After a car accident in Illinois, it is important for you to stay alert for signs of possible serious injury. At Clark Frost Zucchi, we know that sometimes the symptoms do not show up for several hours, and you may feel relatively normal in the interim.
One of the most potentially dangerous injuries that can result from a motor vehicle accident is internal bleeding. According to Central Medical Center, this occurs when one or more blood vessels tear or rupture due to extreme trauma.
The symptoms of internal bleeding can vary depending on the part of the body where the rupture occurs. You may notice a purple discoloration called ecchymosis at the area of impact in the soft tissues. If the impact happened in the torso, you may experience chest pain. A blow to your abdomen may cause swelling of your liver or spleen. Internal bleeding of your thigh may cause tightness, swelling and pain in the leg.
Internal bleeding can occur due to a foreign object, usually glass, penetrating your body and tearing a hole in your blood vessels. However, this is relatively rare. The more common cause of internal bleeding from a car accident is blunt trauma. A high-speed collision between your body and an object can cause blood vessels to rupture, even if there is no penetration into the body itself. Examples of objects that could cause blunt trauma in a car accident include the following:
- Airbag
- Steering wheel
- Seatbelt
- Windshield
Even if it stops on its own, internal bleeding is an emergency situation that should receive medical treatment as soon as possible. More information about injuries from car accidents is available on our website.
