The Most Common Car Accident Injuries in Spokane, Washington

A serious car crash doesn’t just shake your vehicle—it can shake your entire life. One minute, you’re behind the wheel thinking about where you’re headed. Seconds later, you’re sitting on the side of the road in shock, trying to process what just happened. In Spokane, crashes like these happen every day—on I-90, along Division Street, even in quiet neighborhoods. And no matter where they happen, they often leave behind more than just crumpled metal.

You could be left with painful injuries, rising medical bills, and real uncertainty about what to do next. If the crash was caused by someone else’s carelessness, you have the right to pursue a personal injury claim under Washington State law. But before you take legal action, it’s important to understand what types of injuries are most common, and how they may affect your case.

In this blog, we’ll break down the most common car accident injuries seen in Spokane, how they influence your claim, and what steps you can take to protect your legal rights.

Soft Tissue Injuries

One of the most frequent outcomes of a Spokane car accident is a soft tissue injury. These affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and they can be deceptively painful and long-lasting.

Common soft tissue injuries include:

• Whiplash
• Muscle strains and sprains
• Contusions and bruising
• Tendon inflammation or tears

Whiplash is especially common in rear-end collisions. It often leads to stiffness, headaches, and a limited range of motion. These symptoms might take hours or even days to appear, and they don’t always show up on scans. Insurance companies often downplay these injuries, but documentation from your medical provider can support your accident claim and show the impact on your daily life.

Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Not all injuries are visible. Concussions and more serious traumatic brain injuries can result from even low-speed collisions if your head strikes the steering wheel, window, or airbag, or even just from the jolt of impact.

Symptoms of TBIs can include:

• Memory loss or confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Personality changes or mood swings

These injuries can affect your ability to work, drive, or care for your family. In severe cases, they may require lifelong care. If the crash was caused by someone else, a personal injury attorney can help you seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including emotional distress.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Back Trauma

Car accident victims in Spokane frequently suffer back injuries, ranging from herniated discs to spinal fractures. These injuries may result in:

• Chronic pain
• Limited mobility
• Numbness or tingling in the limbs
• Permanent disability in the case of spinal cord damage

Some of the most catastrophic injuries involve partial or full paralysis. These cases often lead to significant medical expenses, adaptive equipment needs, and major changes to your home and lifestyle.

Broken Bones and Fractures

Fractures are another common outcome of Spokane auto accidents, particularly in high-impact collisions. Victims may suffer:

• Arm and leg fractures from bracing during impact
• Rib fractures from seatbelts or airbag deployment
• Pelvic fractures, especially in side-impact crashes

Some fractures are clean and heal well with rest. Others require surgery, implants, and extensive rehabilitation. If someone else caused the crash, those treatment costs shouldn’t come out of your pocket.

Internal Injuries and Organ Damage

Internal injuries can be life-threatening, especially if left untreated. You might not feel symptoms right away, but that doesn’t mean the injury isn’t serious.

These may include:

• Internal bleeding
• Punctured lungs or spleens
• Kidney or liver damage
• Abdominal trauma from seatbelts

Prompt medical treatment is critical, not only for your health but for proving liability and damages in a car accident case.

Facial Injuries and Disfigurement

Facial trauma can occur when you hit the steering wheel, dashboard, or airbag. Common facial injuries include:

• Fractured cheekbones or jaws
• Broken noses
• Lacerations requiring stitches or surgery
• Dental injuries

Severe cases may require reconstructive surgery. Even if the injury heals physically, the psychological impact can last much longer, especially when disfigurement is permanent.

Burns and Scarring

Fires are rare in car accidents, but they can happen. Burns may also result from:

• Contact with hot metal or chemicals
• Airbag deployment
• Friction from road surfaces

Severe burns may cause long-term nerve damage and require multiple skin grafts. These injuries are painful and costly to treat, often leading to both physical and emotional distress.

Psychological Trauma After a Spokane Crash

Not every injury is physical. Many accident victims suffer psychological harm, including:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety about driving or riding in cars
• Depression
• Insomnia and sleep disruptions

Washington law allows you to seek compensation for mental and emotional injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. A Spokane car accident lawyer can help you document these effects and include them in your claim.

Fatal Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims

Tragically, some crashes end in the death of a loved one. If your family member died because of someone else’s actions, Washington law allows you to file a wrongful death claim under RCW 4.20.010.

Eligible family members may recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses before death
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of companionship and support
• Emotional pain and suffering

These cases are emotionally difficult and legally complex. Legal representation from a Spokane car accident attorney can make a significant difference in how the claim is handled and resolved.

Washington’s comparative fault law (RCW 4.22.005) allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. Your recovery may be reduced based on your percentage of responsibility, but it doesn’t bar your claim altogether.

What These Injuries Mean for Your Car Accident Claim

Insurance companies often try to downplay the severity of your injuries. That’s especially true for soft tissue damage, concussions, or emotional trauma. But those injuries are very real and they can change your life in lasting ways.

Your compensation may cover:

• Medical treatment and therapy
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Emotional distress
• Long-term care costs
• Property damage

If your injuries are permanent or disabling, your claim may include projected future losses as well. That’s where the legal strategy behind your personal injury case becomes critical.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Spokane

In the moments after a car accident, it’s easy to feel disoriented or overwhelmed. But the steps you take starting from the scene of the crash, can shape your ability to recover fair compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and other losses. Here’s what to do, whether you’re on I-90, Division Street, or a quiet Spokane side road:

1. Get Medical Treatment Right Away

Even if you feel fine, go to the ER or urgent care as soon as possible. Many serious injuries like concussions, whiplash, and internal bleeding, don’t show symptoms immediately. Prompt care protects your health and creates a medical record that links your injuries to the crash. Delaying treatment gives the insurance company a reason to question your claim.

2. Call Law Enforcement and Request a Police Report

Ask that officers be dispatched to the scene. In Washington, a police report is often required for auto accident claims, especially if there are injuries or significant vehicle damage. The report will include important facts about the crash, such as who was involved, what was said, and any citations issued. You can request a copy of the report through the Washington State Patrol collision report portal.

3. Document the Scene

If you’re able, take photos of:

• All vehicles involved, from multiple angles
• Skid marks, broken glass, and debris
• Traffic signs and signals nearby
• Road and weather conditions at the time of the crash
• Visible injuries on yourself or passengers

These images can help prove liability and may be used as evidence in your accident claim.

4. Exchange Information, But Be Careful What You Say

Exchange contact and insurance details with the other driver, but avoid discussing who was at fault or apologizing. Even a simple “I didn’t see you” can be twisted into an admission of liability. Stay factual and polite, and let your attorney handle communications with the insurance company.

5. Keep Detailed Records

Save everything related to your injuries and the crash, including:

• Hospital and doctor bills
• Prescriptions and medical equipment receipts
• Pay stubs or proof of missed work
• Mileage to and from appointments
• Notes about how your injuries affect daily life

These records help calculate the full extent of your damages and can strengthen your personal injury claim.

6. Notify Your Insurance Company

You’ll likely need to report the crash to your own insurer, even if you weren’t at fault. Just stick to the basic facts. Don’t speculate or agree to a recorded statement without speaking to a Spokane personal injury attorney first.

7. Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer Before You File a Claim

Insurance companies may act fast, but that doesn’t mean they’re offering a fair settlement. An experienced Spokane, WA personal injury attorney can review your case, calculate what your injuries are really worth, and advocate for compensation that reflects the full impact on your life.

Why Injury Documentation Matters

When you’re hurt in a car accident, it’s not enough to simply say you’re in pain. The success of your personal injury claim often depends on how well your injuries, and their impact on your life are documented.

Insurance companies aren’t just looking for facts. They’re looking for ways to pay you less. That includes questioning whether your injuries were caused by the crash, downplaying your medical needs, or pointing to gaps in your treatment timeline as signs that your recovery wasn’t as difficult as you claim.

Strong documentation helps prevent that.

You’ll want to keep detailed, date-stamped records like:

• Emergency room or urgent care reports
• Diagnostic scans and physician notes
• Prescription receipts and medication lists
• Physical therapy logs and follow-up appointments
• Out-of-pocket expenses (mileage, medical equipment, home modifications)
• Pay stubs and proof of lost wages
• Journals or notes describing pain levels, emotional distress, or changes to daily life

Each piece builds a paper trail that makes it harder for the insurance company to question what you’ve been through. It also helps your Spokane car accident attorney create a claim that reflects your full damages not just your bills, but the way this crash has changed your life.

Failing to document your injuries early and consistently gives the insurance company an opening to say:

• Your injuries aren’t related to the accident
• You had these issues before the crash
• You waited too long to seek care, so it must not be serious
• You recovered quickly, and your claim is exaggerated

From the first doctor’s visit to the last physical therapy session, every detail matters. Start documenting right away, even before you contact a lawyer. The sooner you start, the stronger your case will be. Once you’ve gathered the documentation, the next step is working with a legal team that knows how to turn those details into a strong, strategic claim.

We Don’t Just Build Claims. We Build Relationships.

At Albrecht Law, we don’t take every case that comes through the door because the ones we do take get our full attention. When a car accident leaves you seriously injured or grieving a loss, you need more than basic representation. You need a legal team that sees you, knows you, and has the legal strategy to match the seriousness of your case.

Our founder, Matt Albrecht, authored Washington Insurance Law and Litigation (2023–2024), a reference guide in the Washington Practice Series. He’s been trusted to represent clients before the Washington State Supreme Court, and we bring that same level of preparation and legal insight to every case we take. When we take you on as a client, we stick with you.

Your online search for an “auto accident law firm near me” brought you here. If you’re ready to talk about what happened and what comes next, we’re ready to listen. Call (509) 495-1246(509) 495-1246 or fill out our confidential online form to request your free consultation.

Albrecht Law PLLC — Our Clients Are More Than Just Cases

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The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

Albrecht Law PLLC
5105 E 3rd Ave Ste 101
Spokane Valley, WA 99212
(509) 495-1246(509) 495-1246
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