Would you know if you were bleeding internally in a truck crash?

On Behalf of | May 23, 2020 | Truck Accidents |

It probably wouldn’t surprise you to know that 18-wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When you add that to their size, it’s easy to see why they cannot stop quickly and why any impact with one will most likely be a violent one.

People involved in crashes with these mammoth vehicles suffer a myriad of injuries, and one of them is internal bleeding. Any blunt force trauma or rapid deceleration such as that sustained in a truck accident could lead to this dangerous injury. Knowing the signs could save your life one day.

Signs you could suffer from internal bleeding

At first, it may be hard to distinguish the symptoms and signs of internal bleeding from other injuries, which is why you may want to seek immediate medical attention for any of the following:

  • You may expect to feel some pain after being involved in an accident, but it could also serve as a sign of internal bleeding.
  • You may feel week or light-headed, but this could be easy to dismiss as well considering what you just went through.
  • You could experience shortness of breath, but this may not help pinpoint where the bleeding is since this symptom may have more to do with a diminished amount of oxygen in your blood than the location of the bleeding.
  • You could feel tingling in your hands and feet, caused by the body pulling as much additional blood flow as possible to protect the vital organs if you are bleeding internally.
  • Even if you are bleeding from somewhere else in the abdominal region, you may feel shoulder and chest pain.
  • You could become nauseous and end up vomiting, depending on your level of pain, along with where the internal bleeding is located.
  • Your vision could change.

Your health could continue to deteriorate as the bleeding continues, and you may not even be aware of it at first. The above are only the general signs of internal bleeding that you may notice. Other signs exist as well, but you may not be conscious or coherent enough to notice them. Your internal bleeding could be slow or massive, depending on the circumstances.

In any case, the threat of this potentially life-threatening injury is just one reason why doctors recommend seeking medical attention after an accident, especially one involving an 18-wheeler. Once you are on the road to recovery, you may want to seek legal advice regarding the possibility of filing a personal injury claim in the pursuit of compensation for your injuries and other damages.

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attorneys Brad Culpepper and Brett J. Kurland