Serious car accidents in which one or more vehicles are totaled due to high speeds can wreak havoc on a person’s body. But even minor collisions can cause life-altering, hidden injuries depending on where a vehicle was struck.

Internal bodily injury may be immediately apparent. However, symptoms can sometimes be delayed, the body unable to repair the damage on its own quickly enough. A fever is often an early indicator that something is wrong.

How do you know if you are hurt if you cannot see your injuries? Here are some of the signs to look out for, as well as what to do if your temperature spikes after a wreck.

Fever Following an Accident

A fever can appear within 24 hours or several days after a car accident. A febrile response means your body is fighting off infections. But it can also indicate other issues, such as blood clots, brain injury, or bone trauma. One study from The Journal of trauma found that trauma patients who exhibited a fever soon after being injured were less likely to die.

Regardless of whether you have a low, medium, or high fever after a wreck, you should seek immediate medical attention. An infection or internal clotting can lead to life-threatening complications. Take your body’s warning system seriously and call a hospital.

Internal Bleeding

There are two ways internal bleeding can be caused. Either can happen due to a car wreck, fall, physical assault, or work accident.

• Blunt trauma happens when a person’s body collides with an object at high speed. The force of the impact tears or crushes blood vessels. In a car accident, the body may collide against the seatbelt, airbag, steering wheel, or door. Collisions happen so fast you may not know what struck you.
• Penetrating trauma results from a foreign object piercing the body and shearing through blood vessels. Examples include shattered car windows, gunshot wounds, or falling on a sharp object.

The pain from internal bleeding is often immediately obvious. As symptoms appear, they steadily worsen. Here are some of the signs you may be experiencing internal damage:

• Deep, purple bruises
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting if too much blood is lost
• Abdominal pain or swelling from trauma to the liver or spleen
• Chest pain caused by fractured or broken ribs
• Swelling, tightness, and pain in injured limbs
• Headache, fever, seizure, and unconsciousness due to a brain bleed

Any of these signs should be treated as a medical emergency. The injured person should be immediately taken to a hospital’s emergency room. The loss of blood and the potential pressure it can place on other organs and tissues is cause for serious concern and medical intervention.

Delayed Symptoms After a Car Crash

Symptoms of internal injuries or infections after an accident are not always apparent. Adrenaline and endorphins can sometimes shield an injured victim up to 24 to 48 hours after a traumatic wreck. In rare cases, an injury may flareup days or weeks later.

This is why it is important to see a physician quickly after a car accident. They may realize something is wrong internally even if you do not. If you experience delayed injury symptoms, see a medical professional ASAP.

For legal advice after a severe crash, talk to our personal injury lawyers at Gary Martin Hays & Associates. We offer free consultations, medical treatment assistance, and can negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf. Our car accident attorneys fight for maximum compensation for our clients because we understand how serious injuries can upend someone’s life.