In November 2024, more than 100 vehicles were stranded on a New Mexico highway when a semi-truck jackknifed during a snowstorm. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident. Other road users are not so lucky. In 2022 alone, there were nearly 41,000 car accidents on the state’s public roads, including highways. More than 18,000 people were injured in these accidents, and 466 people died.
High-Speed Highway Accidents During Road Trips: Common Injuries
Along with distraction and aggressive driving, speed is a common cause of New Mexico accidents. The higher the speed during an accident, the more intense the impact on vehicle occupants. The more intense the impact, the higher the likelihood of serious injuries. Some of the most common injuries sustained during high-speed accidents on New Mexico’s highways include the following.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Next to a fatality, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most severe outcomes of a high-speed accident. Whenever two or more vehicles crash into each other at breakneck speeds, the force of the impact can cause drivers’ and passengers’ heads to strike hard surfaces. These surfaces include the steering wheel and the dashboard. In the case of an unrestrained driver, the surface can also include the wind-shield. Traumatic brain injuries range from concussions to haemorrhages and diffuse axonal injuries (DAI). While concussions are often mild, haemorrhages and DAI can result in long-term cognitive impairments. Symptoms of a TBI may include fatigue, memory loss, ongoing headaches, and mood swings. The injury and its symptoms can have a devastating impact on a victim’s mental abilities, emotions, and physical function. People who suffer a severe TBI often require extensive rehabilitation and long-term care, which can impact their quality of life.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Even if a car accident victim’s brain is spared during a high-speed crash, they may suffer other severe injuries. This includes spinal cord damage. The sheer impact of a highway crash can bruise, compress, or sever the spinal cord. When the spinal cord is severed during an accident, it causes immediate paralysis. Depending on the location of the severing, a victim may be a paraplegic or quadriplegic. Like TBI, spinal cord injuries require immediate and long-term medical care. Victims may need ongoing surgeries, physical therapy, and permanent assistance devices. When a victim is paralysed after an accident, it will leave them with a lifelong financial, health, and emotional burden.
Internal Injuries
The force of a high-speed crash can also damage the driver and passengers’ internal organs. This means serious injury to the liver, spleen, kidneys, and other organs. In some cases, these injuries are masked, and internal bleeding is not picked up. If a victim takes too long to get medical help, they can die from untreated internal bleeding. Moreover, victims with internal injuries often require emergency surgery and stay in the hospital for weeks or months. Recovery is slow, and there is a high risk of complications such as chronic pain or infections.
Burns and Lacerations
Sometimes, a high-speed crash can lead to a rollover. When this happens, there is the risk of one or both cars catching fire. If there is a fire and the occupants of the cars are unconscious or trapped, they may sustain life-threatening burns. Burns are not only incredibly painful, but the treatment is often even more so. Burned skin is at risk of severe infection. The patient will also have to undergo several reconstructive surgeries. If there is no fire during a rollover, the occupants of the vehicles will likely still suffer cuts and lacerations from broken glass. Some cuts may be superficial, but deep cuts can damage muscles, nerves, and tendons.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are another common injury resulting from a car crash. Victims may suffer fractures to the arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis. In some cases, the impact of a high-speed crash can force the steering wheel into the chest of the driver, resulting in catastrophic injury. Broken bones and fractures are painful and susceptible to complications. Compound fractures, in particular, are at a higher risk of infection. Breaking a leg or arm is also debilitating, making it hard for victims to return to work. This leads to a loss of income in most cases.
You Have Legal Recourse After a High-Speed Accident
If you are injured in a high-speed highway accident, you have recourse to seek compensation. You should consult a personal injury lawyer who can help you file an insurance claim or a legal case against the at-fault driver.
Your lawyer will explain your rights and give you the best options to recoup your medical expenses and income losses. Hiring a lawyer is the best way to ensure you are compensated for all your expenses resulting from an accident!
ABOUTME
We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.
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