If you’ve been in a car accident and walked away seemingly okay, you should still seek medical attention. Other than obvious major displays of injuries like broken bones, and wounds, there could be a chance of unseen damage that’s been done. If you have bruising, there could also be a chance that you have a hematoma. These are serious and can sometimes be life-threatening without treatment.
However, regardless of the importance of seeking medical treatment, the need for it isn’t always clear. It may appear gradually, sometimes taking hours to develop after a car accident. It may even appear that everything is normal. This is the infamous “talk and die syndrome” that many car accident victims suffer without realizing they have a brain injury. Never knowing that they may have had time to save their life. Get to know the characteristics and causes of bruises and hematomas in order to identify these conditions and make a decision on the best course of action. Read further to get all the facts on Anathemas and the steps you should take if you’ve suffered one after a a car accident.
While bruises and anathemas can seem similar, they’re actually two separate conditions. As a result of trauma to the body, bruises, also known as contusions, appear on the skin. They develop when the veins, capillaries, and muscle tissues are damaged under the surface of the skin. Most bruises occur after a direct hit or repeated trauma from a blunt object striking a part of the body. Bruises can also be caused by bleeding disorders or thinning skin due to aging. Some people are at higher risk of bruises.
In contrast, a hematoma is a collection of blood outside of a vessel. Hematomas are caused by a damaged blood vessel wall that pushes blood out of the vessel into surrounding tissues. With anathemas, any blood vessel can be affected, including artery, capillary, and vein vessels. Many cases of hematoma after a car accident are closed head injuries, in which the brain’s blood vessels were ruptured by trauma to the head. The buildup of blood between the brain and skull puts pressure on the brain, resulting in loss of consciousness, brain damage, and even death.
A bruise and a hematoma are caused when blood leaks outside of blood vessels as a consequence of a trauma. The damage of a hematoma occurs deep inside the body and may not show visibility, while bruises are quite obvious.
Types of Hematoma
Most dangerous types of anathemas occur after a heady injury, in the brain or skull — epidural, subdural, and intracerebral. Because the skull is closed off, anything that causes buildup can affect the brain’s ability to function.
Additional common types of hematoma after a car accident include:
- Scalp: A bump on the head usually indicates a problem outside the skull. Our body’s skin and muscles are normally affected by this, so brain damage is not likely.
- Ear: Hematomas in the ear can cause tissues of the ear to die by affecting the blood supply to them.
- Septal: Hematomas of the septum are commonly caused by a broken nose and, if not treated, they can lead to serious nasal problems.
- Intramuscular: This type of hematomas, often seen in the lower legs and lower arms, are caused when the blood supply in the muscles is damaged. This causes severe pain from the swelling, inflammation, and discomfort.
- Subungual: These hematomas occur usually in the subungual areas. Bleeding occurs in the toenail or fingernail, which builds up pressure and blood under a toenail or fingernail.
- Abdominal: A hematoma in the abdomen can result from blood building up in the kidneys and liver.
When a hematoma occurs in the skull, brain bleeding cannot be detected without proper testing and medical attention. Some signs of a possible skull hematoma include:
- Worsening headache
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Confusion
- Feeling dizzy
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Slurred speech or trouble sleeping
Serious symptoms of hematomas of the brain or skull include lethargy, seizures, and unconsciousness.
Many times, even a very large hematoma is not associated with any symptoms. For instance, if bleeding is contained within the abdomen, it can become very large before symptoms appear. Because the hematoma can spread in a free space, it may not cause any pain or symptoms throughout the affected area.
In contrast, a small hematoma under the nail can cause significant pain because the blood causes swelling and inflammation under the confined space of the nail bed, resulting in pain and redness. Hematomas can sometimes be felt as a mass or lump, depending on their location.
Treatment Options for a Hematoma
After a car accident many victims may require ventilators, CPR, and even defibrillators to keep their hearts beating during a hematoma. When a potentially fatal brain injury has occurred, surgery may be the only treatment that can save a person’s life. Two types of surgery may be needed:
- Burr Hole Trephination – In this treatment, a hole is drilled into the skull, over the hematoma and the blood is suctioned out from the source.
- A Craniotomy – An operation called cranial osteotomy involves removing a section of the skull (and later replacing it) so better access can be gained to the hematoma and reduced intracranial pressure can be achieved.
A hematoma of the skin or other soft tissues should be treated with rest, ice and pressure. Keeping the affected area stabilized reduces pain, promotes healing, and prevents reopening of the blood vessel. Aspirin should not be used during pain treatment due to the risk of increased bleeding while using such medications. If the pain is severe, then doctors may prescribe powerful pain relievers.
Steps to take after Suffering a Hematoma in a Car Accident
After a car accident where you have sustained a hematoma, you should follow these steps:
- See a Doctor Immediately. A brain injury that causes this to develop must be treated as quickly as possible. An individual’s chances of preventing or reversing a potentially more severe and permanent brain injury are better if they receive proper diagnostic tests and medical treatment as soon as possible after a car accident. If left untreated and undiagnosed, it can result in fatality.
- Get a Diagnosis. You should receive immediate treatment and be referred for diagnostic imaging as soon as possible. The hematoma may rapidly become dangerous.
- Consult an experienced brain injury lawyer. Almost all experienced brain injury attorneys have worked with individuals who have suffered a hematoma in a car accident. Most personal injury lawyers have not, so consulting with an attorney who understands the brain and brain injury and is also familiar with Florida’s No-Fault laws. An attorney can review your medical records, as well as the medical treatment and care you are receiving, to find out what compensation you may be eligible for if your pain and disability was the result of someone else’s negligence.
- Let your insurance company know about your car accident. Treatment for brain injuries can be extremely expensive, so it is important to file a claim and inform your insurance company.
- Do not sign anything. Don’t sign any releases, settlements, or waivers in connection with your car crash. Do not sign any releases, settlements, or waivers that are presented to you by your auto insurance company, the at-fault driver’s insurer, or anyone else. Only after you’ve consulted a personal injury lawyer.
Evidence to Support your Claim
- You’ll need as much evidence as possible when you file a personal injury claim after suffering a hematoma from a car accident. The following are needed to build a strong case to get you compensation to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages:
- Medical Records: This documentation will help to establish the type of injuries you sustained. Medical records also show insurers that you are not claiming pre-existing conditions while you are injured in the accident, and your injury is linked to the accident. Ask your physician for copies of diagnostic and imaging tests results, medical bills that show the cost of treatment, records of hospital visits or doctor’s appointments.
- Photos: Taking photos of the accident scene is advised to show the vehicle’s damage, the corner or street where the accident occurred, and the road’s conditions. Take photos of your injuries as they arise, so you can record them in real time. Having this record proves that your injuries have been healing and that treatment was received.
- Police Report: Immediately following a car accident, it is important to call the police, especially if someone was seriously injured. Further, the arresting police officer will assess the accident on the spot and determine who is at fault. Your case against the at-fault party can be strengthened with a copy of the police report.
- Statements from Witnesses: An objective account of the incident may be provided by witnesses. Get the name and contact information from any person who saw your collision, if possible.
