoms can manifest in the hours and even days after an accident. If you experience any of the above symptoms, go to the ER immediately.

Blunt Force Trauma

Being thrown into the steering wheel, dashboard, windows, etc. during an accident can cause broken bones, internal bleeding, and damage to your most vital organs.

While seatbelts and airbags can lessen the severity of these injuries, they can often exacerbate injuries, especially in such severe accidents.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are quite common in head-on crashes. Depending on their severity, they may require surgery and can have a painful recovery period.

The worst part? Severe fractures can result in long-term disabilities that can interfere with your life for a long time.

Internal Injuries

During these catastrophic accidents, vital organs can be punctured, torn, or pushed around inside the body. This could mean life-threatening internal bleeding and even death if not treated promptly.

Chest Injuries

When vehicles are forced to stop abruptly, many injuries occur, such as chest trauma. While “crumple zones” are designed to minimize the impact of car crashes, they might not be enough to prevent some injuries. 

Burns

Chemical burns can be caused if the vehicle catches fire after an accident. The burns sustained in a car accident can be catastrophic, and can require painful skin grafts and complications like infections, blood clots, joint problems, and scarring.

Facial Damage

The driver or passengers’ faces can be disfigured in a head-on collision. The blunt force can also cause blindness, teeth and jaw damage, and even broken facial bones.

This can leave victims with pain and emotional trauma long after the accident.

How We Treat Car Accident Injuries

At Impact Medical Zephyrhills, we offer specialized non-invasive treatments for all kinds of auto accident injuries.

Rather than focus on administering drugs or medication, we utilize natural healing wherever possible. Our services include:

• Chiropractic care
• Manual therapy
• Physical therapy
• Pain management
• Manipulation under anesthesia
• Injury counseling
• And more!

We will work hand in hand with you to design a treatment plan that will help you recover from your injuries so you can get back to living pain-free.