Every year, over three million people are injured in motor vehicle crashes in the United States alone. Though many of these car accident injuries are easily diagnosed, an internal injury can be difficult to detect and may not be discovered until days, weeks, or even months after the accident occurs. This could have life-threatening complications, as internal injury accident victims may not seek the medical attention they require.
When an auto accident occurs, vehicle drivers and passengers may be thrown against the steering wheel, dashboard, airbags, or windshield, causing severe internal damage to organs and internal bleeding. If these injuries go untreated, the victim may ultimately suffer significant physical damage including blood loss, damage to the abdomen, infection, or organ failure.
If you or a loved one have suffered an internal injury due to a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, and other damages. A personal injury attorney will ensure you receive the compensation you deserve by negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf. Contact the experienced car accident attorneys at The Rothenberg Law Firm or fill out an evaluation form today to learn about your legal rights. Our consultations are always free!
What are the Most Common Types of Internal Injuries Suffered in a Car Accident?
Internal injury victims suffer from a wide range of injuries, which are usually divided into two types of trauma: penetrating trauma and blunt trauma.
- Penetrating Trauma - This type of injury occurs when a foreign object penetrates the body and tears a hole in muscles, tendons, or organs. Penetrating traumas are usually caused by sharp objects like shattered glass or bullet wounds.
- Blunt Force Trauma - This type of injury is caused by a forceful impact with a blunt object that does not pierce the body, but which causes significant internal trauma. Car accidents and falls are common causes of these traumas.
Some of the most common internal injuries include:
- Internal Bleeding - One of the most common injuries resulting from blunt force traumas like car accidents. An internal bleeding injury can cause trauma to major blood vessels and prevent critical blood clotting. Internal bleeding can also lead to significant loss of blood and pressure on other internal organs by preventing blood flow to critical areas of the body, and if left untreated could cause shock and cardiac arrest.
- Traumatic Brain Injury & Brain Bleeds - Open or closed head wounds suffered in a car crash can cause bleeding between the skull and brain tissue, or even within the brain tissue itself. Brain bleeds may prevent oxygen from reaching parts of the brain, or, in the case of subdural hematoma, place excessive pressure on the brain tissue, leading to permanent brain damage.
- Broken Ribs & Other Bone Fractures - Rib cage injuries such as fractured ribs, broken ribs, and torn cartilage can cause organ injury, injuries to muscles, and also cause trauma to blood vessels. When broken bones puncture a lung, it can lead to pneumothorax, a torso injury in which the lung deflates and releases air into the chest cavity.
- Abdominal Injuries - Abdominal trauma can cause significant organ damage, including a ruptured spleen, kidney damage, or liver damage, which usually requires surgery to correct. Most severe is an abdominal aortic rupture, also known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, in which the abdomen is compressed during an accident.
- Blood Clots - A blunt trauma increases the risk of blood clot formation by causing large amounts of blood to flow to the injured area of the body. Clots that form in blood vessels can move to other parts of the body and lead to a stroke or heart attack.
How Do I Know if I Have Internal Injuries?
Internal injuries can be difficult to diagnose, but there are common symptoms that may warn injury victims of possible internal damage. Due to the potential severity of these injuries, these internal injury symptoms following an accident should be treated as a medical emergency.
Common symptoms of internal injuries include:
- Dizziness, Light Headedness, and Loss of Consciousness
- Purple Skin (caused by bleeding into the skin and soft tissue)
- Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea & Abdominal Pain
- Severe Weakness
- Low Blood Pressure
- Pale Complexion
- Visual Problems
- Chest Pain & Shortness of Breath
- Neck Pain
- Numbness
- Severe Headaches
What Should I Do if I Might Have Internal Injuries From a Car Accident?
If you believe that you may have suffered an internal injury in a car accident, it is vitally important to arrange a medical examination from a qualified medical professional as soon as possible. A doctor can detect injuries that are not immediately obvious by taking your blood pressure, ordering imaging tests, such as a CT scan, MRI, etc. to detect the occurrence of internal bleeding. It is critical to avoid any delay in treatment, which may lead to severe medical issues and endanger your well being.
In addition to seeking medical care, it is also important to obtain legal counsel. Internal injuries may require costly diagnostic tests, medical care, and recovery time, all of which may also prevent the injured person from working. An experienced attorney will provide you the critical legal advice and representation you deserve and will do everything possible to secure the compensation you are entitled to as a result of your injuries.
Call an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been injured by a negligent motorist in a traffic collision, call the experienced personal injury lawyers at The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP to discuss a personal injury claim.
Contact our attorneys for a confidential consultation and free case evaluation by filling out a contact form online at InjuryLawyer.com or by calling our phone number, 1-800-624-8888.
When we take on a new client, we adopt them as part of our family, guide them through the legal process, and fight to obtain maximum compensation for them in every way possible. That has been our motivating force in capturing hundreds of millions of dollars for clients we have represented during the past 50-plus years.
Your initial consultation with our attorneys will always be FREE of charge. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means that if we agree to handle your case, there are no legal fees unless we are successful in getting you financial awards.
At The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP, we understand that injuries suffered in motor vehicle collisions can cause significant physical and mental trauma and place major financial burdens on both the victims and their loved ones. Medical bills pile up quickly, forcing family members to carry the burden of caring for accident victims, arranging medical care, physical therapy appointments, and managing medical expenses all at once.
