Chest injuries, in particular, are very common after car accidents.
Chest injuries usually take the form of contusions or bruises, but can also be more severe injuries, like broken ribs or internal injuries.
Your position behind the steering wheel is why chest injuries are so prevalent because there is little freedom of movement before your chest collides with the steering wheel.
When your body is thrown forward during a collision, even though you might not hit the steering wheel or dashboard, your chest area will still experience a high level of force against your seat belt.