Internal bleeding in Los Angeles car accidents are caused by the body being subjected to sudden, forceful impacts or penetrations that damage blood vessels or organs, leading to bleeding within the body. This type of injury can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. The mechanisms and conditions leading to internal bleeding in car accidents include:
Direct Impact
- Blunt Trauma: The most common cause of internal bleeding in car accidents is blunt trauma, where the body hits or is hit by an object (like a steering wheel, dashboard, or seatbelt) but the skin is not necessarily broken. This force can crush or tear blood vessels or organs, leading to internal bleeding.
- Compression: The body or a part of the body may be compressed between objects, such as a seat and a steering wheel, causing organs and blood vessels to be crushed or damaged.
Deceleration Trauma
- Rapid Deceleration: In a high-speed collision, the car suddenly stops, but the bodies inside continue moving forward until they hit something that stops them, such as a seatbelt or airbag. This rapid deceleration can cause organs to shift and blood vessels to tear, leading to internal bleeding. Organs like the liver, spleen, and kidneys are particularly susceptible to this type of injury due to their mass and location.
Penetrating Trauma
- Penetration: Sharp objects flying inside the car or parts of the car’s structure breaking can penetrate the body, causing direct damage to organs and blood vessels. Although technically external forces, these injuries lead to internal bleeding through cuts or punctures in internal tissues.
Shearing Forces
- Shear Injuries: Shearing forces occur when parts of the body are moved in opposite directions or at different speeds. This action can tear blood vessels, especially those connecting parts of the body that move independently, such as the connection between the brain and the skull or between organs and their attachments. It’s a common cause of injuries such as aortic dissections.
Common Sites of Internal Bleeding Due to Car Accidents
- Abdominal Cavity: The spleen and liver are particularly vulnerable to blunt trauma, making them common sites of internal bleeding in car accidents.
- Thoracic Cavity: The heart and lungs can suffer from blunt or penetrating trauma, leading to internal bleeding.
- Cranial Cavity: Trauma to the head can cause bleeding inside the skull, such as subdural or epidural hematomas, which are serious and life-threatening conditions.
- Pelvis and Chest: Fractures to the ribs or pelvis can cause damage to internal organs and blood vessels, leading to internal bleeding.
Symptoms and Detection
Symptoms of internal bleeding can include pain, swelling, deep purple skin (bruising), dizziness, fainting, and shock. However, symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Medical professionals use diagnostic tools like ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs to detect and locate internal bleeding.
Treatment
Treatment for internal bleeding may involve surgery to repair the damaged blood vessels or organs, blood transfusions to replace lost blood, and other supportive care to stabilize the patient.
Preventing such injuries is paramount and includes wearing seatbelts properly, ensuring airbags are functional, and driving safely to reduce the risk of high-impact collisions. Call Cohen Injury Law Group today!