Common Car Accident Injuries and Where to Get Treatment in Rochester

When Crashes Disrupt Your Life in Rochester

A car crash doesn’t just damage your vehicle, it disrupts everything. In Rochester, accidents happen fast, especially with busy traffic on I-490 or slick winter roads near East Avenue. You might feel fine at first. But in the hours and days after a crash, pain can creep in. Your neck stiffens. Your back locks up. Maybe your head aches in ways it never did before. Injuries that seem minor at the scene can quickly become major problems.

If you’ve been in a collision in Rochester or anywhere in Monroe County, you don’t have to sort things out alone. At Horn Wright, LLP, we help people like you get the care they need and fight for compensation after someone else’s mistake. Our New York car accident lawyers understand the stress, and we’re here to shoulder the legal side while you focus on healing.

Whiplash: The Hidden Injury That Keeps Hurting

Whiplash often shows up after low-speed collisions, the kind that happen during stop-and-go traffic near Monroe Avenue or at the tight intersections along Mount Hope Avenue. You might walk away thinking you got lucky. No bruises. No blood. But by the next morning, your neck could feel stiff, your shoulders sore, and your head foggy. That’s whiplash.

It occurs when your neck snaps forward and back too fast. The muscles and ligaments stretch past their limits. Sometimes, the pain builds over a few days, making it hard to turn your head or even sleep.

You shouldn’t wait to get this checked out. Rochester has trusted specialists across Monroe County who treat these soft-tissue injuries with targeted care:

• Rochester Chiropractic & Wellness for early spine realignment
• UR Medicine Orthopaedics for physical therapy referrals
• Ridgeview Chiropractic in Irondequoit for muscle rehabilitation

Even a mild case can linger without the right attention. The sooner you start treatment, the faster you recover.

Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries in Car Accidents

You don’t have to hit your head to suffer a brain injury. Sudden acceleration during a crash can jolt your brain inside your skull, especially during highway collisions on I-390 or 490. That motion alone may cause a concussion or a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The signs can be subtle at first:

• Headaches
• Memory lapses
• Sensitivity to light
• Nausea or dizziness
• Mood swings or confusion

In Rochester, you can get a full neurological exam at Strong Memorial Hospital, where the emergency department handles head trauma daily. Unity Hospital’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program also offers outpatient care if symptoms continue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidelines for concussion recovery that explain why early care matters.

Many people ignore these injuries, hoping they’ll fade. But brain trauma often worsens without care. If you notice any changes in how you think, feel, or react after a crash, seek help right away.

Back Injuries and Herniated Discs After a Rochester Collision

Back injuries are one of the most reported outcomes after car accidents in Rochester. The jolt of a crash can compress the spine, even at lower speeds. On roads like Lake Avenue or West Ridge Road, where traffic surges and stops suddenly, these injuries happen often. One second you’re driving home, the next you’re dealing with stabbing back pain that won’t go away.

Herniated discs are especially common. These occur when spinal discs slip or rupture, pressing on nearby nerves. Symptoms might include:

• Sharp pain radiating down your legs
• Numbness or tingling in arms or feet
• Trouble standing or walking for long

Imaging and physical therapy go hand-in-hand for recovery. UR Medicine Orthopaedics and the Rochester Regional Health Spine Center offer MRI diagnostics, spine assessments, and guided treatment plans. You don’t need to suffer through the pain or risk making it worse with everyday movements.

Broken Bones and Fractures on Impact

Some injuries announce themselves right away. Fractures fall into that category. A collision at an intersection like Goodman and Monroe or a side-impact crash on University Avenue can leave you with a broken arm, leg, or rib before you even realize what happened.

The most common car-accident-related fractures in Rochester include:

• Wrists or arms braced during impact
• Ankles twisted during a hard brake
• Ribs compressed by seatbelts
• Noses or cheekbones fractured by airbag deployment

You may need emergency care right after the crash, especially if a limb is visibly misaligned or you can’t bear weight. Highland Hospital’s Emergency Department provides fast trauma care. After the immediate treatment, urgent care clinics in Brighton, Greece, and Henrietta handle follow-up X-rays and casting.

Even “clean” breaks require monitoring. Bone healing isn’t just about immobilization, it’s about managing swelling, pain, and your return to mobility.

Internal Injuries: What You Don’t See Can Still Hurt

Not all injuries show on the outside. Blunt-force trauma from a steering wheel or seatbelt can damage internal organs, tear blood vessels, or cause bleeding you can’t see or feel right away. These injuries can be life-threatening if missed.

If you were in a high-speed crash on I-490, or if you hit the dashboard hard, watch for:

• Abdominal swelling or tenderness
• Dizziness or fainting
• Deep purple bruises along the torso
• Nausea or shortness of breath

In Rochester, Rochester General Hospital offers Level II trauma services equipped to identify and treat these invisible threats. CT scans and trauma assessments can rule out or confirm serious issues. Don’t delay. Internal injuries often worsen silently. You can read more about symptoms and emergency treatment on the New York State Department of Health.

Soft Tissue Damage: Sprains, Strains, and Torn Ligaments

Soft tissue injuries might sound minor, but they can affect your daily life in big ways. You may feel sore, stiff, or unable to use a limb normally. These injuries often happen in smaller accidents, like fender benders in downtown Rochester or parking lot bumps at Wegmans on East Avenue.

Muscles, tendons, and ligaments can overstretch or tear when your body reacts to sudden force. Sprained wrists, strained backs, and pulled neck muscles are some of the most reported issues after low-speed crashes.

What helps:

• Physical Therapy at Lattimore for guided muscle recovery
• Genesee Valley Physical Therapy for personalized rehab
• Rest, compression, and slow reintroduction to activity

Soft tissue injuries heal slowly without the right care. If you can’t move like you did before, it’s worth getting a treatment plan tailored to your injury.

Psychological Trauma: Anxiety, PTSD, and Emotional Fallout

Your mind needs recovery, too. After a crash, the emotional impact may not show up right away. But for many in Rochester who’ve survived traumatic collisions, mental health struggles become just as real as physical pain.

You may feel jumpy behind the wheel. Maybe you avoid driving entirely. Some people experience flashbacks or nightmares. Others can’t sleep. This could be post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or crash-related anxiety.

Monroe County has strong resources for emotional recovery:

• Strong Behavioral Health offers trauma-informed therapy
• Local therapists across Brighton, Pittsford, and Penfield specialize in accident-related anxiety
• Support groups and telehealth options make access easier

When your brain keeps replaying the crash, talking to someone helps. It’s a step toward healing that matters just as much as physical recovery.

Where to Go in Rochester for Immediate and Ongoing Treatment

After a car accident, getting care quickly prevents long-term damage. In Rochester and Monroe County, the good news is this: you have options. Whether your injury is mild or severe, you can find the right help nearby.

Emergency Rooms (For Life-Threatening Injuries)

• Strong Memorial Hospital (South Ave): Trauma and neuro care
• Rochester General Hospital (Portland Ave): Emergency diagnostics
• Highland Hospital (South Ave): Rapid trauma and ortho support

Orthopedic and Spine Care

• UR Medicine Orthopaedics: Disc injuries, fractures, and post-crash assessments
• Rochester Regional Health Spine Center: Back, neck, and spine therapies

Physical Therapy and Rehab

• Lattimore Physical Therapy (multiple locations across Monroe County)
• Genesee Valley PT (Brighton and Pittsford clinics)

Brain and Neurological Care

• Unity Hospital’s Brain Injury Rehab: Ongoing concussion and TBI treatment
• Strong Neurology: Imaging, cognitive evaluation, and follow-ups

Mental Health Services

• Strong Behavioral Health: Licensed trauma therapists
• Monroe County Community Counseling Centers: Sliding scale, in-person and virtual options

No matter the type of injury, Rochester’s medical system offers reliable, accessible care. You don’t have to travel far or wait for weeks. Help is nearby.

Don’t Wait to Get the Care You Deserve

The aftermath of a car accident can feel overwhelming. One minute you’re driving to work, the next, you’re juggling doctor visits, insurance forms, and constant pain. But the care you need is available right here in Rochester. And the sooner you get it, the better your recovery will go.

If someone else caused the crash, you shouldn’t have to carry the cost alone. Horn Wright, LLP, helps injured people in Monroe County pursue fair compensation so they can focus on getting better. Our legal team works with medical experts and local providers to build strong cases and reduce your burden. Let us take the pressure off while you heal.