What Are the Signs of Shock After a Car Accident

Signs of shock after a car accident include changes in vitals, such as a rapid but weak pulse, low blood pressure, breathing changes, and changes in appearance and responsiveness. Shock is a critical condition, so seek appropriate medical attention immediately.

Our Greenville car accident lawyer explains how to recognize shock after a car accident.

Shock is an Emergency—Seek Medical Attention

Shock is a medical emergency. If you have been in a car accident, you may have physical injuries, so seek immediate medical attention. For all emergencies, call 911. Your injuries may be more serious than you realize.

What Is Shock After a Car Accident?

Shock is a medical condition where blood does not flow to the body tissue normally. It is both a physical and psychological state where blood is not adequately transporting oxygen and other nutrients to the body. The sudden drop in blood flow can result in damage to internal organs and death.

What causes shock?

There are multiple causes of shock, including the following:

Trauma, including a car accident
Severe illness/infection (septic shock)
Loss of blood (hypovolemic shock)
Nervous system damage (neurogenic shock)
Obstruction (external force preventing adequate blood flow)
Cardiac conditions

There may be underlying conditions and factors like infection, spinal injuries that change nervous system function, medications, allergic reactions, and other causes.

Common Physical Car Accident Shock Symptoms

Vitals

Vital changes may include a weak but rapid pulse. Systolic pressure may be below 90 mmHg and accompanied by a rapid heart rate of over 100 beats per minute. The person may have rapid breathing, typically characterized as more than 20 breaths per minute.

Skin and appearance

When a person is in shock, their lips and fingernails may have a blue or bluish-gray appearance. Their skin may feel cold and clammy to the touch. They may look pale. Heavy sweating may occur. These appearance changes are a sign that blood is not being distributed correctly throughout the body.

The body will prioritize blood flow to the heart and the brain over the extremities. That may mean other areas, including the skin, don’t receive enough blood.

Responsiveness

A person who is in shock may be unconscious. They may feel faint, dizzy, or lightheaded and may not respond normally. Fainting is a reaction to the loss of blood flow and may also be a response to the emotional distress of the car accident and resulting injuries. Fainting after a car accident may also be the result of shock, concussion, internal organ damage, or other serious injuries. A person experiencing fainting from a car accident needs emergency medical attention.

Behavior and mental changes

Behavior changes with shock may include anxiety, agitation, and restlessness. The person may be disoriented, confused, or lethargic. They may have trouble concentrating or appear angry or withdrawn.

Eye changes

Enlarged pupils may be a sign of shock. The person may experience double vision or blurred vision. These symptoms may also indicate concussion or eye trauma.

Bodily function

Low urine production (less than 30 mL per hour) may be a sign of shock. Someone in shock from a car accident may experience heart palpitations and other cardiac irregularities. The person may complain of thirst or dry mouth. Nausea and vomiting may occur.

What to do for shock after a car accident

If you suspect someone may have shock after a car accident, call 911. Shock can result in death, so it’s vital to seek medical attention immediately.

The operator can say whether to keep the person still or elevate their legs and feet. It may be appropriate to loosen tight clothing. A blanket may help with chills. It may be necessary to turn the person on their side if they experience vomiting or bleeding. If the person is not breathing or showing other signs of life, CPR may be necessary.

The correct response for car accident shock will vary based on the situation. However, in all cases, a person experiencing symptoms of shock is an emergency. Follow instructions from the 911 operator until someone with more advanced training can take over.

Emotional and Psychological Shock

When a person experiences an extremely stressful event like a car accident, they may have physical, mental, and behavioral responses. In addition to physical shock, a car accident victim can experience emotional and psychological shock, also called acute stress reaction (ASR) or acute stress disorder (ASD).

Even when shock is emotional, physical symptoms can manifest. A person may experience fast heartbeats or fainting, or may sweat. Behavioral symptoms of emotional shock may include too much activity, avoiding activity, or withdrawal from social situations.

Both physical and mental injury from a car accident should be evaluated and addressed with urgency.

Acute emotional and psychological shock symptoms may appear shortly after a traumatic event. Symptoms may persist. If symptoms last for over a month, the person may have post-traumatic stress disorder.

Link Between Internal Injuries and Shock After a Car Accident

Shock may be a sign of internal injuries and bleeding. Trauma from a car accident can damage the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, and nervous system.

In addition to addressing the symptoms of shock, know that shock may be a sign of serious, life-threatening internal injuries. Always seek a qualified medical evaluation and response.

How a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

If you or a loved one has experienced the signs of shock after a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Shock is a physical injury and may qualify you for a monetary award. The amount that you may receive depends on several factors, including the full extent of your injuries, fault for the accident, and insurance available to pay compensation. How you pursue the case may impact the amount that you receive.

A Greenville car accident lawyer can help you claim your award, including investigating, building the evidence, and pursuing the case.

Contact a Lawyer

Get compensated for shock after a car accident. Talk to a lawyer at Jordan Law Center. You can have legal help today. Contact us now.

“Jordan Law has been working with my family and I for over a year due to a car wreck. They have been very helpful and informative throughout the whole process. They have kept us up-to-date in a timely matter and have always remained professional and kind!”

“If I could give this company 10 stars I would in a heart beat!! Melissa and William were the nicest people for me and my family. I handed them a very difficult accident case and after 4 long months of arguing with insurance companies I was given more money.”

“Will and the team handled our case in the most utmost professional and yet sensitive manner. They had a sense of urgency for us , yet never rushed anything. They provided us with step by step details and updates of our case, coordinated all info in a very timely manner and negotiated on or behalf for a end result we were very satisfied with. We would highly recommend Will Jordan and his firm.”