Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of severe and catastrophic injuries in the United States. People can very easily end up hurt in crashes that occur at high speeds or between vehicles of two different sizes.

Frequently, those injuries are quite obvious. People who suffer a laceration to their head may bleed profusely even though the injury doesn’t actually require stitches. Broken bones can often be painful and visually obvious because the body part sits at a distorted angle. Other injuries can be harder to identify, especially right at the scene of a crash. It may take time for symptoms to develop.

What are some of the more serious injuries that may not produce immediate symptoms after a wreck?

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

People can hurt their brains in a variety of ways during a crash. They might suffer penetrating injuries caused by flying glass. They could hit their head on the steering wheel. The violent motions of a vehicle can also lead to the swelling of the brain inside the skull. Many times, TBIs are not obvious at first. It may take several days for symptoms to emerge. Even then, people may have a hard time connecting symptoms like dizziness, changes in mood or motor skill challenges with the car crash they recently experienced.  

Internal Bleeding

Seat belts and airbags can save someone’s life during a crash, but they can also cause traumatic injuries. The physical force of pushing against restraints can potentially result in internal bleeding in the torso or abdomen. People usually don’t notice signs of internal bleeding at first. It is only when the condition progresses to a dangerous point that they start to realize there is something wrong. People typically need to have a doctor look at them to determine if they are at risk of internal injuries.

Stable Fractures

It is possible to break a bone and not realize it right away. Sometimes, the bone remains in place and aligned. It may not be particularly painful, and the person might be able to use the body part like they normally do. However, putting too much weight on the affected body part, exercising or suffering a secondary injury might lead to the bone becoming unaligned and painful symptoms.

The only way to accurately identify internal and stable injuries is to see a medical professional. Obtaining a diagnosis after a car crash can help people improve their prognosis and obtain compensation for their harm.