Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage from Georgia Accidents

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Abdominal, pelvic, groin, neck, and chest wounds “can be very serious because of the possibility of severe internal bleeding,” MedlinePlus states, and they “may not look very serious, but can result in shock and death.” An internal injury that is not found at the scene and is diagnosed later still has to be connected to the crash.

What Internal Bleeding Is

MedlinePlus describes internal bleeding as bleeding inside the body “when blood leaks from blood vessels or organs,” and states that “[i]nternal bleeding can very quickly become life threatening.” It advises getting emergency medical help for severe bleeding, states that this is “very important” when internal bleeding is suspected, and adds that “[i]mmediate medical care is needed.” It also notes that a person who takes blood-thinning medicine or has a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia may bleed a lot and needs medical attention right away.

Signs of Internal Bleeding and Shock

The symptoms of internal bleeding that MedlinePlus lists include abdominal pain and swelling, chest pain, and skin color changes, along with blood in the stool, urine, or vomit. Bleeding can also cause shock, with signs such as confusion or decreasing alertness, clammy skin, dizziness or light-headedness after an injury, low blood pressure, paleness, a rapid pulse, shortness of breath, and weakness.

When blood loss is large enough, the result is hypovolemic shock, which MedlinePlus describes as “an emergency condition in which severe blood or other fluid loss makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body.” Losing more than 15 to 20 percent of the body’s normal blood volume causes it, and “[t]he greater and more rapid the blood loss, the more severe the symptoms of shock.” Outcomes vary with the amount and rate of the loss, the injury causing it, and underlying conditions, and “[s]evere hypovolemic shock may lead to death, even with immediate medical attention.”

How It Is Found and Treated

A physical exam can show signs of shock, including low blood pressure, low body temperature, and a rapid pulse. The tests MedlinePlus lists include blood chemistry, a complete blood count, and a “CT scan, ultrasound, or x-ray of areas known or suspected to be injured.” In the hospital, “[t]he goal of hospital treatment is to replace blood and fluids”: intravenous lines carry blood, blood products, or fluids, and medicines may be needed to raise blood pressure and the amount of blood the heart pumps.

Connecting a Later Diagnosis to the Crash

Whether the crash caused an internal injury is a question of proximate cause, and Georgia leaves that question to the jury except in plain and undisputed cases. In Harrison v. Jenkins, 235 Ga. App. 665 (1998), the Court of Appeals quoted the Supreme Court of Georgia’s decision in McAuley v. Wills: “Although what amounts to proximate cause is undeniably a jury question, it will be determined by the court as a matter of law in plain and undisputed cases.” An expert who connects the injury to the crash must meet the reliability requirements of OCGA 24-7-702(b), and imaging and blood test results can be among the facts such an opinion rests on.

A later diagnosis also bears on timing. The filing period for an injury to the person is two years after the right of action accrues (OCGA 9-3-33), and the Supreme Court of Georgia has restated the rule that a personal injury action does not accrue before the tort is complete, and that a tort is not complete before the injury is sustained (Amu v. Barnes, 662 S.E.2d 113 (Ga. 2008)).

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the emergency room missed the internal bleeding?
A claim that a health care provider missed the injury is a medical malpractice claim, which must be brought within two years after the injury and no more than five years after the negligent act or omission (OCGA 9-3-71(a), (b)). In a professional malpractice action against a licensed professional listed in the statute, or against a licensed health care facility alleged to be liable for the action or inaction of such a professional, the plaintiff must file an expert’s affidavit with the complaint (OCGA 9-11-9.1(a)).

Is bruising a sign of internal bleeding?
MedlinePlus lists bruising among the symptoms of bleeding and states that “[b]lood loss can cause blood to collect under the skin, turning it black and blue.”

Are older adults at greater risk if they go into shock?
MedlinePlus states that “[o]lder adults are more likely to have poor outcomes from shock.”

  • MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, “Bleeding” (review date Oct. 14, 2025); “Hypovolemic shock” (review date Oct. 14, 2025)
  • Harrison v. Jenkins, 235 Ga. App. 665 (1998) (quoting McAuley v. Wills, 251 Ga. 3 (1983))
  • OCGA 24-7-702(b)
  • OCGA 9-3-33; Amu v. Barnes, 662 S.E.2d 113 (Ga. 2008)
  • OCGA 9-3-71(a), (b); OCGA 9-11-9.1(a)

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about internal injury claims under Georgia law. It is not medical advice or legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. A person with signs of internal bleeding after an accident needs emergency medical care. How a claim is proved depends on the medical evidence and the specific facts, and anyone with a potential claim should consult a licensed Georgia attorney promptly about the particular situation.

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