Getting hit on the left side of the car is often called a driver's broadside.   This can cause the head to bend suddenly to the left.  In someone looking straight ahead, this bending can lead to over stretching of the right upper trapezius and levator scapula.  Also, the facet joints on the left can get jammed suddenly, leading to a left sided facet syndrome.   More rarely, the head can bend far enough to cause a sudden closing of the intervertebral formen on the left and bruising in the spinal nerve roots with numbness and tingling down the left hand. 

It's also common to see the driver sustain direct trauma to the left shoulder, rib cage, and AC joint.  The head can also hit the driver's side window, leading to a concussion.  Left sided elbow injuries are not uncommon.

If the passenger has his or head turned, this can cause either more (turned to the left) or less (turned to the right) of a facet component.   Having your head turned left can also lead to an injured right SCM.   When the body is turned left, the sudden left side bending of the rib cage and thoracic spine can lead to bruising of the left rib cage. 

Finally, the left hip and pelvis of the passenger can be shoved into the door (or extensive door crush can provide a forceful blow to this area).  This can lead to an over stretching of the left SI joint ligaments. 

The passenger can sustain all of the forces above, but usually doesn't hit the driver's door.  Stick shift or console injuries on the left side of the passenger's body are not uncommon.  The left knee can sustain a medial meniscus (cartilage) and MCL (knee ligament) injury as it hits the gear shift or console (similar to getting tackled in football).

 ;