Car Accidents and Internal Injuries: When You Might Not Know You’re Hurt

In 2024, Delaware State Police reported that someone was injured in a traffic accident every 69 minutes across our state. While many of

us assume that serious injuries will be readily apparent after an accident, the reality is that many dangerous conditions take shape slowly and silently.

Internal injuries pose a variety of hidden dangers that can lead to serious and even fatal complications if they aren’t caught and treated early on. Here are a few common examples of hidden car accident injuries, along with an overview of the symptoms to watch for after a crash.

What are internal injuries?

Unlike superficial injuries like cuts and burns, internal injuries occur inside the human body and can impact a wide variety of internal organs and other anatomical structures. While many accident victims suffer injuries that are readily apparent to the naked eye, others fall prey to hidden internal in

juries that can have uniquely devastating consequences.

In most accident scenarios, there are a number of different factors that can cause internal injuries like bleeding and organ damage. That’s because the human body often absorbs tremendous amounts of force during a collision that can cause extensive damage to certain internal structures. Whether an accident involves blunt force trauma or just a high-velocity impact of some sort, internal injuries can easily occur and may progress rapidly in the absence of early intervention.

Internal injuries can be incredibly dangerous because their symptoms often develop over time and may not be evident until a victim’s condition has become critical. In these cases, it’s not unusual for a crash victim to go home or delay medical care after their accident, only to suffer significant complications further down the line.

Common internal injuries in car crashes

Internal injuries can affect just about any part of the body and can range significantly in severity. Here are a few examples of the most

common internal injuries reported by survivors of motor vehicle crashes:

Abdominal injuries

The abdomen contains vital organs and tissues that can sustain serious damage in a crash. Because the abdomen is not protected by any large bone or cartilage masses, this part of the body is often particularly vulnerable to extensive damage in a collision. Some common internal abdominal injuries include:

• Spleen or liver tears
• Kidney damage
• Pancreas injuries
• Intestinal bleeding or perforations

All of these injuries can become life-threatening if not treated promptly. Damage to abdominal organs can cause extensive bleeding or other complications that require swift and intensive medical intervention to resolve.

Chest injuries

Even though many of the organs inside the chest are protected by the rib cage, crash victims can still suffer significant injuries to the ribs, lungs, and heart during a collision. Cardiac and pulmonary contusions, rib fractures, and lung punctures are all relatively common chest injuries that can seriously impact survivors’ most vital organs and functioning.

Head injuries

Many of us think of head injuries when we think about car accident scenarios. Conditions like concussions are incredibly common in car accidents, though many survivors report that symptoms of these injuries tend to develop over time rather than in the blink of an eye. Other internal head injuries, like diffuse axonal injuries and brain hemorrhages, can cause extensive complications and even death if they are not addressed quickly after a crash.

Soft tissue damage

While many internal injuries affect organs and organ systems, some accidents cause damage to muscles and tissue structures. For example, some high-speed collisions cause muscle or ligament tears. In other cases, survivors may suffer nerve damage either as the direct result of an impact or as a result of a broken bone or other injury.

Warning signs to watch for

We hear all the time from crash survivors who initially thought they were totally fine after an accident, only to learn later on that they had actu

ally sustained significant injuries. This is why accident victims should seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible after a crash, even if they think they are perfectly healthy. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and an early assessment can rule out serious injuries and mitigate the risk of complications down the road.

If, however, you decide not to pursue medical care after a crash, you should still make it a point to monitor yourself for any symptoms of internal injuries so you can quickly seek medical intervention if necessary. Here are a few red flag symptoms to look out for:

• Abdominal pain, bloating, or swelling
• Dizziness, light-headedness, or loss of consciousness
• Increased heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Blood in urine or stool
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Vision changes

If you experience any of these symptoms, don’t wait. Go to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible to seek care. Be sure to tell the provider that you were involved in an accident and to describe your symptoms as clearly and honestly as possible. Don’t downplay your symptoms or leave anyth

ing out – everything you share with your doctor can prove vital in helping you access the potentially life-saving care you need.

What are the potential complications of internal injuries?

If you let your internal injuries go untreated for too long, you could find yourself facing some serious complications with long-term implications for your health and well-being. Every case is different, of course, but allowing an internal injury to go unaddressed could lead to:

• Serious infections like sepsis
• Chronic pain
• Inflammation
• Loss of organ function or need for transplant
• Severe internal and/or external scarring
• Muscle adhesions
• Weakened immune system

In the best cases, survivors are able to get the treatment they need to address their internal injuries and stave off long-term harm. In the worst cases, internal injuries can worsen to the point that they become life-threatening and, ultimately, fatal. This, again, is why it is so important to see a doctor as soon as possible after an accident, regardless of whether or not you begin experiencing symptoms immediately after a crash.

Final thoughts

Internal injuries are some of the most serious physical complications of car accidents because they can progress to the point of being life-threatening before a victim is even aware of their presence. While it might be tempting to delay medical treatment after a crash due to the perceived cost or inconvenience a doctor’s visit may pose, it is better to seek care proactively rather than find yourself fighting a more serious condition later on.

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we understand how costly accident-related internal injuries can be – physically, mentally, and financially. That’s why our experienced Delaware car accident lawyers are devoted to helping accident survivors understand their rights after a crash.

If you suffered internal injuries in a Delaware car accident, contact us to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team. We can chat with you obligation-free about what legal options you may have for recovering compensation.