Common Injuries From Head-On Crashes and How to Recover

By Your Health Magazine

In a head-on crash, your vehicle comes to a stop in less than a second, but your body tries to keep moving forward at full speed. That sudden stop is what causes most of the serious injuries.

When two vehicles crash into each other head-first, it’s one of the most violent kinds. That’s because both cars are moving toward each other at high speeds, and the combined force of that impact can be devastating.

If you’re the driver or a front-seat passenger, you’re especially exposed to injuries from the dashboard, the steering wheel, or even the floorboard.

Let’s look at what kind of injuries you can sustain in a head-on crash.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

A traumatic brain injury is one of the most serious things that can happen in a crash like this. It doesn’t even take a direct hit to your head. Just the motion of your brain being slammed against the inside of your skull, front to back, is enough to cause damage.

If the impact is hard enough, you could end up with a concussion, brain bleeding, or worse. That’s why doctors always recommend getting checked out, even if you think you walked away unharmed.

Spinal Cord and Back Injuries

Your spine runs down the center of your body and controls just about everything. In a head-on collision, the force can bend or twist it in unnatural ways. That might lead to nerve damage, herniated discs, or, in severe cases, paralysis.

Sometimes it’s the neck that gets hit hardest. That’s where whiplash comes in. The head whips forward and then backward in a split second. It sounds simple, but it can stretch or tear muscles, damage nerves, and leave you with pain that lasts for months. In some cases, the movement can even cause your brain to hit the inside of your skull, leading to a TBI on top of the neck injury.

If the impact is really bad, parts of the spine itself can break, and that’s where you get long-term damage such as numbness, weakness, or even loss of function.

Broken Bones and Lower Body Injuries

A lot of people think only the upper body is at risk, but in a head-on crash, your lower body can take a beating too. Legs, knees, ankles, and hips are all vulnerable, especially if you’re the driver. The front end of the car can collapse inward, crushing your legs between the dashboard and seat.

Muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the joints can tear from the force. You might not even notice those injuries at first, but they can cause pain and limit your movement for a long time.

Internal Injuries

What’s dangerous about internal injuries is that you can’t see them. And that’s why they’re often missed in the early hours after a crash.

In a head-on collision, the force can bruise or tear your internal organs. The liver, kidneys, and spleen are especially at risk. And even the seatbelt, which saves lives, can press so hard against your abdomen during the crash that it causes internal bleeding.

Sometimes broken ribs make it even worse. A fractured rib can puncture a lung or another organ nearby. If that happens and you don’t get treated immediately, it can be life-threatening. That’s why it’s absolutely critical to get a full medical evaluation after the crash, even if you feel okay.

Facial Injuries and Dental Damage

If your face hits the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield, you could walk away with more than just bruises. Fractured cheekbones, broken noses, and even dental trauma are common in head-on crashes.

These injuries are also expensive and can affect how you eat, speak, or even breathe. In some cases, people need reconstructive surgery, not just to restore function but also to fix cosmetic issues caused by the impact.