Car accidents are traumatic events. Those involved in such incidents can suffer serious physical and psychological injuries. One term that is frequently associated with car accidents is “going into shock.” Sometimes, this can be confused with feeling shocked and stressed by the situation. However, going into shock is actually something that’s much more serious.
Shock is a tangible medical condition, and it requires emergency medical treatment. Here are some of the more common types of shock associated with car accidents.
Hypovolemic shock
Those involved in a car crash may suffer rapid blood loss. This can occur either externally or internally. One potential result of this is that the sufferer goes into hypovolemic shock. Due to the blood loss, less oxygen-rich blood travels around the body, causing breathing to become more shallow and an increased heart rate.
Without immediate medical attention, hypovolemic shock can be fatal. Within a short period of time, major internal organs can start to shut down.
Cardiogenic and neurogenic shock
There are two other types of shock frequently seen in car accidents- cardiogenic and neurogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock refers to the heart. It occurs when the heart has suffered severe damage. A damaged heart can no longer pump oxygen-rich blood around the body, causing internal organs to begin shutting down. Again, this is a serious medical emergency that requires prompt treatment.
Neurogenic shock occurs after the spine and nervous system have suffered serious damage. The symptoms are usually similar to cardiogenic shock in that blood flow is restricted, and the internal organs begin to malfunction and shut down.
“Going into shock” is much more than feeling stressed after a crash. It is the result of severe physical injuries. If you were injured in a crash, seek legal guidance to find out if you qualify for personal injury compensation.