What Internal Injuries Can You Get From a Car Crash?

When you’re involved in a car crash, the force of the impact can be so great that it can cause extensive internal injuries, even if you weren’t the one driving the vehicle. These types of injuries are commonly referred to as “internal injuries” because they occur on the inside of your body and not on the surface.

Several internal injuries can result from a car accident, including spinal cord injuries, pneumothorax, fractured ribs, and liver lacerations. Some of these injuries may be more life-threatening than others, but even soft tissue injuries will still need to be treated and monitored by doctors; otherwise, they may prove to be life-threatening if left untreated.

Here is more information about what internal injuries you can get from car accidents.

Types of Car Accident Injuries

There are many types of car accident injuries and conditions, but whiplash is the most common. Other common types of damages include:

• Head injury
• Soft tissue injury
• Neck injuries
• Muscle strain/sprain
• Lumbar strain/sprain
• Prolapsed discs

Though some of these injuries might not be serious, they can lead to some effects like Mental and emotional injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Car Accident Common Injuries

The most common car accident injuries that people may experience in a car accident are back injuries and whiplash. This type of injury occurs when the head is flung back and forth quickly, typically when someone’s seatbelt snaps back after an impact.

Another common injury that one may experience is broken bones or fractures. This type of injury usually occurs in accidents where the person crashes into an object or another vehicle at high speed. It can also happen if there is no airbag to cushion the fall. Those not wearing seat belts are likely to be thrown forward into the windshield or dashboard.

What is Internal Injury?

Injuries that occur inside the body are known as internal injuries. This type of injury is often overlooked because it doesn’t result in external bleeding or an open wound. However, these kinds of injuries can be just as serious as external injuries and need to be treated immediately. The most common causes of these injuries are falls, car crashes, and sports-related accidents.

Internal Injuries Sustained in a Car Crash

Internal injuries to the chest, neck, back, and other parts of the body are often overlooked in cases where an individual was involved in a collision. Here are some internal injuries that may occur during a car accident:

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injury occurs when the sudden, severe force causes the brain to move around inside the skull and strike against hard surfaces such as bone. Some symptoms of a traumatic brain injury are headaches, nausea, dizziness, memory loss, speech impairment (slurred speech), and slowed thinking.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

There are four types of traumatic brain injuries:

• Concussions-They are mild head injuries that cause temporary changes in brain function.
• Diffuse axonal injuries- These are caused by shearing forces and usually result in bruising and bleeding on both sides of the brain.
• Contusions –These are caused by impact from an object with an irregular shape, such as a rock or tree branch.
• Penetrating Trauma– this is where an object pierces through the skull into the brain, damaging both the outer membrane (dura) and the inner membrane (arachnoid). Most penetrating trauma cases occur when something penetrates the skull during a stabbing or gunshot wound.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury is one of the most serious injuries in a car crash. There are two types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete. A complete injury means there’s no sensation or movement below the area of the spine where the injury occurred. An incomplete injury means some feeling or movement below the site but not as much as before.

One example is paraplegia, which leaves people with paralysis from the waist down. Paraplegia might be a side effect of an incomplete spinal cord injury because it limits the ability to feel pain in the lower half of your body, which can lead to infections.

Chest Injuries

A broken rib is an injury to the ribs, which may be fractured, cracked, or destroyed. A fracture is when the bone breaks but doesn’t necessarily poke out of the skin. The ribs may break in two places because of how thin they are.

Ribs are on either side of your chest and help protect your lungs and heart. Having broken ribs can lead to shortness of breath, extreme pain (especially with breathing), trouble swallowing food or drink, or even bleeding into or around your lungs.

Brain Bleeds

A brain bleed occurs when the brain becomes injured and causes bleeding. Brain bleeds can happen at any time but are more likely to occur during an accident or fall. The most common symptoms of a brain bleed are:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Confusion
• Difficulty speaking or thinking clearly.

If you experience these symptoms after an accident, call 911 immediately.

How Michael J. Brennan Can Attorney Help You After You’ve Suffered an Internal Injury in a Car Crash

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, it can seem like the entire world is working against you. Trying to deal with your physical and emotional recovery while also tending to medical bills, missed work, and potential future expenses can be overwhelming.

Armed with knowledge of your rights, Michael J. Brennan is an experienced injury and accident attorney who can help ease this burden by handling the details and negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf.

Rest assured that we will diligently look into the circumstances of your situation to determine if you have a case, and how much money you are entitled to receive in damages for your pain and suffering.

Call our office today at 708-578-7914 for a free case evaluation so we can discuss what legal options you have regarding filing a claim or lawsuit.