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When you are involved in a car accident, it is common to experience injuries that you can see. Bleeding, bruising, burns, and disfigurement are all visual signs of physical injuries that may require immediate medical attention.

But it is not uncommon to suffer internal injuries in a car accident as well. These are injuries that you can’t see and that you might not even notice for days—or even weeks—after the collision. Crucially, these injuries may still require prompt treatment to prevent long-term complications, and this is yet another reason why you should see a doctor and consult with a Naples car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

10 Examples of Internal Injuries from Car Accidents

What are some common examples of internal injuries after a collision? Some of the most common types of internal injuries sustained by drivers and passengers include:

1. Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are far more common than most people realize. Regardless of whether your airbag deploys, the forces involved in a car accident are more than enough to cause a concussion—or even a more serious form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). In fact, even if you don’t hit your head, the force of your head moving forward and then snapping back is enough to cause a brain injury. This is especially common in head-on and rear-end collisions.

2. Broken Collarbone (Clavicle)

Broken collarbones (clavicles) are also common internal injuries in car accidents. While you will often be able to see that you have a broken bone in your arm or leg, this isn’t as common with a broken collarbone. If you feel a grinding sensation or hear a crackling sound when you move your shoulder (which is often accompanied by intense pain), this is a sign that you may have broken your collarbone in your car accident.

3. Broken Ribs

Similarly, broken ribs won’t necessarily result in any external symptoms. While bruising is common, broken ribs don’t always result in bruising, and even when they do, bruising won’t always appear right away. If you experience chest pain when you breathe in, or if your chest is tender to the touch, this could be a sign of a broken rib (or multiple broken ribs).

4. Collapsed Lungs

Chest pain and tenderness can also be symptoms of a collapsed lung. Shortness of breath after a car accident is a telltale sign of a collapsed lung as well. Collapsed lungs can result from both blunt-force trauma and penetrating chest injuries, and when they result from blunt-force trauma, they often won’t have any external signs or symptoms. While collapsed lungs can heal on their own in some cases, they can also lead to medical emergencies—so it is important to see a doctor promptly if you think you may have suffered this type of internal injury.

5. Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding can also be very dangerous. Internal bleeding occurs when an organ or blood vessels in the body suffer damage due to blunt-force trauma. Along with severe pain, early warning signs of internal bleeding include abdominal swelling, dizziness and lightheadedness, nausea and vomiting, clammy or sweaty skin, and shallow breath.

6. Liver and Kidney Damage

Due to their location in the body, the liver and kidneys are particularly susceptible to suffering damage in a car accident. Liver and kidney damage present risks for internal bleeding, and liver or kidney failure can be very dangerous as well. If you feel deep pain in your upper abdomen or between your abdomen and your back, this could be a sign that your liver or kidneys were damaged in the crash.

7. Nerve Damage

You have nerves running throughout your body. Your nerves carry signals from your brain through the spine and into the chest, abdomen, arms, legs, hands, and feet. As a result, if you suffer nerve damage in a car accident, you can experience symptoms ranging from a “pins and needles” sensation to loss of bowel and bladder control—and even full or partial paralysis. Nerve damage typically does not have any external symptoms, and it is possible to suffer nerve damage without suffering cuts, bruises, or other external injuries. While nerve damage is repairable in some cases, prompt medical intervention can be crucial for some patients.

8. Organ Damage

Along with the brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys, all of the other organs in your body can suffer damage in a car accident as well. The stomach, pancreas, intestines, and other abdominal organs are particularly susceptible to damage in a crash. Pain, swelling, and impairment of bodily functions are all possible signs of organ damage after a car accident—and all signs that you should see a doctor right away.

9. Ruptured Spleen

The spleen is another organ that is at risk of being damaged in a car accident. The forces involved in a car accident can cause the spleen to rupture, and “[i]f your spleen ruptures, it's the most likely of all of your abdominal organs to cause life-threatening internal bleeding.” While the spleen can rupture immediately upon impact, damage caused by a car accident can also lead to a rupture days or weeks after the collision.

10. Spinal Cord Injuries

Finally, spinal cord injuries (SCI) are serious internal injuries that can result from car crashes, and that can have a wide range of life-altering (and in some cases life-threatening) effects. Herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and other types of SCI can leave car accident victims facing a long, difficult, and expensive road to recovery.

Discuss Your Case with Naples Car Accident Lawyer Randall L. Spivey at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

If you have concerns about an internal injury after a car accident, you should see a doctor promptly. You should also speak with an accident attorney about your legal rights. While you may be entitled to financial compensation, you will need to work with an experienced lawyer to recover the financial compensation you deserve. For a free, no-obligation consultation with Naples car accident lawyer Randall L. Spivey, please call 888-477-4839 or inquire online today at Spiveylaw.com.