The violent impact of a car accident can cause serious health complications. Some of these have immediately apparent signs or symptoms, such as lacerations and broken bones. Others, however, have no visible signs. For example, the symptoms of internal bleeding gradually worsen in the hours following car accidents, eventually becoming life-threatening. Car accident victims should get checked by a doctor as soon as possible after a collision to get prompt treatment for any “invisible injuries” they may not know they have suffered. Next, they should seek help from an experienced car accident attorney to pursue the compensation they could be owed.
Signs of Internal Bleeding Injury After a Car Accident
Unfortunately, some car accident injuries like internal bleeding is not always immediately visible. Instead, symptoms of internal bleeding may develop in the hours or even days after a car accident. General signs of internal bleeding include:
- Abdominal pain
- Skin discoloration or bruising
- Difficulty breathing or coughing up blood
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Pale or clammy appearance of the skin
- Drop in blood pressure or a rapid pulse
- Shock
- Loss of consciousness
- Drop in body temperature
Internal bleeding can cause other symptoms depending on where the internal injury has occurred. For example, internal bleeding in the head or brain may cause severe symptoms that indicate the need for immediate treatment, such as:
- Severe headaches
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Nausea or vomiting
- Balance/coordination issues
- Vision problems
- Drowsiness/fatigue
Impact to the chest or torso could damage organs like the stomach, lungs, kidneys, and liver. Common signs of an internal bleeding injury in the chest or abdomen include:
- Coughing up blood or difficulty breathing due to a feeling of fluid in the lungs
- Vomiting, especially if vomit contains blood
- Bloody stool or urine
- Severe chest or abdominal pain
- Confusion
Bleeding in or around soft tissues like muscles, tendons, or ligaments can cause symptoms such as joint stiffness, swelling, cramping, severe pain, and bruising/discoloration.
Common Types of Internal Injuries that May Cause Bleeding
Car accident injuries to internal organs can lead to potentially life-threatening internal bleeding. Common types of internal injuries that can cause bleeding include:
- Broken ribs that puncture vital organs, including the lungs, heart, spleen, or liver
- Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
- Ruptured liver, kidneys, or spleen
- Stomach or intestinal perforation
- Ruptured major blood vessels
- Traumatic brain injuries
What To Do If You Suspect You’re Suffering from Internal Bleeding After an Accident
If you think you may have internal bleeding, you should seek immediate medical attention in the emergency room. Doctors can perform tests to confirm the presence of internal bleeding, such as physical exams, monitoring blood pressure/heart rate, ultrasounds, X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.
Once you’ve sought medical treatment and your condition has stabilized, you can begin seeking compensation from the at-fault driver. Taking the following steps can help you build a strong foundation for your case:
- Follow your treatment plan and recovery instructions.
- Report the accident to your car insurance company.
- Obtain copies of medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
- Request a copy of the police crash report if law enforcement responded to the accident.
- Gather bills, invoices, or receipts of your accident expenses, including medical care or vehicle repairs.
- Find copies of your pay stubs or income statements if you miss time from work or suffer a reduction in earnings due to medical restrictions on your ability to work.
- Contact an experienced car accident attorney and bring them this evidence during your free initial consultation.
Treatment for Internal Bleeding After a Car Accident
Treatment for internal bleeding after a car accident may depend on the amount of blood loss, the severity of internal injuries, the presence of a traumatic brain injury, and the patient’s heart rate and blood pressure. First, doctors will monitor the patient’s condition to see if the bleeding is ongoing. If the bleeding is severe or will not stop on its own, treatment usually progresses to surgery to repair the damaged organs or tissues to stop the bleeding. Which of the following types of surgical procedure that doctors perform will depend on the location of internal injuries and bleeding:
- Exploratory laparotomy: performed in response to abdominal and gastrointestinal internal bleeding. Surgeons will make a large incision in the abdomen to carefully examine the internal organs for damage. Doctors will also seal or suture any ruptured or perforated blood vessels.
- Thoracotomy: performed to treat bleeding in the chest. Surgeons will make an incision along the rib cage or breastbone to open the chest and locate the source of the bleeding. Doctors can also drain fluid from the chest cavity to relieve pressure on the heart and lungs.
- Craniotomy: performed to stop brain bleeding caused by a traumatic brain injury. Surgeons may suture ruptured blood vessels or open a window in the skull to relieve pressure caused by fluid buildup around the brain.
- Fasciotomy: performed to relieve internal bleeding in or around muscles that can cut off blood flow to the injured limb. Surgeons may make an incision into the limb to relieve pressure and gain access to ruptured blood vessels.
Doctors may also prescribe medications to foster proper blood clotting, especially if patients have risk factors for excessive bleeding, such as blood thinning medications, severe liver disease, or genetic conditions like hemophilia.
Compensation for Internal Bleeding Complications
If you’ve experienced medical complications due to internal bleeding from a car accident, you may have the right to recover compensation. Your financial recovery may include money for:
- Costs of medical treatment or rehabilitation, including hospitalization, surgeries, and prescription medication
- Costs of care or support services you need as you recover from your injuries or if you suffer disabilities due to your injuries
- Ongoing or future losses of wages if you cannot work due to your injuries
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life or reduced life expectancy
Talk to an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer in Georgia Today
Car accidents can cause serious injuries that may not be apparent right away. If you’ve suffered internal bleeding due to the injuries you sustained in a car crash, you need experienced legal representation to help you recover compensation for your harm and loss. Contact Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, today for a free, no-obligation consultation to talk to a Georgia car accident attorney about your legal options for obtaining financial recovery and justice. We have many years of experience helping Georgians successfully recover from car accidents.
