Leading Causes and Types of Internal Injuries

Internal injuries represent some of the most serious trauma that can occur to the human body, often resulting from forces that exceed the protective capacity of our natural defenses. Understanding both the common causes and types of these injuries helps identify when external factors, equipment failures, or third-party negligence may have contributed to the harm.

Motor Vehicle Collision Impact Forces

Motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of internal injuries in the United States. The tremendous forces involved in vehicle collisions can cause severe damage to internal organs through multiple mechanisms including blunt force trauma, rapid deceleration, and compression injuries.

Blunt force trauma occurs when occupants strike interior surfaces or when rapid deceleration causes organs to shift violently within body cavities. Dashboard knee injuries, where the knee impacts the dashboard and transfers force through the body, frequently result in internal organ damage. Airbag deployment, while life-saving, can also cause internal injuries when the force of inflation impacts the chest or abdomen. Car injury lawyers often investigate whether vehicle defects, safety system malfunctions, or component failures contributed to the severity of internal trauma sustained in these accidents.

Large commercial vehicle accidents present particularly severe risks for internal injuries due to the massive forces involved in these collisions. Truck injury lawyers frequently handle cases where the size and weight differential between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles results in devastating internal trauma to occupants of smaller vehicles.

Workplace Falls and Industrial Incidents

Occupational environments present significant risks for internal injuries through various mechanisms. Falls from elevated surfaces, slips on wet floors, and impacts with machinery can cause severe internal trauma. Workplace falls represent a significant portion of occupational injuries requiring medical attention.

Industrial equipment accidents involving forklifts, cranes, and manufacturing machinery can produce particularly severe internal injuries. When heavy equipment tips over, malfunctions, or lacks proper safety features, the resulting trauma often affects multiple organ systems simultaneously. These incidents may result in what medical professionals classify as crush injuries, where significant force compresses body tissues and internal structures. Workplace injury attorneys can evaluate whether unsafe working conditions, inadequate safety equipment, or employer negligence contributed to these serious internal injuries.

Falls and Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Falls represent a major cause of internal injuries across all demographics. When individuals fall, the sudden impact and deceleration forces can cause organs to tear, rupture, or sustain blunt trauma. Falls from stairs, ladders, or elevated surfaces often result in multiple internal injuries due to the significant forces involved.

Property-related falls frequently occur due to hazardous conditions such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, inadequate lighting, or obstacles in walkways. Falls have become such a significant health concern that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified them as a leading cause of injury-related emergency department visits, with many cases resulting in internal injuries that require immediate medical intervention. Property owners are generally responsible for maintaining safe conditions. If their failure contributes to a fall that results in internal injury, legal liability may arise.

Sports and Recreation Activity Trauma

Athletic participation and recreational activities can result in internal injuries through both contact and noncontact mechanisms. High-impact sports like football, hockey, and rugby frequently produce internal trauma when players collide or when protective equipment fails to adequately absorb impact forces.

Equipment related failures in sports can also contribute to internal injuries. When protective gear malfunctions, playing surfaces become unsafe, or sporting equipment contains defects, the resulting injuries may be more severe than those occurring during normal athletic participation. Product injury attorneys often investigate cases where defective sporting equipment or safety gear failures contributed to serious internal trauma. Recreational activities involving motorized vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles or watercraft, present additional risks for internal trauma when safety equipment fails or when operators lack proper training.

Common Types of Internal Injuries

Internal injuries encompass damage to organs, blood vessels, and internal structures that may not be immediately visible. Understanding these injury types helps identify when serious medical intervention is required and when external factors may have contributed to the trauma.

• Organ damage affects vital structures, including the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs. Research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information indicates that within the abdomen, the spleen is the most commonly injured organ, followed by the liver. Liver injuries can result in significant internal bleeding, while splenic injuries may require surgical intervention or organ removal in severe cases. Kidney damage may cause blood in the urine and can lead to long-term complications if not properly treated.
• Internal bleeding occurs when blood vessels rupture or organs sustain damage that allows blood to accumulate in body cavities. This condition can be life-threatening because it may not produce obvious external symptoms while causing dangerous blood loss internally. Symptoms may include weakness, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and abdominal pain, though these signs may not appear immediately after the trauma occurs.
• Collapsed lung conditions can result from chest trauma that allows air to enter the pleural space, preventing proper lung expansion. These injuries often accompany rib fractures or penetrating chest trauma and require immediate medical intervention to restore normal breathing function.
• Brain and skull injuries represent some of the most serious internal trauma, as they can affect cognitive function, consciousness, and vital bodily processes. The Mayo Clinic explains that even seemingly minor head impacts can result in internal brain bleeding or swelling that becomes life-threatening without prompt treatment. Brain injury attorneys understand the complex nature of these injuries and the long-term care requirements they often involve.

Research indicates that many internal injuries result from preventable circumstances involving equipment failures, unsafe conditions, or institutional negligence. When these injuries were caused by defective products, unsafe premises, or failures to uphold safety standards, legal consultation may help determine if compensation is available for medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term effects of the trauma.

Symptoms of Internal Injuries

Since internal injuries can quickly threaten the life of an injured individual, recognizing the symptoms in you or others and receiving prompt medical treatment could save lives.  Call emergency medical help if you or another party suffers injuries in an accident.

Your Next Best Steps After an Internal Injury

If you or a loved one suffered extensive injuries in an accident, focusing on your health and legal rights can be critical. Here are some of the important steps to take:

Seek Medical Help 

Internal injuries may go undetected. Therefore, individuals involved in an accident or serious fall should get checked out by a doctor promptly. Consider also that a medical report may be necessary if legal action is pursued to establish liability for your damages.  

Collect Evidence for Your Legal Case

If possible, start gathering evidence immediately after an accident to determine the cause of your injuries. This can include which can include: 

• Photographs 
• Accident reports
• Witness statements
• Medical documentation

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered internal injuries in an accident or fall, contacting an attorney with experience in internal injury claims can help clarify your legal rights for understanding your legal rights and the next best steps. Hiring a lawyer at the Ammons Law Firm will allow you to discuss your case and your options for recovering compensation. 

Contact the Ammons Law Firm Today

You don’t have to struggle with a complex insurance claim or lawsuit alone. Our dedicated attorneys can handle your personal injury claim from start to finish, working to pursue fair compensation that may support your recovery process. If we can not settle your case, our attorneys are prepared to take your case to trial if necessary and will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. 

Start protecting your legal rights today and contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. To learn more about personal injury lawsuits, visit our personal injury resources and guide.