Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers | May 15, 2025 | Personal Injury
You might not hear the word “exsanguination” every day, but it describes something you’re probably familiar with: bleeding to death. It happens when someone’s body loses so much blood that it simply can’t keep working. Without quick medical help, it can be fatal in just a few minutes.
Uncontrollable blood loss is not always obvious when it’s happening, either, since the bleeding isn’t always on the outside. Internal bleeding can be just as deadly, especially if no one realizes it’s happening right away. That’s what makes this kind of trauma so dangerous—the damage keeps getting worse even when it’s not visible.
You might see the term “exsanguination” come up in injury cases involving major trauma, like bad car wrecks, violent assaults, or serious falls. In these events, heavy forces or sharp impacts can tear into arteries or veins, leading to severe blood loss.
How Much Blood Loss Is Too Much?
The human body typically holds about five to six liters of blood. Losing up to 14% of that volume can lead to dizziness, but it doesn’t cause serious medical problems. Once a person loses around 40% or more, the risk of death skyrockets. That’s when organs start to shut down. The heart can’t pump enough blood to keep the brain and other systems going.
At that point, even if the bleeding is stopped, the damage might already be done. That’s why heavy internal or external bleeding is treated as an emergency from the second it’s suspected. Paramedics and emergency doctors focus on stabilizing the patient, replacing their blood, and finding out where the bleeding is coming from as fast as possible.
Common Causes of Exsanguination
Across Indianapolis, exsanguination may happen after high-impact accidents on busy roads like I-465 and I-70. These crashes (especially those involving commercial vehicles) can throw passengers around violently, slam bodies into hard surfaces, and send debris flying. Any of these scenarios can cause deep wounds and internal injuries.
Construction sites and industrial areas pose risks, too. Heavy machinery, sharp tools, and falling equipment can cause injuries that lead to fast blood loss. In some industrial accidents, the victim might be impaled by malfunctioning equipment. Exsanguination can happen frighteningly quickly.
Even falls from significant heights can cause this kind of bleeding, especially if the person lands on something sharp or hard. When bones break, they can also tear blood vessels internally. In those cases, the bleeding can take place over several days, and the injured person might not know that anything is wrong until it’s too late.
When Blood Loss Becomes a Legal Battle
When someone causes another person to bleed out, the victim or their surviving family members can file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death lawsuit.
These cases need solid evidence, such as:
- Accident reports
- Medical records
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony
Putting together such a case is about showing exactly how someone’s life got turned upside down as much as it is about proving the facts. You have to draw a clear line between the event and the harm that followed.
Judges and juries want to know what came next. Is the victim living with lasting medical complications? Did the family lose someone who held everything together?
These kinds of questions show up in many serious trauma cases, especially when massive blood loss is involved.
Exsanguination’s Role in Your Accident or Injury Claim
No one can undo the damage from a catastrophic injury that causes massive blood loss. But one thing may be possible: Make sure the right parties are held responsible.
When a case involves exsanguination, the stakes are high, and the impact is often permanent. If someone else intentionally or negligently caused the injury, the legal system gives victims and families a way to seek accountability, closure, and support for what comes next.
Contact our Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers from Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana, today.
We proudly serve Marion County and its surrounding areas.
Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers – Indianapolis Office
22 E Washington St #310
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 916-0000
