Steering wheel injuries are physical traumas caused when a driver’s body forcefully strikes the wheel during a car accident. These injuries can include chest bruises, broken ribs, internal bleeding, organ damage, and lung or thoracic injuries, often requiring urgent care.
A vehicular accident can change your life in seconds — and one of the most overlooked yet serious consequences is a steering wheel injury.
These injuries often go beyond bruises, impacting vital internal organs and causing complications that may not appear until days later. Without immediate medical care and legal action, you could face long-term health issues and mounting costs. The good news? You don’t have to face it alone.
In this article, we explore the most common injuries, claims, and compensation for accident victims who sustained steering wheel injuries during a car accident.
Understanding Steering Wheel Injuries After a Car Accident
Steering wheel injuries occur when the force of a car accident drives the driver forward, causing the driver’s chest or abdomen to strike the vehicle’s steering wheel.
These injuries can range from visible bruises and facial injuries to severe internal trauma, such as organ damage, fractured ribs, broken bones, and wrist injuries. Because many steering wheel injuries affect critical areas of the body, timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent complications and support a full recovery.
Seeking compensation for these serious injuries often involves filing a personal injury claim to cover medical bills and other damages resulting from the driver’s negligence.
How Injuries Caused by Steering Wheel Impact Happen
Injuries caused by steering wheel impact typically occur during the sudden deceleration of a vehicle in a collision.
When a car comes to a violent stop, the driver’s momentum propels their upper body forward. Even with a seatbelt on, the chest, abdomen, and sometimes the face can slam into the steering wheel with considerable force. This impact can compress internal organs, fracture ribs, and cause blunt force trauma to the heart, lungs, and other vital areas. In some cases, the airbag may deploy, but depending on the position of the driver and the timing of the deployment, it may not prevent contact with the wheel.
Drivers involved in frontal collisions are especially vulnerable, particularly at high speeds or if the steering column lacks modern safety features. These types of injuries are often underestimated at the scene, making it critical to seek medical evaluation immediately, even if symptoms are not yet visible.
Common Steering Wheel Injuries Drivers Suffer in a Car Accident
Steering wheel injuries can cause a range of serious medical conditions, especially when the chest or abdomen absorbs the impact. These injuries often affect vital systems and may not show symptoms immediately.
Here are some of the most common injuries drivers suffer:
Internal Organ Injuries
The force of a steering wheel impact can damage internal organs like the liver, spleen, or kidneys. These injuries are especially dangerous because they may not be visible and can lead to internal injuries, infection, or even organ failure if not treated promptly.
Lung Thoracic Injuries
Blunt trauma to the chest can lead to collapsed lungs, bruised lung tissue, or rib fractures that puncture the thoracic cavity. These injuries can severely restrict breathing and require immediate medical intervention to stabilize the lungs and prevent long-term complications.
Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding isn’t always obvious at first. It may present as dizziness, abdominal swelling, or deep bruising. Caused by trauma to blood vessels or organs, internal bleeding is a medical emergency and must be diagnosed quickly through imaging and lab tests.
Head Injuries
head injuries, including head trauma and head strikes, are also common in steering wheel collisions. These injuries can range from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries, requiring medical attention to prevent long-term complications. Wearing a seat belt significantly reduces the risk of head strikes by keeping the driver positioned safely away from the steering wheel. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to recover compensation and explore all available legal options for victims suffering from these serious injuries.
Other Common Injuries Associated With Steering Wheel Collisions
Beyond organ and thoracic injuries, an impact with the steering wheel traumatic brain injuries, broken ribs, sternum fractures, or chest wall contusions. These injuries can cause intense pain, difficulty breathing, and long recovery times. Left untreated, they may lead to complications such as respiratory issues or infections.
What Compensation is Available to Steering Wheel Injury Victims in Las Vegas?
Victims of steering wheel injuries in Las Vegas may be entitled to both economic and non-economic compensation, depending on the severity of the crash and its long-term impact on their lives.
Economic compensation covers direct financial losses. This includes current and future medical expenses, emergency care, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any assistive devices needed during recovery. If the injury prevents you from working, you can also claim lost wages and loss of future earning capacity. For those with permanent damage, vocational rehabilitation costs may be included as well.
Non-economic compensation addresses the harder-to-measure effects of an injury. This includes pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent physical limitations or disfigurement. These damages are especially relevant in steering wheel injury cases where victims endure chronic pain, breathing difficulties, or visible chest trauma.
Proving Steering Wheel Injuries in an Auto Accident Claim
Proving steering wheel injuries in an auto accident claim requires clear medical and legal documentation that connects the injury directly to the crash. First, medical records must show that the injuries are consistent with blunt force trauma to the chest or abdomen. Emergency room reports, imaging scans, and doctor’s notes are essential.
Next, accident scene evidence supports your claim. Photos of the damaged steering wheel, vehicle interior, and crash impact help demonstrate how the injury occurred. Witness statements and the police report can further validate the mechanics of the collision.
Finally, expert testimony from medical professionals or accident reconstructionists may be used to confirm that the steering wheel impact caused your specific injuries. At Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Las Vegas, we build strong, evidence-backed cases to ensure insurance companies take your injury seriously and pay what you’re owed.
What to Do If You’ve Suffered a Steering Wheel Injury
If you’ve been injured by a steering wheel during a car crash, taking the right steps immediately can protect both your health and your legal rights. Prompt action ensures you receive proper treatment and preserves evidence needed for a successful claim.
Here’s what to do after a steering wheel injury:
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention
- Document Your Injuries
- Report the Accident
- Avoid Giving Recorded Statements to Insurance
- Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
Start with a Free Consultation to Discuss Your Case
Injured in a car accident and unsure of your next steps? Our experienced attorneys at Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Las Vegas are here to guide you through every part of the legal process.
We fight to maximize your compensation and take the stress off your shoulders.
Schedule your free case evaluation today and get the answers you need from a team that truly cares.
Final Thoughts
Steering wheel injuries are often more serious than they first appear, with the potential to impact internal organs, lungs, and long-term quality of life.
Recognizing the signs, seeking immediate medical care, and building a strong legal case are critical steps toward recovery. At Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Las Vegas, we’ve helped countless car accident victims in Las Vegas pursue full compensation for these often-overlooked injuries.
If you’ve suffered harm due to a steering wheel impact, we’re here to protect your rights and fight for everything you deserve.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our experienced team of personal injury law firm.
