Car crashes and automobile accidents can cause many types of Car Accident Injuries, but some of the most dangerous are internal injuries. These hidden traumas involve vital organs, blood vessels, and internal bleeding that may not be visible right away. Because of their delayed symptoms, internal injuries are often more life-threatening than external wounds. Victims require immediate medical evaluation and treatment to prevent complications.
Why Internal Injuries Are a Serious Injury
Unlike broken bones or visible soft tissue injuries, internal trauma progresses silently. A victim may feel fine after a motor vehicle collision but later experience abdominal pain, chest pain, nausea and vomiting, dizziness and confusion, or collapse due to internal bleeding. This makes internal injuries one of the deadliest serious injuries caused by auto accidents.
Common Causes of Internal Injuries in Car Crashes
- Blunt abdominal trauma: The body collides with dashboards, airbags, or seatbelts, damaging internal organs like the liver, spleen, or kidneys.
- Penetrating trauma: Shattered glass or metal debris pierces the abdomen or chest.
- Seatbelt pressure injuries: While life-saving, they can compress the spine, ribs, or chest injuries, sometimes leading to spinal cord injuries or organ damage.
- Airbag injuries: Powerful deployments may bruise or rupture vital organs.
- Rollover automobile accidents: These crashes can cause multiple injuries at once, including back injuries, herniated discs, or spine injury alongside internal bleeding.
Types of Internal Injuries After Auto Accidents
1. Internal Bleeding
The tearing of blood vessels during crashes causes hidden bleeding. If untreated, it can lead to hemorrhagic shock, unconsciousness, or death.
2. Organ Damage
- Liver tears and ruptured spleen are common in motor vehicle accidents.
- Kidney injuries often show up as blood in urine.
- Lung and chest injuries can lead to collapsed lungs or difficulty breathing.
3. Abdominal and Crush Injury
Blunt abdominal trauma or a crush injury can harm the intestines, stomach, or pancreas, often requiring surgery.
4. Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
While often categorized separately, many spinal cord injuries, spine injury, herniated discs, and back pain stem from the same crash forces that cause internal trauma.
Warning Signs of Internal Trauma
Victims should watch for:
- Abdominal pain and abdominal bruising
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Nausea and vomiting
- Neck pain, dizziness, and confusion
- Signs of internal bleeding (weak pulse, pale skin, fatigue)
Even mild symptoms should prompt a medical evaluation because unseen injuries may worsen over time.
Medical Treatment for Internal Injuries
Prompt medical treatment is essential after car crashes involving internal trauma. Doctors often use:
- CT scans and imaging to identify bleeding or organ damage.
- Emergency surgery for ruptured organs or torn blood vessels.
- Surgical plates to repair broken ribs or chest injuries.
- Physical therapy after surgery for recovery of strength and mobility.
Treatment can take months, especially if combined with head injuries, brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, or spinal cord injuries from the same crash.
Long-Term Impact of Internal Injuries
Survivors often face:
- Ongoing pain from back injuries, knee injuries, or herniated discs
- Reduced function in vital organs
- Neurological damage from oxygen loss
- Emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder from near-death experiences
Some also require lifelong care for complications like post-concussion syndrome, compound fractures, or distal radius fractures sustained in the same crash.
Financial and Emotional Challenges
Internal injuries create overwhelming medical bills from surgeries, hospital stays, and physical therapy. Families may face lost wages if victims cannot work. Beyond the financial burden, survivors struggle with the hidden nature of internal trauma the scars may not show, but the suffering is real.
Final Thoughts
Internal injuries are among the most devastating consequences of motor vehicle accidents. They affect not only the body but also the mind, finances, and family life. Prompt diagnosis, proper medical treatment, and legal protection are essential to help victims recover.
About Ted Law Firm
At Ted Law Firm, provides compassionate support for individuals and families coping with serious injuries after car crashes. We serve families across Aiken, Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, North Augusta and Orangeburg.With dedication and advocacy, the firm ensures victims of Car Accident Injuries have the resources to rebuild their lives after devastating auto accidents.Contact us today for a free consultation
