Internal injuries can be a serious result of automobile collisions because they can turn deadly very quickly. Unlike external injuries, there are not always outward symptoms to warn injured victims that they are in jeopardy. Internal injuries are life-threatening and always require immediate medical attention.
Causes of Internal Injuries in Automobile Collisions
Cars have significant force and momentum even when they are moving at relatively slow speeds. When one vehicle strikes another, those inside the vehicle absorb the momentum. The body is often not able to safely absorb the force. The inside of the body can be severely harmed by the tremendous force that is released in a car accident, resulting in internal bleeding, organ damage or other internal injuries.
Internal injuries can also occur as a result of the air bag deploying or being ejected from the vehicle.
Types of Internal Injuries
Damage to the body by the force of a crash can manifest in a number of ways. Common examples include:
- Fractured Ribs – A broken rib could damage blood vessels or could puncture a lung. Broken ribs usually heal on their own in a painful and time-consuming process.
- Internal Bleeding – Severe trauma can easily damage blood vessels. A ruptured vessel can cause bleeding that doesn’t clot, but the formation of clots can also be dangerous by preventing blood from circulating. Internal bleeding symptoms include confusion, weakness, disorientation, disorientation, breathing problems, bruising and bloody vomit or urine. Without treatment, internal bleeding can lead to organ failure.
- Brain Bleeding – If either an open or a closed head wound occurs due to the crash, there may be bleeding in the brain. This prevents oxygen from getting to parts of the brain, often causing permanent brain damage. Excess pressure on the brain can also have a permanent and damaging effect.
- Abdominal Aorta Aneurysm – If the stomach is crushed in an accident, the abdominal aorta can rupture.
- Damage to the spleen – The spleen, located in the abdomen, contains disease-fighting blood cells to help the body fight infection and unwanted bacteria. A car accident can damage the spleen or even rupture it, flooding the abdominal cavity with blood.
- Pneumothorax – Occurs when trauma punctures the lung, allowing air into the chest cavity.
- Liver Damage – Commonly, car accident victims who experience liver damage have a tear in this vital organ.
- Kidney Damage – Typically, kidney damage results from accidents that impact the flank or lower back. Not only may damage to the kidneys be permanent, necessitating dialysis or a transplant, but kidney damage can also lead to internal bleeding.
Other injuries are always possible, and it is imperative to seek prompt medical attention after a crash.
Compensation for Internal Injuries
Internal injuries may not always have symptoms that show up right away. However, if you do exhibit symptoms, you may not realize right away what they signify or how bad your injuries are. If you do not get treatment for your internal injuries immediately, your health situation could become much worse.
Therefore, it is essential that you get medical attention immediately after a car accident in order for medical professional to conduct the proper testing and examinations. The negligent party should pay for the victims treatment in these cases, which usually comes from their insurance.
Those who sustain internal injuries deserve compensation for:
- All medical costs – Including those for ongoing care or adaptive devices to cope with lasting complications.
- Lost wages – Not only time off from work, but also sick time or vacation time and any future or ongoing reduction in income resulting from the car accident injuries.
- Pain and suffering compensation
- Emotional distress damages
Representation for Internal Injuries
If you’ve suffered an internal injury due to another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Maginnis Howard’s lead personal injury attorney, T. Shawn Howard has experience handling complex automobile collision cases including those involving victims of severe internal injuries.
Our firm handles personal injury on a contingency basis. You can reach us by phone at (919) 526-0450, or by email at info@carolionalaw.com, or through our contact page.
