Car Accident Lost Wages by Injury Type
The table below shows actual missed workday data from 34,502 occupant records in the NHTSA Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS), pooled across five survey years (2020–2024). Every figure represents real reported work absence from employed crash victims, stratified by body region and injury severity using the internationally standardized AIS (Abbreviated Injury Scale). This is the data layer that powers the calculator on this site.
The median is the midpoint of the distribution — half of workers missed more days, half missed fewer. The mean is the average, which is more sensitive to serious cases. When the median shows “62+ days,” that is a confirmed floor: NHTSA caps its WORKDAYS variable at 62, meaning most workers in that cell hit the recording ceiling and likely missed more. The mean is the better estimate for those cells.
Spine / Back Injuries
Spinal and back injuries are the single most common injury category in car accident claims, driven by the whiplash mechanism in rear-end collisions and lumbar compression in frontal impacts. The AIS 1 cell — minor spinal strain — is the highest-volume data cell in the entire dataset with 566 records and a 3-day median, making it the most statistically precise number in this table.
| Injury Type | AIS Severity | Median Days | Mean Days | Sample (n) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spine / Back | AIS 1 — Minor | 3 | 17.4 | 566 | True median |
| Spine / Back | AIS 2 — Moderate | 62+ | 58.0 | 396 | 62-day floor |
| Spine / Back | AIS 3 — Serious | 62+ | 60.1 | 122 | 62-day floor |
Neck (Cervical) Injuries
Cervical injuries — including whiplash-associated disorders and cervical disc injuries — show one of the highest rates of extended work absence even at AIS 1, with 72% of minor neck injury workers hitting the 62-day recording ceiling. This reflects the reality that neck injuries, even when classified as minor, frequently cause prolonged pain, limited range of motion, and extended treatment that keeps workers out for months.
| Injury Type | AIS Severity | Median Days | Mean Days | Sample (n) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neck (cervical) | AIS 1 — Minor | 62+ | 46.5 | 378 | 62-day floor |
| Neck (cervical) | AIS 2 — Moderate | 62+ | 62.0 | 38 | 62-day floor |
| Neck (cervical) | AIS 3 — Serious | 62+ | 62.0 | 33 | 62-day floor |
Lower Extremity Injuries
Lower extremity injuries — leg, knee, hip, foot, and ankle — are the highest-volume injury category in the CISS dataset with 4,237 AIS 1 records. The robust sample size makes these figures statistically stable. Even minor lower extremity injuries show a 59% rate of hitting the 62-day ceiling, reflecting how mobility-limiting leg and knee injuries are for workers who stand, walk, or drive as part of their jobs.
| Injury Type | AIS Severity | Median Days | Mean Days | Sample (n) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Extremity | AIS 1 — Minor | 62+ | 39.2 | 4,237 | 62-day floor |
| Lower Extremity | AIS 2 — Moderate | 62+ | 55.7 | 640 | 62-day floor |
| Lower Extremity | AIS 3 — Serious | 62+ | 59.3 | 348 | 62-day floor |
Upper Extremity Injuries
Arm, shoulder, wrist, and hand injuries account for 4,144 AIS 1 records in the dataset — the second-largest cell. Upper extremity injuries disproportionately affect workers in manual trades, healthcare, and administrative roles who use their hands constantly. The 58% rate of hitting the 62-day ceiling at AIS 1 is significant for any worker whose job requires fine motor function.
| Injury Type | AIS Severity | Median Days | Mean Days | Sample (n) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Extremity | AIS 1 — Minor | 62+ | 38.4 | 4,144 | 62-day floor |
| Upper Extremity | AIS 2 — Moderate | 62+ | 51.6 | 638 | 62-day floor |
| Upper Extremity | AIS 3 — Serious | 62+ | 59.9 | 71 | 62-day floor |
Thorax / Chest Injuries
Chest injuries from seatbelt compression, steering wheel impact, and airbag deployment are extremely common in frontal collisions. Rib fractures, sternal fractures, and pulmonary contusions appear frequently at AIS 2 and above. Even AIS 1 chest injuries show a 56% rate of hitting the recording ceiling, reflecting significant pain-related work limitation even from minor rib injuries.
| Injury Type | AIS Severity | Median Days | Mean Days | Sample (n) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorax / Chest | AIS 1 — Minor | 62+ | 37.2 | 1,442 | 62-day floor |
| Thorax / Chest | AIS 2 — Moderate | 62+ | 56.1 | 595 | 62-day floor |
| Thorax / Chest | AIS 3 — Serious | 62+ | 59.6 | 958 | 62-day floor |
| Thorax / Chest | AIS 4 — Severe | 62+ | 61.9 | 261 | 62-day floor |
Head / Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries — including concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and skull fractures — show among the highest rates of extended work absence in the dataset. Even AIS 1 head injuries (which include mild concussion) show a 74% rate of hitting the 62-day recording ceiling, with 851 records supporting that figure. Cognitive symptoms from concussion frequently extend work absence well beyond the acute injury phase.
| Injury Type | AIS Severity | Median Days | Mean Days | Sample (n) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head / Brain | AIS 1 — Minor | 62+ | 47.3 | 851 | 62-day floor |
| Head / Brain | AIS 2 — Moderate | 62+ | 53.5 | 561 | 62-day floor |
| Head / Brain | AIS 3+ — Serious | 62+ | 62.0 | 873 | 62-day floor |
Face Injuries
| Injury Type | AIS Severity | Median Days | Mean Days | Sample (n) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face | AIS 1 — Minor | 62+ | 46.9 | 2,332 | 62-day floor |
| Face | AIS 2 — Moderate | 62+ | 59.2 | 202 | 62-day floor |
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