Anyone that doesn't believe damage can occur could surely speak with my sister.
She rear-ended me as a passenger in a 98 Tour SE, hitting my 95LX. airbags went off, and she had her left foot in the corner of the dash at the windshield.
We came to a stop and I hopped out to make sure everyone was okay, and went around to her, then I saw that her foot was facing down while her leg was facing up.
It pushed her foot upwards in to the windshield hard enough that it flexed her ankle down beyond the limits, causing it to continue downwards (broken) until her toes touched her calves, then rotated it 180 degrees around until her foot faced rearwards, though still was flexed to her calf.
I had to carry her out of the car and hold her down while the EMS straightened it right then (it was blue and no pulse, and was the only option unless she wanted it amputated.
She now walks with 3 pins in her ankle and a 6 inch scar, no ability to run or drive a manual car, etc.
