Common Delayed Shock Symptoms After Accident in Georgia

If you’re involved in a car accident, the physical and psychological impact of the incident may not be immediately apparent. If the events leading to the accident were traumatic, it is possible to go into shock.

Delayed shock is a common medical condition that injured victims suffer. You may experience shock symptoms hours or days later after a traumatic car accident. Immediately after a car accident, the body produces adrenaline, which activates fight and flight response.

The adrenaline release can mask the shock and symptoms of internal injuries that car accident victims suffer.

Never wait to speak with a trusted Atlanta car accident attorney if you sustained an injury in a vehicle crash and someone else was to blame.

Understanding Shock Symptoms

Understanding the common delayed shock symptoms after an accident is never easy. A sudden drop in blood pressure after a car accident can trigger shock after a car accident. The sudden drop in blood flow may occur due to the sudden impact in a car accident or excessive bleeding associated with an injury.

Car accident victims suffer shock because vital organs lack sufficient blood or oxygen, meaning they can’t function properly. For instance, a broken bone or a deep cut can cause excessive loss of blood.

It is also possible to go into shock after a car accident due to an internal injury that’s not always apparent after a car accident. If you sustain a severe internal injury without immediate signs, you may endure delayed shock symptoms as the day goes on.

Top Common Delayed Shock Symptoms After Car Accident

Shock is a life-threatening condition in which the body lacks enough blood flow. Insufficient blood flow means cells and organs lack enough nutrients and oxygen to function properly, and some vital organs may suffer damage as a result.

Shock victims require emergency medical attention because the condition can worsen rapidly.

A person with shock has inadequate blood pressure. Based on the cause and the type of shock, victims can display one or more of these signs:

• Confusion
• Chest pain
• Agitation, anxiety, or restlessness
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Shallow breathing
• Bluish fingernails or lips
• Moist skin or profuse sweating
• Rapid but weak pulse
• No or low urine output
• Being unconscious
• Nausea
• Irregular heartbeat
• Low blood sugar
• Clammy or cool skin
• Dilated pupils
• Dry or thirsty mouth

Types of Shock Symptoms

There are four significant types of shock, each caused by several different events.

Distributive Shock

The impact of a car accident that causes blood vessels to lose their tone can trigger distributive shock. When blood vessels lose their tone, they become open and floppy, hindering the blood supply to organs.

Distributive shock triggers various symptoms, including low blood pressure, flushing, and loss of consciousness. After a car accident, victims are likely to suffer neurogenic shock caused by damage to the central nervous system, mainly by a spinal cord injury.

Brain injuries can also lead to distributive shock.

Hypovolemic Shock

Hypovolemic shock occurs when there isn’t enough blood in the vessels to carry blood to the organs. It mainly occurs after a severe blood loss caused by an injury. Blood transports vital nutrients and oxygen into organs, so a lack of supply affects normal functioning.

Severe dehydration can also cause hypovolemic shock.

Obstructive Shock

Obstructive shock occurs when blood doesn’t reach its intended destination. A car accident can trigger conditions that cause a buildup of air or fluid in the chest cavity, triggering obstructive shock.

These conditions include:

• Pneumothorax (Collapsed lung)
• Cardiac tamponade (Fluids or blood fill the space between the sac of the heart and the heart muscle)
• Hemothorax (Blood collects in the space between the chest wall and lungs)

Cardiogenic Shock

A car accident can cause damage to your heart, causing a decrease in blood flow to your body, leading to cardiogenic shock.

Common causes of cardiogenic shock include:

• Irregular heart rhythm
• Sluggish heart rhythm
• Damage to your heart muscle

Compensation Damages After a Car Accident

Injured victims in car accidents can obtain compensation by filing a claim against the at-fault party’s insurer or by hiring a car accident attorney to help them file a lawsuit against the liable party.

You can obtain economic and non-economic damages depending on the circumstances and facts of your case.

Economic Damages

Economic damages aim to compensate the injured victim for the financial losses related to the accident, including future anticipated losses.

Here’s a list of economic damages you can obtain after a car accident:

• Medical Expenses: A car accident victim must undertake a treatment plan to recover from the effects of an injury. Examples of medical expenses you can recover include emergency room costs, medication, hospitalization, and diagnostic tests.
• Lost Income: You’re entitled to reimbursement of past and future wages lost due to the injury. If you can work, but the injury results in reduced income, you’re entitled to compensation for the difference.
• Out-of-pocket expenses: You may incur other costs related to the accident or injury that should be included in economic damages. Examples include assistance with household chores, long-term nursing care, and travel expenses to and from medical appointments.

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages compensate you for the intangible losses that occur because of the injury. There are many types of non-economic damages you could obtain depending on your situation, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium/companionship
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

It is always difficult to put a dollar value on the non-economic losses you experienced as a result of a car accident. However, an attorney can use different methods, including the multiplier and the per diem methods, to estimate the value of non-economic damages.

Get Legal Assistance From an Experienced Atlanta Car Accident Attorney

Car accident injuries can result in many types of serious injuries and conditions, physical and mental. You need compensation for injury-related losses, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Spaulding Injury Law is a team of dedicated attorneys with decades of experience representing injured victims. Contact us online or at (770) 744-0890 for a free case consultation.

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