When someone drives drunk, the crash is usually way worse than a normal car accident. These injuries don’t just heal in a few days. They affect everything: your body, your emotions, your money, and your future, especially if you are the one who got hit.
It’s actually important to know the common injuries people get after a DUI accident. It helps you understand what’s happening to you, what symptoms to look out for, and why doctors need to check everything right away.
Cuts, Bruises, and Soft Tissue Injuries
Not all injuries need surgery, but that doesn’t mean they don’t hurt. Cuts from broken glass, bruises from seat belts, and sprains from sudden movement are all common.
Examples:
- Seat belt marks across the chest and stomach
- Airbag burns on the face or arms
- Deep cuts from glass that need stitches
- Torn muscles, tendons, or ligaments
Some of these heal fast, but others, like torn ligaments, can take months and require physical therapy.
Head and Brain Injuries
When a drunk driver hits you, your head takes the hit the hardest. What happens is that your brain smashes around inside your skull like it’s trapped in a box. Sometimes it’s because your forehead slammed into the steering wheel, or your head hit the window, or even just the way your neck snapped too fast. That’s how concussions or traumatic brain injuries happen.
What it feels like when this happens:
- Headaches that feel like someone is squeezing your skull
- You stand up, and the whole room spins
- Words slip out of your head, like you just can’t remember them
- People say you’re acting weird, angry, or sad for no reason
- You black out for a few seconds or longer
The scariest part is, it doesn’t just go away. Some people never get their memory back all the way. Some live with headaches every single day. Others can’t focus at work anymore, and it wrecks their whole life.
Internal Injuries and Organ Damage
These are the hidden dangers. You might not see them, but they can kill you if untreated. Drunk driving accidents put so much pressure on the body that internal organs can tear or bleed.
Common organs that get damaged:
- Liver
- Spleen
- Lungs
- Kidneys
Symptoms to watch for:
- Stomach pain or swelling
- Feeling faint or lightheaded
- Rapid heartbeat or low blood pressure
If you ever feel these things after a DUI accident, it’s a medical emergency. Doctors need to scan and treat it fast, sometimes with surgery.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
The spine is like the body’s superhighway for movement and feeling. When it gets damaged in a DUI crash, the effects can be life-changing.
Types of spinal problems:
- Herniated discs (the squishy pads between bones slip out of place)
- Broken vertebrae (spinal bones crack or shatter)
- Nerve damage (can cause tingling, numbness, or pain)
- Paralysis (can’t move parts of your body anymore)
Why does it happen?
- High-speed impacts twist or crush the back
- Rollovers push the spine in ways it can’t handle
- Seat belts stop you from flying out, but they can still strain your back hard
Sometimes, the pain doesn’t even show up right away. You could feel fine at first and then lose feeling or movement hours later. That’s why you can’t ignore back or neck pain after any accident.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Bones don’t bend. When the crash force is too strong, they snap. Arms, legs, ribs, and hips are some of the most common places to break.
Examples of where bones usually break in crashes:
- Ribs (from the seat belt or airbag slamming your chest)
- Wrists and arms (because people throw their arms out to brace for impact)
- Legs and knees (when they smash into the dashboard)
- Pelvis (from side impacts or rollovers)
Broken bones aren’t just about casts. Some need surgeries, metal rods, or screws to heal. And healing can take months, which means missing work or struggling with daily activities.
Whiplash and Neck Injuries
This is when your head whips forward and then snaps back really fast. It stretches and tears the soft tissues in your neck. People sometimes think whiplash isn’t serious, but it can cause long-term pain.
Symptoms include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches (usually starting at the base of your skull)
- Dizziness
- Limited movement when you try to turn your head
Even at low speeds, whiplash happens. And if it’s not treated, it can mess up your daily life.
Summary: Common DUI Accident Injuries
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts and cruises
- Spinal injuries
- Neck injuries
- Internal injuries
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