3 types of injuries people may not notice after a crash

On Behalf of | Jan 21, 2025 | Car Accidents |

Motor vehicle collisions are a leading source of traumatic injuries. People of all ages and backgrounds can end up severely injured due to a motor vehicle collision. Some of those injuries are immediately obvious and force people to seek out emergency trauma care.

Other crash injuries can be harder to detect initially. People may leave the scene of a crash without receiving medical care. They may later end up at the hospital or at a doctor’s office because of the symptoms that eventually develop. Delayed diagnosis could affect their recovery and also their request for compensation from the party at fault.

What types of injuries do people sometimes overlook after a car wreck?

1. Stable fractures

The force of a motor vehicle collision is strong enough to produce severe fractures where the bone breaks into many pieces or pushes through the skin. However, people can also sustain stable fractures where the bone remains aligned.

Between the bone remaining in place and the way the body responds to physical trauma, people may not notice any pain or functional limitations immediately after breaking a bone. They can potentially worsen the fracture later by over-exerting themselves.

2. Internal bleeding

When crashes are particularly violent, safety restraints on the inside of the vehicle itself can potentially cause physical trauma to people’s bodies. They may have internal bleeding in the chest or abdomen.

That bleeding may continue over multiple days without immediate diagnosis and treatment. People may only realize they have internal bleeding when they develop large bruises, experience swelling or develop symptoms of blood loss.

3. Traumatic brain injuries

The torso isn’t the only part of the body that can bleed internally. People can also experience bleeding or inflammation inside their skulls.

Blunt force trauma to the head or violent vehicle motions can create traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Symptoms may not be apparent initially but can slowly worsen as the injury progresses.

Most people cannot effectively evaluate themselves for internal injuries after a car crash. They need to see a doctor to diagnose or rule out these potentially deadly injuries.

Seeking compensation may be an easier process in cases where people receive a prompt and accurate diagnosis after a car crash. People who are aware of internal and invisible injuries may be able to better respond to a car wreck.

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