The risks of internal bleeding after a car accident

A car crash can lead to a variety of injuries. Many of these injuries — like cuts  —are immediately noticeable. Unfortunately, other injuries may hide deep in the body, and symptoms may not appear for some time after a collision. Internal bleeding is one injury that may not be immediately known after an accident.

What can cause internal bleeding?

In an accident, a variety of injuries can cause internal bleeding. If a foreign object penetrates the body, it can cut the blood vessels in the effected area. If the body collides with something in an accident, that pressure can also damage blood vessels. Internal bleeding may also occur if a broken bone goes untreated and damages the surrounding area.

What symptoms may indicate internal bleeding?

While some people may dismiss bruising after an accident, a bruise could only be the beginning of the many different symptoms they experience. These symptoms can vary depending on the area of the injury, with brain injuries leading to different symptoms than bleeding in the abdomen. Injured people may want to watch for:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fatigue or exhaustion
• Low blood pressure
• Dark, painful bruising
• Swelling or a feeling of tightness
• Pain that worsens over time
• For bleeding in the brain, headaches, seizures or loss of consciousness

If you experience these symptoms, you may want to seek medical help. Internal bleeding may require surgical intervention to treat, and could grow worse if left untreated. A physician can help injured people understand the extent of their injuries and get treatment so that they can heal. Injured people may also want to explore their options for compensation to offset the cost of this treatment.