While scrapes, cuts, and even broken bones are readily apparent, internal injuries are far more insidious and may go undetected initially. Internal injuries happen when the force of a car accident impacts your internal organs.
The sudden movement of your body can cause organs to collide with bones or other tissues, leading to tears, ruptures, and bruising. In some cases, the impact can sever blood vessels causing internal bleeding, which can be a life-threatening emergency.
If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s vital to understand the risks of internal injuries and why prompt medical attention is crucial, even if you feel fine afterward – and how a car accident attorney in Chicago can help you recover damages due to internal injuries after the accident.
Common Types of Internal Injuries in Car Accidents
The violent forces at play in a crash can wreak havoc on your internal organs, even if you outwardly appear unhurt. These injuries are dangerous because initial symptoms might be masked by shock, or attributed to minor soreness.
- Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Symptoms may include confusion, headaches, nausea, and changes in behavior.
- Rib Fractures: Broken ribs are a common chest injury in car accidents. The force of impact against the steering wheel or seatbelt can crack or break ribs. These cause sharp pain, especially when breathing, and in severe cases, can puncture the lungs.
- Cardiac Contusion (Bruised Heart): Blunt force to the chest can bruise the heart muscle. This affects its pumping ability and can lead to irregular heartbeats or heart failure in severe cases.
- Spleen and Liver Damage: Solid organs like the spleen and liver are prone to being lacerated or ruptured by blunt force. This causes internal bleeding and often requires surgery. Symptoms include abdominal pain and tenderness, and potential signs of shock.
- Kidney Damage: The kidneys filter the blood and can suffer bruises, tears, or complete ruptures. Blood in the urine, back pain, and a decrease in urine output might indicate kidney damage.
Internal injuries can be life-altering or even fatal. Always seek a full medical evaluation after an accident, even if you feel okay.
Why Internal Injuries Are Often Missed
When your body experiences a traumatic event like a car accident, it floods your system with adrenaline and other stress hormones. This fight-or-flight response can temporarily reduce your sensitivity to pain and mask the symptoms of serious injuries.
Some internal injuries, especially those involving bleeding or subtle organ damage, may not cause immediate, intense pain or obvious symptoms. You might feel sore or unwell but attribute the discomfort to generalized accident-related soreness.
It’s easy to mistake the symptoms of internal injuries for the normal stress and anxiety that can follow any accident. Dizziness, nausea, and changes in breathing could be attributed to the emotional fallout of the crash rather than a medical issue.
Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Car Accident
No matter how minor you think your injuries are, getting checked by a doctor after a car accident is always recommended.
- Even minor seeming accidents can cause serious harm. It’s impossible for you to self-diagnose internal injuries. A doctor can use imaging tests, like X-rays, CT scans, or ultrasounds, as well as other diagnostic tools to assess the full extent of your injuries and catch problems early.
- Specific symptoms warrant immediate attention. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, such as abdominal pain, chest pain, difficulty breathing, etc., it’s imperative to seek emergency medical care. These could be signs of a life-threatening condition.
- Treatment delays can worsen outcomes. Internal bleeding, organ damage, and certain types of brain injuries require prompt treatment. The longer you wait, the higher the risk of complications that could leave you with long-term health problems.
Seeking immediate medical attention not only safeguards your health but also strengthens any potential legal claim. A thorough medical evaluation creates a documented record of your injuries that can be crucial when dealing with insurance companies and navigating the claims process.
Protect Your Legal Rights, Get the Help You Deserve
If another driver’s negligence caused your car accident, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. An experienced Chicago car accident attorney can investigate the accident, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure that your rights are protected.
If your rights have been violated because of someone else’s reckless driving, contact Roger D. Rudich, Ltd. – one of the recognized car accident attorneys in Chicago – for a consultation.
