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, while not given as much attention, are still significant. In Nebraska, where vast stretches of rural roads meet busy urban highways, certain unique dynamics affect the types of injuries seen from car accidents.

This article explores the top 10 least, or at least less, 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 rarer 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. It goes without saying that greater speeds result in greater impacts.  Fortunately, Nebraska’s rural areas often have well-enforced speed limits, reducing crash severity.

Provide a Safe Following Distance: Rear-end collisions remain the most common type of car accident.  Many rear-end crashes could be avoided, if not mitigated, if motorists would provide a greater following distance.

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.

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 in which there is direct force to the diaphragm.

Symptoms of a diaphragmatic rupture include difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, and shock.

3. Traumatic Aortic Disruption

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

Fortunately, improvements in vehicle safety features such as airbags and crumple zones, which absorb much of the crash energy, have helped reduce the number of traumatic aortic injuries.

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.

While ear barotrauma is thought of as a mostly rare condition, we are seeing more and more injury victims who suffer from tinnitus, or ringing in their ears, after being involved in a car crash.

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 extremely painful and limit mobility.

While sternal fractures still occur, advances in seatbelt technology and airbag deployment have reduced the likelihood of suffering one.

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 of an injury to your pancreas can include abdominal pain, nausea, and digestive issues.

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.

Fortunately, the advent of modern windshields which are designed to shatter safely, combined with high rates of seatbelt usage, have helped greatly in reducing the number of people who sustain eye globe ruptures as the result of a crash.

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’s mostly wide and open roads often allow for safer navigation than available in other states, helping to reduce 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.

The good news is most liver injuries are straightforward lacerations without this specific complication.

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 of hernia often include swelling, abdominal discomfort, and nausea.

While the majority of motor vehicle accident injuries in Nebraska mirror national trends, these less common injuries highlight the unique dynamics of road safety in the state. While advances in vehicle technology and safety protocols have significantly reduced the frequency of severe injuries, 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.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Chandler | Conway

All Chandler | Conway attorneys are incredibly experienced and knowledgeable in trial cases. Our attorneys will determine the best strategy for you and your family based on the specific circumstances of your situation and, when necessary, represent those interests in court.

Contact our agency by phone, email, or contact form.

Related Pages

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Car Accident Injury Cases & Other Types of Personal Injury Claims

How Long Do I Have To File My Personal Injury Claim?

9 Steps in a Car Accident Personal Injury Timeline

Are There Court Proceedings in a Personal Injury (PI) Claim?