When you’re involved in a car accident, it can be incredibly overwhelming. However, you may be relieved to discover that, once the shock wears off, you feel okay. As the days progress, you may start to feel worse and worse. Unfortunately, this could be the result of internal injuries sustained in the collision. If you were involved in an accident, understanding how these injuries happen and the signs you should look for is critical to ensuring your health and well-being. The following blog explores what you should know about these matters and the importance of working with a Baltimore County auto accident lawyer to help you fight for justice if your injuries are caused by a negligent driver.
How Do Internal Injuries Happen?
Unfortunately, there are a number of ways in which someone can sustain internal organ damage as a result of an accident. Generally, the most common is through blunt force trauma. This happens when your body sustains a strong, violent impact from an object. For example, if you hit your head on the steering wheel or your side collides with the center console during an accident, you can sustain serious injuries. Blunt force trauma can crush your cells, causing tears and damage.
Another way in which you can sustain blunt force trauma is through deceleration. This occurs as the result of an abrupt stop. Many assume that the body moves as one, which is not always true. You may find that, though your body has stopped moving, the force of the impact has caused your internal organs to continue to shift. For example, if you are rear-ended, your head may whip forward before coming to a sudden stop; however, your brain may continue to move inside of your skull, subsequently colliding with the inside of your skull, which can result in a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) like a concussion. This can lead to serious issues, as the damage from deceleration trauma may go unnoticed for days or weeks following the accident.
Common internal injuries include TBIs, broken ribs, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), ruptured spleen, kidney damage, spinal cord injury, and ruptured abdominal aorta, among others.
What Signs and Symptoms Should I Look For?
Unfortunately, due to the number of internal injuries that can be sustained in a car accident, there is a wide array of signs and symptoms you must be on the lookout for after an accident. As such, if you experience any of the following, you should seek immediate medical care:
- Bleeding (vomiting blood, bloody stool, bloody urine)
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Blurry vision
- Severe bruising
- Headaches
- Fainting
- Chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
- Lightheadedness
If you are involved in a car accident, you should seek immediate medical treatment, even if you feel okay. As mentioned, some injuries may not manifest immediately, so establishing medical care is critical for your health and well-being. Additionally, seeking immediate medical attention can help your case if you choose to pursue legal action against the negligent party. This is because Maryland is a contributory negligence state, which means if you are found to have contributed in any capacity to the injuries you’ve endured, you will be prohibited from collecting compensation. As such, if you do not seek treatment, the defense can claim you failed to mitigate your injuries.
As you can see, being involved in a car accident can be incredibly overwhelming. It’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced car accident attorney to guide you through these difficult matters. At the Law Offices of Markey & Orsi, we understand the importance of these matters, which is why we will do everything possible to help guide you through. Connect with us today to learn how we can help you fight for the justice you deserve.
