The Most Common Injuries Involved in Personal Injury Cases

Every personal injury case is a little different, and it’s not just the contexts that change. The same type of accident can also cause a variety of related injuries, with the forces applied as the accident occurs dictating the area of the body affected and both the type and severity of the injury. However, for every type of accident, there are some injuries that occur more often than others. This article will cover the most common types of personal injury cases and what types of injuries the victims are most likely to experience during each of them.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

The types of personal injury cases handled by today’s lawyers are incredibly varied. From dog bites to product liability claims, each situation is different. However, the majority of cases fall into one of three general categories:

• Auto accidents
• Slip-and-falls
• Workplace injuries

Anyone who has already been injured due to another person’s negligence can visit habbaspilaw.com to learn about their options. Otherwise, read on to find out about the most common types of injuries sustained during car crashes, slip-and-falls, and workplace accidents.

Common Car Accident Injuries

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2024 saw the highest number of traffic fatalities in the first quarter of the year since 2002. Unfortunately, this already devastating statistic covers only the worst-case scenarios. For every death, many thousands of people seek treatment in emergency rooms across the country. The types of injuries that bring people to the hospital vary depending on the type of accident, but they can include the following.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Most traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur as a result of direct blows to the head by objects or the interior of the car itself. However, sudden deceleration can also cause a specific type of TBI known as “shearing,” which occurs when the axons of neurons in the brain become stretched to the point of tearing.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries range in severity from minor whiplash to severe nerve damage that can cause partial or full paralysis. Damage to the muscles and ligaments around the spine, or to its vertebrae, may also occur as a result of the sudden, jarring movement that it undergoes during a collision.

Knee Injuries

It’s often the case that a driver or passenger’s knees are injured due to either impact against the underside of the dashboard or hyperextension of the legs. Common types of knee injuries include patella fractures, meniscus tears, and ligament damage.

Shoulder Injuries

Drivers are especially prone to shoulder injuries because their reflex is often to stretch their arms out and grasp the steering wheel as the crash occurs. This motion can cause tendon and rotator cuff tears.

Common Slip-and-Fall Injuries

Slip-and-fall injuries vary significantly in severity. Factors that can impact what types of injuries are sustained include the environment where the fall occurs, the age of the victim, and how the victim falls. Some of the most common types of injuries seen during slips, trips, and falls include:

Hip and Pelvis Injuries

Hip and pelvis injuries, including dislocations and fractures, are most common among elderly victims. However, people of all ages sustain injuries to the upper femur, acetabulum, or pubic ramus, depending on how they fall.

Bone Fractures

Other bones in the body can also sustain fractures during falls. The knees often sustain direct impact when the fall victim hits the ground, and many people put their arms out to brace themselves during falls.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can occur as a result of either an impact with an object or the ground or twisting movements made during the fall. Some fall victims also sustain damage to the spinal cord as a result of attempts to recover from the fall, especially if they have also experienced other types of injuries.

Head Injuries

Slip-and-fall victims often sustain concussions if they are unable to brace themselves during their falls and their heads forcibly impact the ground. In some cases, victims can even sustain TBIs.

Common Workplace Injuries

The National Safety Council estimates that well over four million workplace injuries requiring medical consults occurred in 2024, and that number is on the rise. The nature of workplace injuries varies significantly depending on the industry. However, some of the most common injuries requiring significant medical attention include:

Burn Injuries

Burn injuries can occur not just when a fire is present but also when workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals or electricity. These injuries can range from mild to life-threatening, but burn injuries are often severe.

Crush Injuries

Construction workers and people using heavy machinery as part of jobs in warehouses and factories are most likely to sustain crush injuries. They often occur as a result of inadequate point-of-operation guards and other necessary safety mechanisms and can result in the amputation of fingers or toes, hands or feet, and even arms and legs.

Illnesses Due to Exposure to Harmful Substances

Some work environments are more dangerous than others when it comes to the presence of heavy machinery and due to the potential for exposure to harmful substances. This type of workplace injury can occur as a result of a single exposure, as is the case with most poisonings, rashes, and burns, or it can be the result of performing work in a hazardous environment over days, weeks, months, or years. In the latter instance, chronic, life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, kidney disease, COPD, and nervous system disorders are common.

When to Seek Legal Counsel

Personal injury victims don’t need to fit into one of the categories described above to seek legal counsel. Anyone who has been injured as a result of another person’s negligence may be able to file a claim or initiate a case against the responsible party to receive compensation. The best time to seek legal counsel is as soon as possible after the injury has occurred, so don’t put off taking action. Once the injured person’s medical condition is stable, it’s time to reach out for help.