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Car accidents happen every day across Chicago. Some result in minor cuts, while others leave people with life-changing harm. The type of injury can impact your health, recovery time, and your legal options. It’s important to understand what injuries often result from crashes on Chicago streets.
Conboy Law Injury & Medical Malpractice Lawyers helps accident victims get the care and compensation they need after serious crashes. Whether your car crash involved one vehicle, two vehicles, or multi vehicle accidents, we’re here to guide you.
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have worked with people facing severe injuries, missed work, and growing medical bills. We take pride in helping injured clients fight back when a negligent driver causes harm. If you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, learning more about common injuries is the first step.
After an accident, knowing the signs of injury can protect your health and legal case. Some symptoms may not show up right away, but early treatment is key.
When a crash occurs, quick action can be the difference between recovery and lasting damage. Some injuries, like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries, may not be obvious but still life-threatening. Getting medical help right away also creates a record that shows the accident caused the injury. That’s important when you pursue compensation later.
The type and severity of your injury often determines how much you may receive in a personal injury case. Catastrophic injuries like paralysis or amputation usually lead to higher damage awards. Even less obvious problems like neck strain or a broken rib may qualify if they lead to pain or missed work.
Insurance adjusters and Chicago personal injury lawyers will look closely at how your medical care connects to the accident.
Every motor vehicle accident is different, but some types of injuries are more common than others. Here are the ones we see most often.
Whiplash happens when your head snaps forward and back during a crash. This is common in a rear end collision, even at low speeds. It can strain muscles, ligaments, and nerves in your neck. Symptoms include stiffness, headaches, and pain when turning your head. A seat belt may save your life, but it doesn’t stop whiplash.
A strong blow to the head may cause a concussion or more serious brain trauma. Traumatic brain injuries can lead to memory loss, confusion, and long-term cognitive issues. These injuries often occur when the head hits a stationary object, window, or steering wheel. Even with no visible wound, brain injuries are a serious concern.
Damage to your back can range from minor strain to permanent disability. In severe cases, a spinal cord injury may lead to loss of movement or feeling. These injuries are common in side impact collisions, where the force twists the spine unnaturally. Physical therapy and surgery are often needed to manage these conditions.
The force of a car crash can easily break bones in the arms, legs, ribs, or face. Some breaks heal quickly, but others require surgery or long-term rehab. A broken rib is especially painful and may even puncture blood vessels or organs. These injuries are often caused when a seat belt locks up during the crash.
Shattered glass, flying objects, or impact with other vehicles can lead to deep cuts and bruises. These injuries may seem minor but can still cause infections, nerve damage, or visible scars. Some cars involved in accidents have sharp edges after impact, increasing the risk. Prompt treatment is needed to avoid complications.
Damage inside the body is hard to see without scans or tests. Bleeding, ruptured organs, or torn tissues can occur when the body hits a hard surface. These injuries are common in high speeds crashes and must be treated right away. Even with no visible wound, internal trauma can be deadly.
Fuel leaks, fires, or hot metal can lead to serious burns. These can damage skin, nerves, and muscles. Burns are extremely painful and often lead to long-term treatment and scarring. Some injuries happen after car strikes power lines or explode from fuel tank damage in multi vehicle accidents.
These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Sprains and strains are common after being thrown around during a crash. They may not show up right away but can make moving difficult. Many victims need physical therapy to regain movement and strength. These injuries are common, but still part of a strong personal injury claim.
Broken bones, bruising, or scarring to the face often happen when the airbag deploys or your face hits the dashboard. These injuries can affect breathing, vision, and appearance. Even a crash at low speeds may cause serious damage to the face or jaw. Reconstruction surgery may be required for more serious injuries.
An accident can affect the mind as well as the body. Anxiety, nightmares, or fear of driving are common after traumatic crashes. These effects can last weeks, months, or even years. Many accident victims need counseling to recover emotionally. Mental harm is real and should be included in your personal injury claim.
Even if you feel okay after a crash, it’s important to get checked by a medical professional. Some injuries are hidden but dangerous.
After a crash, adrenaline can hide pain. You might feel fine, but internal bleeding, head trauma, or soft tissue injuries may appear days later. If left untreated, these can cause lasting harm. Always get examined, even after a minor accident, to catch early signs.
Your medical records show what injuries you suffered and when they happened. They help prove your condition was caused by the motor vehicle accident. Without clear documentation, the insurance company may question your claim. Timely visits support your case and your recovery.
After an accident, it can be hard to know what steps to take, especially when you’re dealing with pain, medical bills, or pressure from the insurance company. A skilled lawyer can take that burden off your shoulders. They protect your rights and focus on building your personal injury claim the right way.
A Chicago personal injury lawyer will work to understand the full extent of your losses by reviewing your injuries, your bills, and how the accident has affected your life. They help calculate all personal injury damages, including property damage, lost wages, medical care, and pain and suffering.
If the crash caused fatal injuries, they can also assist surviving family members in filing a wrongful death case. Your lawyer’s job is to fight for every dollar you’re owed, not just what the insurance company wants to pay. That way, you’re not left paying for someone else’s mistake.
After a crash, insurance companies may call quickly, often asking questions or offering a fast settlement that doesn’t reflect the seriousness of your injury. A lawyer steps in to deal with them directly so you don’t have to. They gather evidence, prepare legal documents, and respond to every request or lowball offer.
If the negligent driver’s insurer denies fault or delays payment, your attorney will hold them accountable through the proper legal channels. This allows you to focus on your recovery, knowing a professional is handling the fight for fair compensation on your behalf.
You should reach out to Chicago car accident attorneys as soon as possible after the incident, especially if you’re injured or unsure who was at fault. Acting quickly helps preserve evidence, protect your rights, and start your case before deadlines pass. Early legal help also keeps insurance companies from taking advantage of you.
When a driver fails to follow traffic signs like stop signs, red lights, or yield markers, they can be held responsible for the crash. This kind of negligence often causes serious injuries and puts other cars and people at risk. A lawyer can gather evidence to prove the driver ignored signs and help you seek justice.
Yes. Even if it was one car that crashed, you may still have a valid claim. Sometimes, crashes happen because of poor road design, defective parts, or a situation caused by other cars that left the scene. If one driver acted recklessly or forced you off the road, an attorney can help investigate the cause and determine liability.
Using a cell phone while driving is a common cause of distracted driving accidents. If the other driver was texting or making a call when the crash happened, that behavior may be used as evidence of negligence. Your lawyer can request phone records and witness statements to help prove the driver’s distraction caused your injuries.
Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles is part of safe driving. If someone crashes into you because they were tailgating, they may be found at fault for not leaving enough room to stop in time. A lawyer will review the scene, road conditions, and crash details to show that failing to keep a safe distance caused the collision.
If you’ve been injured in a crash, you don’t have to face the legal process alone. Conboy Law Injury & Medical Malpractice Lawyers understands how overwhelming a car accident can be, especially when you’re dealing with pain, property damage, and pressure from the insurance company. Our team is here to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We offer a free consultation to review your case and answer your questions. During this meeting, we’ll explain how Illinois law applies to your situation, what steps you should take next, and what your claim may be worth. You’ll never pay anything upfront, we only get paid if we win for you. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a Chicago crash, call us today to speak with a trusted attorney who puts your recovery first.
Joseph M. Conboy, founder of Conboy Law, represents victims of catastrophic injuries and wrongful death, securing numerous multi-million-dollar results. Recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2019–2022), he is a member of the American Association for Justice and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Conboy earned his J.D. from DePaul University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Colorado.
If you or a loved one has been injured, don’t hesitate to contact our injury attorneys today!
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