FAQ: What Injuries Commonly Cause Death in Car Accidents?
Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of preventable death across New York City and the rest of the country. While many crash victims survive with injuries that heal over time, others suffer harm so severe that it proves fatal, either at the scene or in the days and weeks that follow.
Learning about which types of injuries most commonly lead to death in car accidents can be important for families who have lost a loved one and may be considering a wrongful death claim. Read on to learn more about these injuries and how New York law addresses fatal car accident cases.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
The brain is uniquely vulnerable in a car accident. A sudden impact can cause the brain to collide with the inside of the skull, leading to severe damage that the victim may never fully recover from.
Complications like intracranial hemorrhaging and elevated brain pressure can turn fatal in the hours or days afterward in cases where the initial injury isn’t. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are one of the most common causes of car accident fatalities across all age groups.
Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage
The force of a collision can cause serious damage to internal organs without any visible external wounds. Internal bleeding can progress rapidly and become life-threatening before medical professionals are able to identify and treat the source.
This is one of the reasons why seeking immediate medical attention after a car accident is so critical, even when you feel relatively fine. Symptoms of internal injuries don’t always present themselves right away.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, but it can also be fatal in the most severe cases. High-level spinal cord injuries, particularly those affecting the cervical region of the spine, can disrupt the body’s ability to breathe and regulate essential functions.
Victims who suffer spinal cord injuries in car accidents may survive the initial trauma but face fatal complications during treatment as well. The severity of these injuries often depends on the speed of the collision and whether the victim’s body was properly restrained at the time of impact.
Chest and Thoracic Injuries
Blunt force trauma to the chest is another frequent cause of death in car accidents. For example, the steering wheel can exert tremendous pressure on the chest during a crash and lead to injuries like broken ribs and damage to the aorta.
Aortic injuries in particular carry a high fatality rate. A ruptured aorta can cause massive blood loss within minutes, and many victims do not survive long enough to reach a hospital.
Severe Burns
While less common than some other fatal injuries, burns can be deadly when a car accident involves a fire. This might occur in the context of a fuel leak or an electrical system failure.
Severe burns damage the skin’s ability to protect the body from infection and regulate temperature. Victims who survive the initial burns may later succumb to complications like sepsis and respiratory damage caused by smoke inhalation.
Neck Injuries
The neck is extremely vulnerable during a car accident, especially in rear-end and head-on collisions. While whiplash is the most commonly discussed neck injury, far more severe damage can occur. Fractures to the cervical vertebrae, sometimes referred to as a broken neck, can compress the spinal cord at a level that controls breathing and heart function.
These injuries can be immediately fatal or lead to death shortly after the accident due to respiratory failure.
Wrongful Death Claims in New York
When a car accident results in a fatal injury, the victim’s family may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit under New York law. These claims are brought by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate on behalf of the surviving family members.
Compensation in a New York wrongful death case can include:
- Medical expenses incurred before the victim’s death
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost financial support that the victim would have provided
- Loss of parental guidance for surviving children
New York’s statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of the victim’s death. However, there are exceptions that can adjust this time limit for some cases. It’s best to seek legal advice as soon as you can to protect your legal rights.
Set Up a Free Consultation With a New York City Car Accident Attorney at Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers
Losing a family member in a car accident is one of the most painful experiences anyone can go through. If your loved one’s death was caused by another person’s negligence, you may have legal options for holding them liable and recovering the financial support your family needs going forward.
Contact an experienced NYC car accident lawyer at Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers to get started with a free consultation. Call us today at (212) 514-5007.
NYC Car Accident Law Office Location & Hours
Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers
100 Wall St 24th Floor, New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007
24/7
Bronx Car Accident Law Office Location & Hours
Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers Bronx
1578 Williamsbridge Rd suite 3b, Bronx, NY 10461, United States
(929) 447-2347
24/7
Brooklyn Car Accident Law Office Location & Hours
Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers Brooklyn
32 Court St suite 704, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
(718) 550-3601
24/7