How Do I Know if I Have Internal Injuries?

Internal injuries are common in accidents and are especially dangerous because of no clearly evident symptoms. Since it is difficult to identify internal injuries in a routine medical examination, they may cause unforeseen complications, or require immediate medical intervention.

Types of Internal Injuries

The high impact of a crash may result in the occupants slamming against airbags, dashboard, windshield, steering wheel, or getting hit by debris and unsecured cargo. Some of the typical internal injuries suffered by victims in such accidents are:

Broken Ribs

The impact in a collision may cause the ribs to fracture. These broken ribs can prove to be very dangerous as they can pierce or puncture internal body parts such as lungs, blood vessels, and other organs.

Collapsed Lung

A broken rib may pierce through a lung, puncturing and deflating it. This may cause the lung to collapse, subsequently releasing excessive air into the chest cavity. This condition, known as Pneumothorax, is a serious complication caused by broken ribs.

Abdominal Aorta Rupture

The victim’s abdominal aorta may rupture due to excessive compression of the stomach in a high-impact injury. This injury, known as an abdominal aorta aneurysm, is usually fatal.

Internal Organ Injury

Organ damage may lead to internal bleeding, causing it to shut down. Kidney damage and liver lacerations are common internal organ injuries, which, if not repaired quickly, may result in long-term damage to the organ or even prove to be fatal.

Ruptured Spleen

A spleen rupture can lead to heavy internal bleeding, and typically needs immediate surgery to repair.

Internal Bleeding

An impact may result in damage to blood vessels that may prevent clotting, and lead to severe internal bleeding. Symptoms of internal bleeding are:

• Abdominal pain

• Lightheadedness

• Cold feeling

• Thirst

• Pale complexion

• Fatigue

What Internal Injury Symptoms You Need to Look for, After an Impact?

While internal injuries are difficult to detect, you need to be aware of the symptoms you need to look for, if you are the victim of some sort of impactful injury. Some of the common symptoms of internal injuries resulting from a high-impact collision are:

Physical Pain

You may feel physical pain. Look for tenderness or pain in your chest or abdominal area and seek medical help even if it does not feel severe. Remember, even seemingly minor symptoms may worsen with time.

Nausea

Do seek immediate medical attention after an impact if you feel dizzy or nauseous. Nausea or dizziness might occur due to loss of blood, and some victims might vomit after sustaining internal injuries. Vomiting after a high-impact collision is a telltale sign of an internal injury, especially if the vomit has blood in it.

Shock

Typically, a victim’s body goes into shock if there is a lot of blood loss over a relatively short period of time. Other signs that the victim is going into shock include weakness, lethargy, rapid heart rate, and lightheadedness.

Bruising

Internal injuries often manifest themselves with signs of bruising on the accident victim’s body. Patches of dark purple skin are indications of internal injuries bleeding into the skin and soft tissues. This type of bruising is different from a typical bruise, and a symptom of a serious internal injury.

Contact an Experienced Alabama Auto Accident Attorney

Internal injuries often require expensive medical attention, leaving victims with huge medical bills and forcing them off work, as they need time to recuperate.

If you or a loved one has sustained internal injuries from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or willful misconduct, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. During this challenging time for you and your loved ones, it is crucial that you work with a competent and experienced team of legal professionals.

Contact the legal professionals at Smith Law Firm today to schedule a complimentary consultation. Call us now at (334) 702-1744.