Internal Bleeding from Car Accident

A bruise is not usually a cause for alarm, as most people get them daily. Often they don’t bother people at all and may even go unnoticed. However, should you be more concerned if you notice bruising after a car crash?

Normal Bruising

A bruise happens when blood vessels beneath the skin crush and break open, causing some leakage right below the surface, generally appearing dark red or purple. Some bruises can feel tender to the touch, while others can be painless.

A typical bruise will often fade entirely away in about two weeks without needing treatment. However, more severe bruises can take months to disappear; in some cases, they could be signs of more significant health issues, such as internal bleeding.

When a Bruise May Be a Sign of Something More Serious

People may experience some bruising after even minor car collisions. However, how can you tell if your bruises are harmless or indicate something worse?

If the bruised area remains swollen or the bruise doesn’t begin to fade in a few days, these may be signs that the accident has had a more considerable effect than anticipated. You should see a doctor right away for a check-up.

In general, you should see a doctor after a car accident, regardless of the collision’s severity. For one thing, people often don’t feel the full repercussions of the accident immediately after it occurs, and some injuries (even bruises) may only appear the next day or later.

This will prove essential when filing a car injury claim with the at-fault driver or your insurance company. If, for instance, the bruising turns out to be more severe and you require additional medical treatment, you may have some problems getting the insurance company to cover the costs. They may argue that your condition worsening is at least partially your fault for not seeing a doctor right after the accident, in which case they will say that they should not have to cover the medical costs of your negligence.

Serious injuries resulting from a car accident can cause financial hardship. The cause of internal bleeding is generally evident, such as a serious trauma, but in some cases, even minor trauma can cause internal bleeding. It may take hours and even days for the injury to show up in some rare cases.

What Causes Internal Bleeding?

Internal bleeding can result from trauma caused by a car accident or any other high-impact accident. The main causes of internal bleeding are:

• Whiplash or acceleration/deceleration injury – A whiplash injury can manifest itself as a traumatic brain injury. When the car comes to a stop suddenly, it can cause the brain to move vigorously inside the skull, which can tear veins and lead to internal bleeding. In case of a brain injury, even a small amount of bleeding can cause significant damage and even permanent disability.
• Blunt force trauma – The impact of a blunt force trauma can compress the internal organs and cause significant damage. If compression occurs, the affected organ can bleed within itself. In case of a severe injury, the organ lining can tear and internal bleeding can spill out into the abdominal cavity.
• Medication injury – In some cases, the side effects of medication can lead to internal bleeding. A doctor may prescribe the wrong medicine or the wrong dosage, causing complications leading up to internal bleeding.

Symptoms of Internal Bleeding After a Car Accident

The signs of internal bleeding can range from being minor to extremely serious, depending on the severity of the condition. Here are some symptoms of internal bleeding:

• Orthostatic hypotension – The patient may feel dizzy when standing up from a sitting position.
• Shock – Heavy internal bleeding can cause the pulse to increase, blood pressure to drop, and the skin can become clammy.
• Bruising – When blood moves towards the skin, it can show up as bruising.
• Pain and inflammation – The affected area can become inflamed and painful.
• Visible blood – The injured person may start bleeding from orifices such as the ears or nose.

Internal bleeding can have a serious effect on the eyes and the brain. Even a small amount of bleeding in the brain can cause symptoms such as:

• nausea or vomiting
• blood in your urine or stool
• abdominal pain and swelling
• dizziness, slurred speech, difficulty concentrating
• feeling very cold
• severe headaches
• low blood pressure
• sweaty skin or a very pale complexion
• seizure
• slurred speech
• unconsciousness
• weakness on one side of the body
• coma

Internal bleeding in the eyes can cause symptoms such as:

• hazy vision
• blindness
• floating objects in the field of vision

Treatment of Internal Bleeding

A patient who shows signs of internal bleeding should be given immediate medical attention. Treatment is provided to stop bleeding and repair any organ damage that may have occurred. In some cases, such as those in which internal bleeding has occurred in the abdomen, prominent blood vessels have ruptured, blood clots are pressing against the brain, or there are serious fractures, surgery may be required.