By Crash News Writer 
A serious car crash can injure your body even when you have no visible cuts or broken bones. The force of a collision can damage organs, blood vessels, and other structures beneath your skin. In some cases, you may initially walk away believing you are okay.
Internal injuries after a car accident can be particularly dangerous because they are not always obvious. Symptoms may appear immediately or become more noticeable later. Internal bleeding can quickly become life-threatening, making prompt medical care important when you have warning signs.
If you or your loved one develops severe pain, trouble breathing, confusion, fainting, heavy bleeding, or other signs of a medical emergency after a crash, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.
Why Internal Injuries After a Car Accident Can Happen
Your body can experience enormous forces during a collision. A seat belt can save your life, but the force against your chest and abdomen can still cause injuries. Your body may also strike the steering wheel, dashboard, door, airbag, or another object.
Blunt force can damage internal organs without breaking the skin. MedlinePlus notes that significant trauma to the ribs can sometimes be accompanied by damage to organs such as the lungs, liver, spleen, or kidneys, with these injuries being more likely in car crashes and serious falls.
That is why you should pay attention to new or worsening symptoms following a collision. Feeling relatively normal immediately afterward does not provide a diagnosis of what may be happening inside your body.
Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding is one of the most serious concerns following significant trauma. Blood can leak from damaged vessels or organs and collect inside the body instead of appearing through an external wound.
Symptoms can include abdominal pain or swelling, chest pain, dizziness, weakness, pale or clammy skin, shortness of breath, and a rapid pulse. Blood in your urine, stool, or vomit can also indicate internal bleeding.
Severe blood loss can lead to shock. Without treatment, shock can prevent organs from receiving enough oxygen and can become life-threatening.
Because suspected internal bleeding is an emergency, do not wait to see whether serious symptoms disappear on their own.
Abdominal Organ Injuries
The abdomen contains several major organs that can be harmed by crash forces. These include your liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, stomach, and intestines.
Damage may result from a direct blow or from the rapid deceleration that happens when a moving vehicle suddenly stops. MedlinePlus notes, for example, that bladder injuries can occur during motor vehicle accidents and may produce lower abdominal pain, tenderness, bruising, blood in the urine, painful urination, pelvic pain, or abdominal swelling.
With internal injuries after a car accident, abdominal pain deserves attention, particularly when it is severe or worsening. Mayo Clinic recommends emergency medical care for abdominal pain related to an accident or injury, especially when accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, blood in the urine, bloody or black stool, or a swollen and tender abdomen.
Spleen Injuries
Your spleen is located in the upper left portion of your abdomen. A powerful impact can injure this organ and potentially cause internal bleeding.
You should not attempt to diagnose a spleen injury yourself based on where you feel pain. Abdominal symptoms following a significant collision can have many causes, and doctors may need imaging and other testing to determine what happened.
This is one reason internal injuries after a car accident require professional medical evaluation. A seemingly simple complaint such as abdominal tenderness could potentially be associated with a more significant injury.
If pain becomes severe, you feel faint or confused, or you develop signs of shock, seek emergency care.
Liver Injuries
Your liver is another large abdominal organ that may be damaged by significant blunt-force trauma.
A collision may cause a bruise or more serious damage to the liver. As with other abdominal injuries, internal bleeding is a major concern.
Possible warning signs following abdominal trauma include increasing pain, tenderness, swelling, weakness, dizziness, and symptoms associated with blood loss. These symptoms are not specific enough to tell you which organ is injured, so medical testing is important.
When you are worried about internal injuries after a car accident, it is safer to have concerning symptoms evaluated than to attempt to identify the injured organ yourself.
Kidney and Urinary Tract Injuries
The kidneys and urinary system can also be affected by significant crash trauma.
Blood in your urine is one symptom that should not be ignored following an accident. Urinary injuries can also produce abdominal or pelvic pain, difficulty urinating, painful urination, or abdominal swelling.
Even if you do not see blood, persistent or worsening pain after significant trauma should be discussed with a medical professional.
Your symptoms may have a less serious explanation, but only appropriate medical evaluation can determine the cause.
Chest and Lung Injuries
Your chest can absorb significant force during a collision. Seat belts, airbags, steering wheels, dashboards, and vehicle structures may all place pressure on the chest during impact.
Serious trauma can damage the lungs and other structures within the chest. Chest pain and shortness of breath are among the symptoms associated with internal bleeding, while a collapsed lung is one potential cause of shock.
Do not assume significant chest pain is simply soreness from the seat belt.
Difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening symptoms after a collision can signal a medical emergency. Seek immediate help rather than driving yourself if your condition makes doing so unsafe.
Brain Injuries and Internal Head Trauma
A crash can injure your head even if you do not see an external wound. Your head may strike part of the vehicle, or rapid acceleration and deceleration can expose it to significant forces.
Symptoms following head trauma can include confusion, loss of consciousness, or changes in alertness. MedlinePlus identifies head injury accompanied by fainting or confusion as a reason for emergency care.
If you hit your head or develop neurological symptoms after a collision, seek appropriate medical attention.
When discussing internal injuries after a car accident, it is important to remember that not every dangerous injury involves the abdomen or chest.
Signs of Shock After a Car Accident
Shock is a medical emergency and can develop after severe blood loss, including internal bleeding.
Warning signs may include pale, cool, clammy skin, weakness, rapid breathing, dizziness, confusion, reduced urine output, sweating, or unconsciousness.
Mayo Clinic also identifies symptoms such as a rapid pulse, shallow breathing, nausea or vomiting, fainting, extreme weakness, and changes in mental state.
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you believe someone is in shock. Do not wait for symptoms to become more severe.
Why You Should Not Ignore Delayed Symptoms
After an accident, you may focus on your damaged vehicle, insurance information, or getting home. However, your health deserves priority.
Pay attention to new or worsening pain, abdominal swelling, dizziness, weakness, difficulty breathing, confusion, or unusual bleeding. These symptoms may require urgent medical evaluation.
If you have already been examined but your symptoms significantly worsen or new warning signs appear, seek additional medical advice or emergency care as appropriate.
Internal injuries after a car accident cannot be reliably ruled out simply because you initially felt okay.
Medical Records Can Also Matter to an Injury Claim
Medical treatment serves your health first, but your records may also become important if another person caused the crash.
Records can document when you sought treatment, the symptoms you reported, diagnostic tests, your diagnosis, and the care you received. Keeping bills, discharge instructions, prescriptions, and follow-up records organized can also make it easier to understand the financial impact of your injuries.
If you are pursuing a personal injury claim, medical documentation may help establish the nature and extent of your injuries.
You can also learn more about why medical records matter in a personal injury lawsuit and review the essential documents that may be useful in a car accident claim.
What Should You Do After Discovering an Internal Injury?
Follow the treatment instructions provided by your medical team. Depending on the injury, you may need testing, monitoring, medication, surgery, follow-up appointments, or restrictions while you recover.
Keep copies of important medical and accident records. You may also want to write down how your symptoms change and how the injury affects your daily activities, employment, and ability to care for your family.
Our accident resources can help you learn more about common issues people face after serious collisions.
Do not let concerns about insurance or a possible legal claim cause you to delay necessary medical treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning about the warning signs can help you recognize when something may be wrong after a collision. However, these answers are general information and should not be used to diagnose internal injuries after a car accident.
What Are Common Signs of Internal Bleeding?
Possible symptoms include abdominal pain or swelling, chest pain, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, pale or clammy skin, and a rapid pulse. Blood may also appear in urine, stool, or vomit. Suspected internal bleeding requires immediate medical attention.
Can You Have an Internal Injury Without Visible Bruising?
Yes. An injury can occur beneath the skin without an obvious external wound, so the absence of visible bruising does not rule out serious trauma. Seek medical attention when you have concerning symptoms after a significant collision.
When Should I Go to the Emergency Room After a Crash?
Emergency symptoms can include trouble breathing, fainting, severe pain, sudden confusion, heavy bleeding, vomiting blood, or other serious symptoms following a motor vehicle accident. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Can Internal Injuries Become Life-Threatening?
Yes. Severe internal bleeding can lead to shock and prevent vital organs from receiving adequate blood and oxygen. Immediate medical care can be critical when internal bleeding or shock is suspected.
Why Are Medical Records Important After an Accident?
Medical records can document your symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. They may also help connect the medical care you received with the injuries reported after the collision. If another party may be legally responsible, these records can become important evidence in an insurance or injury claim.
Protect Your Health and Legal Rights After a Serious Crash
Internal injuries after a car accident deserve serious attention because you may not be able to see the damage yourself. Abdominal pain or swelling, chest pain, breathing difficulty, dizziness, weakness, confusion, fainting, or signs of internal bleeding should not be ignored.
Your health comes first. Seek emergency assistance for serious symptoms and follow your medical team’s recommendations.
If you or a loved one suffered significant injuries because of another person’s actions, you may also want to speak with a qualified personal injury attorney about insurance issues, documentation, legal deadlines, and your options for seeking compensation.