8 Types of Internal Injuries from Car Accidents
Gregg Hollander | September 8, 2026 | Car Accidents
The force of a car accident can injure organs, blood vessels, and other structures inside the body, even when there is little or no visible external injury. Some internal injuries cause immediate pain and other symptoms. Others may be more difficult to recognize in the hours after a crash.
Common internal injuries from a car accident include internal bleeding, organ damage, lung injuries, and bleeding or swelling within the brain. These injuries can become life-threatening and may require emergency surgery, hospitalization, or ongoing medical care.
For people injured in serious crashes in Florida, identifying the internal injury is only part of the picture. It may also be necessary to determine how the collision forces caused the injury, what treatment will be required, and how any lasting complications could affect the person’s health and daily life.
Get in touch with an experienced Florida car accident lawyer by calling (561) 347-7770 or submitting our online form today.
What Internal Injuries Can a Car Accident Cause?
A vehicle does not have to roll over or be crushed for someone inside to suffer a serious internal injury. During a collision, the body can strike the steering wheel, dashboard, door, seat belt, or other parts of the vehicle. Rapid deceleration can also cause organs and other internal structures to move within the body.
The type and severity of the injury often depend on the direction and force of the impact, the person’s position in the vehicle, and where the body absorbed that force.
1. Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding occurs when blood vessels are damaged, and blood collects inside the body rather than escaping through an external wound. A car accident can cause bleeding in the abdomen, chest, pelvis, or around injured organs.
Because the bleeding is not necessarily visible, a person may initially underestimate the seriousness of the injury. Warning signs include abdominal pain or swelling, dizziness, weakness, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, confusion, and fainting.
Severe internal bleeding can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure and deprive organs of the oxygen they need. Depending on the location and extent of the bleeding, treatment may include blood transfusions, procedures to stop the bleeding, or emergency surgery.
2. Traumatic Brain Injuries and Intracranial Bleeding
A crash can cause the brain to move violently inside the skull, even if the person’s head never directly strikes an object. This movement can damage brain tissue and blood vessels, resulting in bleeding, swelling, or both.
Examples include subdural hematomas, epidural hematomas, and bleeding within the brain itself. As blood or swelling increases pressure inside the skull, the injury can become a medical emergency.
Symptoms may include a worsening headache, vomiting, confusion, unusual drowsiness, loss of consciousness, weakness, difficulty speaking, or changes in behavior. Some symptoms develop immediately, while others may become more noticeable after the person has left the scene of the crash.
3. Lung and Chest Injuries
The chest can absorb substantial force from a seat belt, airbag, steering wheel, or dashboard during a collision. That force can damage the lungs and other structures within the chest.
A pneumothorax, commonly called a collapsed lung, can occur when air enters the space between the lung and chest wall. A hemothorax occurs when blood collects in that space. Car accidents can also cause pulmonary contusions, which involve bruising and bleeding within lung tissue.
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, and low oxygen levels can indicate a serious chest injury. Some lung injuries can worsen after the initial impact as bleeding, swelling, or air accumulation increases.
4. Liver Injuries
The liver is one of the largest organs in the abdomen and can be injured by significant blunt force during a car accident. A direct impact from the steering wheel or other parts of the vehicle can damage the liver. Rapid deceleration can also place stress on the organ and the surrounding blood vessels.
A liver injury may cause pain or tenderness in the upper-right abdomen, abdominal swelling, weakness, dizziness, or signs of internal bleeding. More severe injuries can cause substantial blood loss and may require surgery or other procedures to control the bleeding.
5. Spleen Injuries
The spleen sits in the upper-left portion of the abdomen and contains a significant amount of blood. A strong impact to the torso can cause the spleen to tear or rupture, potentially resulting in serious internal bleeding.
Pain in the upper-left abdomen is a common symptom, although pain may also be felt in the left shoulder. A person with significant blood loss may become dizzy, weak, confused, or faint.
Some spleen injuries can be monitored in a hospital without surgery. More severe damage may require procedures to stop the bleeding or removal of the spleen.
6. Kidney Injuries
The kidneys are located toward the back of the abdominal cavity and can be damaged by a forceful impact. Collisions involving significant side or rear impacts can exert substantial force on the abdomen, back, and flanks. Signs of kidney injury can include back or side pain, abdominal pain, bruising, nausea, and blood in the urine. Severe kidney trauma can damage blood vessels or surrounding tissue and cause internal bleeding.
Treatment depends on the extent of the damage. While some kidney injuries heal with careful monitoring, more serious trauma may require surgery or other intervention.
7. Bladder Injuries
Blunt force to the lower abdomen or pelvis can injure the bladder during a serious car accident. The risk may be greater when a collision causes a pelvic fracture, since broken pelvic bones can damage the bladder and surrounding structures.
A bladder injury may cause lower abdominal or pelvic pain, difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, or abdominal swelling. A tear or rupture can allow urine to leak into surrounding tissues or the abdominal cavity, potentially leading to serious complications.
Treatment depends on the injury’s location and severity. Some bladder injuries can be managed with a catheter while the tissue heals, while more significant ruptures may require surgery.
8. Abdominal and Intestinal Injuries
A seat belt can prevent far more serious or fatal injuries in a collision, but the forces transferred through the belt during a severe crash can still injure structures within the abdomen. Direct impact with the steering wheel or dashboard can cause similar trauma.
The stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and other abdominal structures may be bruised, torn, or perforated. A perforation can allow intestinal contents to enter the abdominal cavity, creating the risk of severe infection and other complications.
Abdominal pain, tenderness, swelling, nausea, vomiting, fever, and worsening discomfort can signal an abdominal injury. Because some bowel injuries are not immediately apparent, changes in symptoms after a crash can be particularly important.
What Are the Signs of Internal Injury After a Car Accident?
Internal injury signs depend on what part of the body was injured and the severity of the trauma. Some appear at the crash scene. Others may develop or worsen in the hours that follow.
Potential warning signs include:
- Increasing abdominal, chest, back, or flank pain;
- Abdominal swelling or tenderness;
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
- Dizziness, weakness, or fainting;
- A rapid heart rate;
- Confusion or unusual drowsiness;
- A severe or worsening headache;
- Vomiting;
- Blood in the urine; and
- Significant or spreading bruising.
These symptoms can have different causes and do not necessarily indicate an internal injury. However, internal bleeding and damage to organs can become dangerous quickly. A medical professional should evaluate new or worsening symptoms after a collision.
Internal Injury Examples After South Florida Car Accidents
- A high-speed collision on I-95 through Boca Raton or West Palm Beach: Internal bleeding, liver or spleen injuries, and traumatic brain injuries
- A side-impact crash along Glades Road in Boca Raton: Lung, kidney, abdominal, and pelvic organ injuries
- A serious intersection crash on Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach: Internal bleeding and injuries to the chest or abdominal organs
- A multi-vehicle collision on Florida’s Turnpike in Palm Beach County: Brain injuries, internal bleeding, and damage to multiple organs
- A commercial truck accident on I-595 near Fort Lauderdale: Crushing injuries involving the lungs, abdomen, and internal organs
- A pedestrian or motorcycle collision along Federal Highway in South Florida: Internal bleeding, traumatic brain injuries, and damage to abdominal organs
Frequently Asked Questions About Internal Injuries from Car Accidents in Florida
How Long After a Car Accident Can Internal Injuries Show Up?
Some internal injuries cause immediate symptoms, while others become noticeable hours or even days later as bleeding, swelling, or inflammation progresses. New or worsening symptoms after a Florida car accident should be medically evaluated, even if you initially felt well enough to leave the scene.
Can You Have Internal Bleeding Without Knowing It?
Yes. Internal bleeding may not be immediately obvious because there may be no visible wound. Increasing pain, dizziness, weakness, abdominal swelling, shortness of breath, confusion, or fainting can be warning signs that require medical evaluation.
What If an Internal Injury Is Found After I Leave the Emergency Room?
A later diagnosis does not necessarily mean the injury is unrelated to the crash. Medical records documenting your initial examination, subsequent symptoms, diagnostic imaging, and treatment can help establish the timeline between a Florida collision and the eventual diagnosis.
Does Florida PIP Cover Treatment for Internal Injuries?
Florida Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance generally provides benefits for a portion of covered medical expenses and lost wages after a car accident, regardless of who caused the crash. Florida law generally requires an injured person to receive initial medical services and care within 14 days of the accident to qualify for PIP medical benefits.
Can I Bring a Claim Against the Driver Who Caused My Internal Injuries?
Potentially. Florida limits when someone injured in a motor vehicle accident can recover damages for pain, suffering, and other noneconomic losses. Serious or permanent injuries may allow a claim beyond PIP benefits, depending on the circumstances.
What If I Was Partially Responsible for the Florida Car Accident?
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system. In most negligence cases, someone who is more than 50% responsible cannot recover damages. If you are 50% or less at fault, your recovery may be reduced according to your percentage of responsibility.
How Long Do I Have to File a Florida Car Accident Lawsuit?
Florida generally gives an injured person two years to file a negligence lawsuit arising from a car accident. Different deadlines can apply in some circumstances, so the specific facts and date of the collision matter.
What Evidence Can Connect an Internal Injury to a Car Accident?
Medical imaging, emergency room records, surgical reports, and specialist evaluations can document the injury. Crash reports, photographs, vehicle damage, witness accounts, and other collision evidence may also help establish how the impact occurred and how it caused the internal trauma.
Speak with a Florida Car Accident Lawyer at Hollander Law Firm Today
Internal injuries can change significantly in the hours and days after a collision. When those injuries require surgery, hospitalization, or ongoing care, determining how the crash caused the trauma and documenting its full impact can become an important part of the claim.
For more than 30 years, Gregg Hollander has represented people and families in serious injury cases throughout Florida. We carefully evaluate the medical evidence, the circumstances of the collision, and the long-term consequences of an injury to understand what happened and what may be required moving forward.
If you suffered serious internal injuries in a Florida car accident, contact Hollander Law Firm online or call us at (561) 347-7770 to discuss your case. Your consultation is free, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
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