10 Common Injuries We Treat (And What Recovery Looks Like)
Introduction: From Impact to Recovery — Understanding the Road Ahead
Even a minor car accident can cause injuries that aren’t immediately obvious. From muscle strain to concussions, your body experiences rapid forces that can affect soft tissue, joints, and even the brain.
At Tulsa Accident Care Center, we specialize in helping auto accident victims across Green Country get the right diagnosis and treatment fast. Our on-site imaging, physical therapy, and physician-led team make recovery smoother without upfront, out-of-pocket costs.
If you’ve been in a crash and feel “mostly fine,” it’s still important to be checked. Many serious injuries can take hours or days once the adrenaline wears off become symptomatic.
Related Resource: Why You Should Always Get Checked After a Minor Car Accident
The 10 Most Common Injuries We Treat After a Car Accident
1. Whiplash and Neck Strain
Whiplash is one of the most common soft-tissue injuries after rear-end collisions. The sudden back-and-forth motion of the neck can damage muscles, ligaments, and nerves.
Symptoms may include: neck stiffness, headaches, dizziness, or shoulder pain.
Treatment & Recovery: OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment), physical therapy, and targeted exercises restore mobility and reduce inflammation.
Learn more: Top 9 Delayed Injury Symptoms After a Car Accident
2. Concussions and Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Even without direct head impact, the brain can impact inside of the skull during a collision. Concussions may cause headaches, confusion, fatigue, and memory issues.
At TACC, we provide neurological evaluations to assess your vision and hearing, responsiveness, balance, coordination and more —a service that sets us apart from chiropractic clinics or urgent care centers.
Recovery tip: Rest, cognitive rehabilitation, and gradual return to normal activities under physician supervision are key.
Car accidents can compress or twist the spine, leading to disc injury, nerve impingement, or chronic pain.
Common symptoms: shooting pain, tingling, or reduced flexibility.
Treatment: Diagnostic imaging (MRI or CT) confirms the injury, followed by physical therapy, OMT, and guided strengthening.
Seatbelts save lives, but can also strain the shoulder and rotator cuff during impact.
Typical recovery: May involve ultrasound-guided diagnosis and a combination of rest, therapy, and OMT to restore range of motion. Significant injury may even require surgical intervention.
5. Knee Trauma (Dashboard Knee)
The sudden forward motion in a crash can cause bruising or ligament damage in the knee, often called “dashboard knee.”
Treatment: MRI and physical therapy help rebuild strength and reduce swelling.
6. Chest and Rib Injuries
Seatbelt pressure or airbag deployment can cause bruised ribs or sternum pain. Though often mild, untreated injuries can worsen with movement or deep breaths.
TACC’s approach: In-house X-rays or CT scans to rule out fractures and guide treatment safely.
7. Arm, Wrist, and Hand Injuries
Drivers often instinctively brace for impact, leading to wrist sprains or small fractures.
Recovery focus: Imaging and therapy to restore joint function and reduce inflammation.
8. Hip and Pelvic Pain
The hips absorb much of the crash force, especially in side-impact collisions.
Warning signs: stiffness, numbness, or walking difficulty.
TACC offers: comprehensive physical evaluation and imaging to rule out joint or nerve injury.
9. Muscle Strains and Soft-Tissue Injuries
Microtears in muscle fibers are extremely common post-accident, even when you don’t feel immediate pain.
Delayed soreness often appears 24–72 hours later. Early evaluation helps prevent chronic issues.
You may also like: Understanding Hidden Injuries: Why You Don’t Feel Pain Right Away
10. Psychological and Cognitive Injuries
Not all injuries are physical. Many patients experience post-accident anxiety, mood changes, or difficulty concentrating. These can be an underlying symptom of a traumatic brain injury.
At TACC, we provide access to licensed neuropsychologists who provide tailored treatment and recovery plans.
Healing includes: cognitive physical therapy and physician monitoring.
Recovery at Tulsa Accident Care Center: One Roof, Complete Care
Each patient’s recovery timeline depends on the type and severity of their injuries—but early, specialized care is the best predictor of full recovery.
At Tulsa Accident Care Center, we make that process easy:
- Same-day medical evaluations (no referral needed)
- On-site imaging (CT, MRI, X-Ray, Ultrasound)
- Licensed physicians and neuropsychologists
- Physical therapy and OMT techniques
- No upfront, out-of-pocket costs
When to Seek Care
Even if symptoms seem minor—like stiffness, headache, or fatigue—schedule an evaluation as soon as possible. Hidden injuries can worsen without proper diagnosis and treatment.
Remember: Under Oklahoma law, the cost of your care may be covered by the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Contact Tulsa Accident Care Center today to schedule your same-day evaluation and start your recovery journey.