Blunt force trauma during a car accident can cause serious injuries. Often, these injuries are immediately apparent – the victim may bleed profusely from the injury site. Nonetheless, this isn’t always the case, and bleeding doesn’t always happen externally.
Internal bleeding and injuries are every bit as serious as external ones. In fact, they are often much more serious. One of the most dangerous aspects of internal injuries is that the symptoms don’t always present themselves immediately. The symptoms may be a lot more subtle.
Here are some of the most common symptoms associated with internal bleeding.
Chronic headaches
Headaches can be a symptom of different injuries. However, should they persist after a car accident, there could be an internal injury to the brain. All head injuries should be treated as a medical emergency, even when there are no external lacerations. Internal bleeding is a real possibility after a head trauma that resulted in the victim losing consciousness. The only way to rule out or identify internal bleeding in the brain is to have the appropriate medical scans.
Feeling faint
Internal bleeding doesn’t always cause pain. In some cases, the victim may feel dizzy, light-headed and faint. This can be a sign of rapid blood loss internally in any area of the body.
Pain in the abdomen
The chest and abdomen are particularly exposed in a car accident. While the rib cage provides a lot of protection, blunt trauma can be so forceful that it fractures the ribs. In some cases, fractured ribs can pierce vital organs within the chest cavity. The symptoms of internal organ injuries can be similar to those discussed above, but abdominal injuries often cause pain and swelling in the area.
The best way to rule out or treat internal injuries is to seek immediate medical attention after a car crash. This could save your life. If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, personal injury compensation could be a possibility.
