Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers | October 17, 2025 | Personal Injury
A slip and fall might not sound like a big deal compared to, say, a major car accident. You’ll probably get up, dust yourself off, and think you’re fine. But sometimes the damage goes far beyond bruises or scrapes. Internal injuries don’t always show up right away, and they can turn dangerous fast if left untreated.
What Are the Signs of Internal Bleeding?
Internal bleeding happens when the impact causes the blood vessels to break inside the body. It’s one of the most serious kinds of trauma you can deal with after a fall, and you generally won’t be able to see internal bleeding symptoms from the outside.
They depend on where the bleeding happens, but a few signs should never be ignored, including:
- Unusual bruising not in the area of the original injury
- Noticeable swelling or tightness
- Cold, pale, or clammy skin
- Pain that’s persistent and deep (not necessarily intense)
- Confusion or drowsiness
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, or fainting
Even one of these symptoms is enough to raise concern on its own, regardless of the type of accident or how “injured” you are. Experiencing more than one sign could be a signal that the situation is life-threatening and the victim needs immediate medical care.
Common Internal Injuries in a Slip and Fall Accident
When people think of injuries from a fall, they often picture broken bones or sprains. However, a sufficiently hard impact can cause damage to internal organs, blood vessels, and soft tissue. That’s especially true when someone hits their side, stomach, or head.
Common internal injuries from falls include:
- Traumatic brain injuries: A blow to the head can cause bleeding inside the skull, and sometimes, the person doesn’t even lose consciousness.
- Ruptured blood vessels: A vessel can burst and bleed into the surrounding tissue.
- Organ damage: Some organs are more vulnerable to blunt-force trauma than others, but the kidneys, liver, spleen, and lungs can get seriously damaged due to a forceful impact.
Surprisingly, many of these injuries can persist for a long time without any noticeable symptoms. Hours or even days can pass before someone realizes something’s wrong.
When In Doubt, Get It Checked Out
Internal damage isn’t something you can just shake off. Because it doesn’t always leave visible marks, it often goes unnoticed until the symptoms get worse. And by then, treatment might require emergency care.
For example, internal bleeding in the abdomen may not hurt much at first. But as blood pools and pressure builds, the pain intensifies and the risk of shock increases. Likewise, bleeding in the brain can start with a headache or a little bit of confusion, and then it progresses to seizures or loss of consciousness.
Slip and fall injuries tend to carry a stigma of being “minor,” but in reality, the force of a fall can be enough to cause severe internal trauma. This is especially true for older adults, kids, and people with underlying health conditions.
The sooner you get treated, the more likely you are to experience a full recovery. Delays can lead to serious complications like infection, permanent organ damage, or even death.
Contact Our Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers if You Received an Internal Injury from a Slip and Fall Accident
Internal bleeding after a fall can be life-threatening, but the body doesn’t always give clear signals when something’s wrong. Anyone who’s taken a hard tumble needs to stay alert to the signs and trust what their body is telling them. It’s better to err on the side of caution than to let internal damage go unchecked.
If you or a loved one has received an internal injury due to someone else’s negligence, call our Indianapolis, Indiana, personal injury lawyers at Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers for a free consultation.
We proudly serve Marion County and its surrounding areas.
Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers – Indianapolis Office
320 N Meridian St Suite 906
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 916-0000
