Top 10 Least Common Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries in Nebraska

Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injury and death worldwide, but not all injuries are created equal. While broken bones, whiplash, and head trauma dominate the statistics, there are rarer injuries that, though infrequent, are still significant. In Nebraska, where vast stretches of rural roads meet busy urban highways, certain unique dynamics affect the types of injuries seen in accidents.

This article explores the top 10 least common motor vehicle accident injuries in Nebraska, and sheds light on their causes, effects, and prevention.

See our service page on Omaha Attorneys for Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries.

Understanding Injury Prevention & Safety

Understanding these rare injuries underscores the importance of preventative measures to avoid motor vehicle accidents. Here are some key safety recommendations:

Wear Seatbelts: Proper seatbelt use is crucial for preventing many of these rare injuries, including sternal fractures and eye globe ruptures.

Follow Speed Limits: High-speed crashes are often the cause of severe injuries. Nebraska’s rural areas often have well-enforced speed limits, reducing crash severity.

Use Protective Gear: Motorcyclists and ATV riders should always wear helmets and protective clothing to minimize risks.

Maintain Vehicles: Ensuring vehicles are in good condition, including functional airbags and seatbelts, can prevent many injuries.

Be Mindful of Rural Road Risks: Wildlife crossings, gravel roads, and unmarked intersections in Nebraska pose unique challenges.

The Least Common Injuries

1 – Scalp Avulsions

A scalp avulsion occurs when a portion of the scalp is torn away, usually in high-speed accidents or rollovers where the victim’s hair becomes entangled with vehicle parts. Though rare, these injuries can be devastating, requiring complex reconstructive surgery.

Why it’s uncommon in Nebraska: Scalp avulsions are more often associated with convertible cars or motorcycles without helmets. In Nebraska, where helmet laws exist for motorcyclists under 21, these injuries are less prevalent.

2 – Diaphragmatic Rupture

The diaphragm, a thin muscle separating the chest and abdominal cavities, can rupture from the force of a severe impact. This injury is rare because it usually occurs only in very high-speed collisions or accidents involving crushing forces.

Symptoms: Difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, and shock.

Why it’s uncommon: Nebraska’s relatively low traffic density compared to urban states helps mitigate the severity of many crashes.

3 – Traumatic Aortic Disruption

This catastrophic injury involves tearing of the aorta, the body’s main artery. It is typically fatal at the scene due to massive blood loss. Survivors are few, and the injury often results from extreme deceleration or side-impact crashes.

Prevalence: Rare due to improvements in vehicle safety features like airbags and crumple zones, which absorb much of the crash energy.

Nebraska connection: With fewer high-speed urban crashes, this injury remains rare in the state.

4 – Ear Barotrauma

This injury occurs when rapid air pressure changes, such as those caused by airbag deployment, damage the eardrum or inner ear. Symptoms include hearing loss, dizziness, and tinnitus.

Why it’s rare: While airbags save lives, the conditions required to cause barotrauma are specific and uncommon. In Nebraska, where high-speed head-on collisions are less frequent, ear barotrauma is rarely reported.

5 – Sternal Fractures

A fracture of the sternum (breastbone) is a rare injury typically caused by direct impact with the steering wheel or seatbelt. Though not life-threatening, it can be painful and limit mobility.

Why it’s uncommon in Nebraska: Advances in seatbelt technology and airbag deployment significantly reduce the likelihood of sternal fractures. Rural drivers in Nebraska are more likely to wear seatbelts, further decreasing risk.

6 – Pancreatic Injuries

The pancreas is a small, delicate organ located deep within the abdomen, making injuries to it exceptionally rare. Pancreatic damage usually occurs when the abdomen experiences a direct and forceful impact, such as hitting the steering wheel without an airbag.

Symptoms: Abdominal pain, nausea, and digestive issues.

Why it’s rare: Improved vehicle design and safety measures, combined with the relatively lower traffic density in Nebraska, minimize the occurrence of these injuries.

7 – Eye Globe Ruptures

A rupture of the eyeball can occur when sharp objects or debris penetrate the eye during a crash. This devastating injury is rare and often associated with high-speed accidents or when occupants fail to wear seatbelts.

Why it’s uncommon: Modern windshields are designed to shatter safely, reducing sharp debris. In Nebraska, high rates of seatbelt usage help prevent this type of injury.

8 – Atlanto-Occipital Dislocation (Internal Decapitation)

This extremely rare injury involves a complete separation of the skull from the spinal column while leaving the skin intact. It is typically fatal but can occasionally be survived with immediate medical intervention.

Nebraska context: The state’s wide, open roads often allow for safer navigation, reducing the likelihood of the high-speed impacts that cause this injury.

9 – Liver Lacerations with Hemobilia

A lacerated liver is relatively common in severe crashes, but hemobilia (bleeding into the bile ducts) is an exceedingly rare complication. It can result in jaundice, upper abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Why it’s rare: Most liver injuries are straightforward lacerations without this specific complication. Nebraska’s lower crash rates contribute to the infrequency of this rare injury.

10 – Traumatic Hernias

A traumatic hernia occurs when crash forces push internal organs through weakened areas of the abdominal wall. This type of injury often goes unnoticed in the initial stages due to its subtle symptoms.

Symptoms: Swelling, abdominal discomfort, and nausea.

Why it’s uncommon in Nebraska: The state’s relatively lower vehicle speeds on rural roads reduce the blunt force trauma that typically causes this injury.

While the majority of motor vehicle accident injuries in Nebraska mirror national trends, these least common injuries highlight the unique dynamics of road safety in the state. Advances in vehicle technology and safety protocols have significantly reduced the frequency of severe injuries, but there’s always room for improvement. By understanding the risks and taking proactive measures, drivers can continue to make Nebraska’s roads safer for everyone.

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