Internal injuries are most often related to the organs inside your body. These organs can become damaged and cause bleeding that can be quite serious and life-threatening, even if there is no external wound or sign of damage. And one of the most common causes of internal injuries are car accidents.
Unfortunately, because internal injuries are not always apparent, as there is often no external sign of injury, victims can neglect to seek medical attention. Delaying treatment for an internal injury could lead to complications that result in death.
As such, it is crucial that car accident victims seek emergency treatment for internal injuries as soon as possible. Even if you think you are not severely injured, you never know what could be happening to your body internally. If the impact is significant, get yourseld checked out. As the adage goes, better to be safe than sorry. Proof that you sought medical attention can also play a crucial role in your case should you decide to file a personal injury claim.
Personal injury claims can compensate you for the damages you have suffered as the result of an accident, such as injury-related medical expenses, lost income while recovering from an injury, property damage, and more. And your medical documents can help support your claim and help you recover the compensation you need.
At McCoy & Sparks, our Central Kentucky car accident attorneys have years of experience handling personal injury cases, including those involving internal injuries. We understand how an internal injury from a car accident can affect your life and are here to help.
Common Internal Injuries From Car Accidents
Internal injuries are essentially any type of trauma that occurs internally, typically as the result of some sort of violent blow to the body, which often happens in car accidents. Even though the outside of the body might look fine, internally, there could be severe damage and internal bleeding that could be life-threatening if not treated right away.
Some common internal injuries from car accidents include:
- Broken ribs
- Fractured collarbones
- Pneumothorax (when a rib bone penetrates the lungs)
- Ruptured spleen
- Hemothorax (bleeding around the lungs)
- Aortic aneurysms
- Tears in the large blood vessels
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Liver and kidney damage
Signs of Internal Injury After Car Accidents
The symptoms and signs of internal injury after car accidents can vary significantly depending on what part of the body was damaged internally. However, there are a few key symptoms to look out for that may indicate your body has experienced trauma and is bleeding internally, which include:
- Abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Extreme fatigue or lethargy
- Persistent headache
- Inability to focus
- Changes in vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blood in urine or stools
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweaty skin
- Weakness
With internal injuries, it is paramount that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. The signs and symptoms listed above can help you determine whether or not you are suffering from an internal injury; however, many of these symptoms do not appear until it is too late to treat the issue. As such, you should never wait until you feel sick. Immediately following an accident, if you have any doubt, you should visit an ER, urgent care, or make an appointment with your general practitioner to get checked out just in case.
If left untreated, internal injuries can result in organ failure or significant blood loss that can lead to coma or even death. Even if you are not losing blood externally, you can still bleed internally, which can cause your body to start shutting down. Early treatment is the best way to stop the bleeding and repair the organs before it is too late.
Recovering Compensation for Internal Injuries From Car Accidents
Some people might neglect to seek a doctor after suffering internal injuries because they are simply unaware of the injury, but others might avoid treatment out of fear of how much it will cost. But if you file a personal injury claim for your car accident, one of the primary damages you can recover compensation for is your medical expenses.
The cost of treatment for internal injuries can be pretty high, especially if you sustain a significant amount of internal damage. However, when you file a claim, you can often delay paying your medical bills until your case is settled and you have the compensation to pay your medical providers back.
You can also recover compensation for other damages, such as:
- Car repair expenses
- Lost income while you recover from your injuries
- Reduced earning capacity if you are unable to return to work full-time due to permanent impairment or disability from internal damage.
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Physical pain & suffering
- Emotional trauma or distress suffered as a result of the accident and your injury
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Additional out-of-pocket expenses
It’s important to note, however, that while you may be entitled to compensation for these damages, there is no guarantee that you will be awarded the full amount that you deserve. Insurance companies often try to undervalue claims, so it’s important to work with an attorney to ensure this doesn’t happen.
A personal injury attorney can help you gather evidence to build a strong case, they can protect your rights, and can handle negotiations with insurance to ensure you are awarded the high-value settlement you deserve.
Trust McCoy & Sparks—Premier Personal Injury Attorneys in Central Kentucky
At McCoy & Sparks, we understand how severe internal injuries from car accidents can be. Not only are these injuries physically and emotionally traumatizing, but the cost of paying for them can be a financial burden. Our team of Kentucky personal injury lawyers are dedicated to fighting hard to protect our clients and ensure they get the full and fair settlement they need and deserve to cover their losses.
You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Make the right call to (844) 4KY-WINS for a risk-free consultation with one of our internal injury car accident attorneys today.