After you have suffered an impact you might be surprised at how easily you “walk-off” your injuries, but don’t be fooled. Adrenaline may easily mask and distract you from pain. It is your body’s natural way of helping you get away from a threat. It doesn’t mean you aren’t truly injured; it might just mean your pain is delayed.
One of the biggest dangers of a major impact is an internal injury. While you’ll notice a gash on your head or a leg bone at a funny angle, you are not likely to notice an internal injury right away. That’s just one reason that it is so important to seek medical attention right away. After that, call Hodges Trial Lawyers at 256-539-3110 to start your personal injury claim.
Why Internal Injuries Are So Dangerous
To start, internal injuries are easily hidden. If you’re unusually tired after the impact, or especially sore in one area, you might just assume you need some extra rest or ibuprofen. Many people don’t realize they have internal injuries until it is too late to mitigate the damage, simply because they don’t know what to expect from this type of injury.
Second, internal injuries may turn fatal. Damage to your blood vessels, organs, or brain can leave you with lifelong damage or kill you. Unfortunately, with medical care being so expensive, many accident victims take their chances and wait out their symptoms instead of seeking care right away.
What does this mean for you? No matter what, get checked out by a medical professional after an impact. If you’re not experiencing any worrying symptoms, you might check out an urgent care facility like American Family Care Athens or Comprehensive Primary & Urgent Care. If your symptoms are rapidly worsening, you might go straight to the emergency room at Athens Limestone Hospital.
Identifying Internal Injuries
Certain symptoms may indicate an internal injury. If you experience any of these after an impact, get checked out immediately:
- Swelling or bloating of the abdominal area
- Dark bruises around the abdominal area
- Deep purple tone to the skin, which may indicate internal bleeding
- Dizziness or fainting
- Severe headaches
- Vomiting and nausea
- Confusion or inability to communicate
- Pale skin tone
There are several types of internal injuries you may be diagnosed with. Some of the most common are explored below.
Internal Bleeding
This is one of the worst outcomes. Significant trauma can cause blood to pool in the body’s cavities, starving the body’s organ systems of blood. Without immediate treatment, internal bleeding may be fatal. Internal bleeding may be caused by ruptured organs or blood vessels. Abdominal aorta ruptures are another source of internal bleeding. The aorta brings blood to the bottom half of the body. If it ruptures, massive internal bleeding occurs. Even with treatment, it may be fatal.
Organ Damage
Organ injuries are often fatal if they aren’t promptly diagnosed and treated. You could experience a pneumothorax if you suffer a broken rib during a car crash. While most ribs remain in place after a break, a rogue rib that punctures the lung causes a pneumothorax. This makes it extremely difficult to breathe until the trapped air is released and damage to the lung is repaired.
Another type of organ injury is a ruptured spleen. This type of injury generally requires surgical treatment.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries vary quite a bit in severity and outcome. Everyone’s brain responds to trauma in different ways. If you become confused, agitated, fatigued, or overly emotional after an impact, it’s possible you suffered a brain injury. Serious brain injuries can permanently impact your ability to regulate your emotions, communicate clearly, remember names or events, or even move around independently.
Do You Have a Valid Personal Injury Claim? Find Out with Hodges Trial Lawyers
Our team of personal injury attorneys is ready to represent you, both at the negotiating table and in court. Set up a time to talk with Hodges Trial Lawyers now by calling us at 256-539-3110 or contacting our team online.
