How Common Are Car Accident Injuries?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates there were 36,640 traffic fatalities in 2025. Advocates for Highway Safety also indicate there were 2.42 million injuries in 2024, the most recent year for which data is available.
Within New York, motor vehicle accident statistics also show that many people were hurt or killed locally, with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) reporting 205 motor vehicle accident deaths in 2025. This figure represents a 19% decline from the prior year.
The 8 Most Common Car Accident Injuries in New York
Many kinds of injuries can happen in New York accidents. Here are some of the most common.
Whiplash and Neck Injuries
Whiplash is a soft-tissue injury that occurs when the neck is suddenly forced to move forward and backward. Whiplash is common in rear-end crashes. Symptoms often include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and reduced mobility.
While many people recover within a few weeks, some victims develop chronic pain or ongoing mobility issues. You should get medical help if symptoms are severe or worsen over time.
Head Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
A traumatic brain injury occurs if your normal brain function is affected by a blow or jolt to the head. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, there were approximately 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2020 and around 68,663 TBI-related deaths in 2023.
TBIs can cause headaches, confusion, dizziness, memory problems, or loss of consciousness. Recovery can range from days to multiple years, depending on the severity of the injury. Unfortunately, you may suffer lasting cognitive or neurological impairments. You should get immediate medical evaluation if you think you have a TBI.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries happen when crash-related trauma damages the spinal cord or surrounding vertebrae.
Symptoms may include numbness, weakness, loss of sensation, or paralysis. Spinal injuries often require extensive treatment and rehabilitation. Severe cases can, unfortunately, result in permanent disability. You should always get prompt medical care if you suspect a spinal injury.
Research estimates that approximately 18,000 new spinal cord injuries occur annually in the United States.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Broken bones are common in serious car crashes and can range from minor fractures to severe compound fractures.
Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the affected area. Most fractures heal within several weeks or months, although severe injuries may require surgery and lead to long-term complications like arthritis or chronic pain.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries involve damage to organs, blood vessels, or internal tissues. This is often caused by blunt-force trauma, like from a car accident.
Symptoms may include abdominal pain, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or internal bleeding. Because these injuries can be life-threatening and are not always immediately visible, you need to see a doctor right away for a proper diagnosis.
Lacerations and Cuts
Lacerations are cuts or tears in the skin. They’re often caused by broken glass, metal, airbags, or other crash-related hazards. Minor cuts may heal quickly, while a deeper wound might need stitches or surgery. Severe lacerations could lead to scarring, nerve damage, or infection if left untreated.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries include sprains, strains, and contusions affecting muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These injuries often cause pain, swelling, and bruising. They can also lead to reduced mobility. Recovery typically ranges from a few days to several months, depending on the severity of the damage.
Psychological Injuries
Car accidents can also cause emotional and psychological harm, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms could include flashbacks, nightmares, fear of driving, and emotional distress. You may need treatments like therapy, counseling, or medication. Getting legal help early can improve recovery outcomes.
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Why Injury Severity Matters: The Connection to Compensation
In New York, how much you can recover after a car accident depends heavily on the severity of your injuries and whether they meet the state’s legal threshold for a lawsuit. New York is a no-fault state, so your PIP (Personal Injury Protection) coverage pays for medical bills regardless of who caused the crash. Basic PIP covers up to $50,000 per person, and applies to emergency care, doctor visits, physical therapy, surgery, medications, and imaging.
To pursue a claim beyond PIP, including for pain and suffering, your injuries must qualify as “serious” under Insurance Law § 5102(d). That means showing either financial losses exceeding $50,000 or a specific qualifying injury such as a fracture, dismemberment, or permanent loss of an organ, limb, or bodily function.
Under recent tort reforms, if you are found more than 50% at fault for causing the accident, you may be barred from recovering non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, even if the other party shares some responsibility. Fault allocation is now a central factor in how cases are evaluated and what you may be able to recover.
How much compensation you can pursue depends largely on where your injuries fall within New York’s serious injury threshold:
Minor Injury: (Doesn't Meet Threshold)
If your injuries don’t meet the serious injury threshold, your recovery is generally limited to PIP benefits. With basic coverage, that maximum is typically $50,000. You cannot sue for pain and suffering.
Moderate Injury (Meets Threshold)
Some injuries, such as fractures, may qualify as serious under New York law, which could allow you to pursue damages beyond PIP, including pain and suffering.
Severe or Permanent Injury (Clearly Meets Threshold)
Injuries like traumatic brain injuries with lasting effects, spinal cord injuries, permanent disabilities, and significant scarring clearly meet the threshold. In many cases, victims can collect PIP benefits and pursue a personal injury lawsuit for the full range of damages available under the law, though the specifics depend on the facts of your case.
Common Damages For Car Accident Injuries
Depending on your injuries and whether you meet the NY serious injury threshold, you may be able to recover:
- Medical bills: Emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medications, and ongoing care
- Lost wages: Income lost during recovery and reduced future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain and the injury’s broader impact on your daily life
- Emotional distress: Damages for PTSD, anxiety, or other mental health conditions caused by the crash
- Permanent disability: Damages for lasting impairments affecting mobility, independence, or earning capacity
- Loss of quality of life: Compensation for activities, hobbies, and aspects of daily life affected by your injuries
New York recently enacted a $100,000 cap on non-economic damages in certain cases where the injured party was uninsured, under the influence, or committing a felony at the time of the crash. This may limit recovery for pain and suffering and related losses.
Hurt in a New York Car Accident? Talk to Our Attorneys for Free.
Not every car accident injury opens the door to a lawsuit, and not every claim is straightforward. For over 50 years, the Sanders Law Firm has helped New Yorkers understand what their injuries are worth and what it takes to pursue a case. We serve clients across all five boroughs of New York and Long Island.
To learn more about how we can help if you’ve suffered from injuries in a car accident, contact us online or call (833) SANDERS for your free consultation.