The injuries in car accidents depend on the seriousness and impact of the collision. While you may notice the ones that are visible, there could be serious underlying ones as well. In fact, internal injuries are the more dangerous type and they can be deadly if you overlook them. Although they cannot be detected with an external assessment, your doctor would recommend the requisite diagnostic tests and start with the treatment immediately. Further, you also need to add them up to your compensation claim. Here are some key facts to understand about internal injuries in car accidents.
Types of internal injuries in car wrecks
When collisions happen suddenly, the occupants in the car are often slammed against the dashboard, windshield, airbags or steering wheel. Unsecured cargo and debris from the crash are also dangerous. These situations can cause minor and major internal injuries to the driver and passengers. Here are the most common ones sustained in road mishaps.
- Broken ribs
- Organ damage
- Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
- Ruptured spleen
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Internal Bleeding
Symptoms to be watchful about
It is clear that internal injuries can be severe and dangerous because they often involve vital organs. But they are easy to ignore because you see nothing on the surface. Experts at ChasenBoscolo recommend that you should be extra vigilant about some signs and get an immediate diagnosis. Not only does this approach enable quick and relevant treatment, but also adds strength to your personal injury claim. Here are the common signs of impact-related internal injuries:
- Pain and tenderness in the affected areas, specifically in the abdomen or chest because it indicates potential damage to the underlying vital organs
- Nausea, dizziness, and vomiting, which could be an indication of traumatic brain injury
- Bruising, particularly if it is dark purple in color, as it indicates internal bleeding which could be potentially dangerous
- Shock, accompanied by signs like weakness, rapid heart rate and lethargy, which could be associated with heavy blood loss
The perils of internal injuries
If you know the symptoms of internal injuries well enough, it would be relatively easy to get them diagnosed. While you may be tempted to self-evaluate your body if there are no visible problems, it always makes sense to get a complete medical check-up right after the mishap. They will perform the required tests such as x-ray, CT scan or angiography for a detailed examination of bones, tissues, and blood vessels.
Internal injuries can easily develop into serious, even life-threatening conditions unless they are treated quickly. Apart from the health implications, these injuries are a major concern from the compensation perspective. Treatment can be expensive and time-consuming and you wouldn’t want to miss out on their value while calculating a fair settlement. Knowing about them early gives you an advantage while filing your claim.
Being aware of your internal injuries is important because it can save you a lot of trouble. You wouldn’t want to settle your claim today, just to know that there are underlying problems that would require expensive treatment in the future.
