After a car accident, it can take some time for signs of shock to become apparent. However, addressing any symptoms of shock promptly can be critical to securing a positive outcome, as shock can be fatal if left untreated. Knowing the signs of shock can make it easier to monitor yourself and others for these telltale symptoms in the aftermath of a crash. To learn more, or to seek legal advice and representation if you have suffered shock as the result of a car accident for which another party was responsible, consider reaching out to the experienced car accident injury lawyers with Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer to schedule a free, no-obligation case review. You can reach our attorneys in Florida, Vermont, or New Hampshire by calling (802) 457-4848 today.
What Is Shock?
Shock is an extremely serious medical condition characterized by a sudden decrease in the circulation of blood throughout the body. Common causes of shock include allergic reactions (in which case the condition is also known as “anaphylaxis,” or “anaphylactic shock”), infection (particularly sepsis), heatstroke, significant loss of blood, or various forms of trauma. The drop of blood pressure experienced during intense shock can lead to loss of consciousness, organ failure, and even death.
Every case of shock is potentially life-threatening, and in general it is not possible to know at the outset how severe the shock will become, or how rapidly the condition will progress. For these reasons, it is absolutely crucial to take any symptoms of shock seriously, and to respond to them with emergency first aid and other interventions without delay.
Common Signs of Shock
Symptoms of shock may differ somewhat, according to the Mayo Clinic. Factors that may influence the presentation of shock in a particular situation may include ambient conditions (such as very hot or very cold temperatures) as well as the underlying causes (anaphylaxis may be accompanied by other symptoms of an allergic reaction; shock triggered by heat stroke may involve extreme weakness and accelerated breathing or heart rate).
If you witness any of the following signs of shock after a car accident – even if the accident was a few hours or days ago – call emergency services immediately and apply first aid:
- Suddenly clamminess of the skin, especially if the ambient temperature is within human comfort levels
- Pale or “ashy” skin, or a distinct gray or blue-gray tint at the lips or around the person’s nail beds
- Unexplained rapid pulse or increased breathing rate
- Vomiting or nausea, especially if accompanied by symptoms of dizziness
- Syncope (fainting) or presyncope (feeling as if about to faint), especially if accompanied by weakness or sudden-onset fatigue
Some people experiencing shock may also struggle to focus their pupils, leading to abnormal dilation; others may grow confused or agitated.
How To Respond to Shock in an Emergency Situation
The first step in responding to symptoms of shock is to call emergency services. A 911 operator may be able to dispatch paramedics, who are trained to recognize the signs of shock and administer appropriate treatment.
While you wait for emergency responders, the following first aid procedures, adapted from the Mayo Clinic’s recommendations, may help to buy the shock sufferer time for help to arrive:
- Assist the person experiencing symptoms to lie down (this can be especially helpful if the individual is exhibiting symptoms of weakness or feeling faint).
- If there are no obvious signs of injury, consider using a prop, such as books, pillows, or small boxes, to elevate the individual’s legs slightly (this can help direct blood flow back toward critical internal organs).
- Even if the person is confused or agitated, try to keep them relatively still (this can help to reduce the chances that they may sustain additional injuries).
- If the air temperature is more than a few degrees lower than the normal temperature for a human body, consider applying a blanket to keep the person from experiencing chills (this can be especially helpful if the person is exhibiting clammy skin or complains of tingling extremities).
- If there is vomiting or the individual is bleeding from the mouth, and if there is no immediate reason to suspect a spinal injury, consider helping the person turn onto their side (this can help to prevent choking, but an emergency services dispatcher may give you specific instructions if there is suspected spinal damage).
Types of Shock
Per a National Library of Medicine (NLM) resource, there are four main types of shock. All four categories manifest a similar range of symptoms, as the sudden decrease in blood flow is a defining characteristic of shock with predictable effects. However, the etiologies of the four types may differ somewhat, and some types of shock may be more common after a car accident than others.
Obstructive Shock
Obstructive shock is most commonly attributable to non-cardiac causes that nonetheless lead to a decrease in output from the heart’s left ventricle. In other words, the drop in blood pressure is caused by a dysfunction of the left ventricle, but a factor outside the heart itself is causing the left ventricle to decrease its output (the rate or volume of blood pumped out by this portion of the heart). There can be a few causes within the chest cavity that may cause an obstruction that interferes with the function of the heart’s left ventricle – but this type of shock will always involve an “obstruction,” or physical impediment, of some kind.
Cardiogenic Shock
Like obstructive shock, cardiogenic shock does also involve the heart and its functions. In cardiogenic shock, however, the cause is not external to the heart, but internal to it – something within the heart is interfering with its ability to function normally, leading to an overall drop in blood pumped and a corresponding decrease in the supply of fresh, oxygenated blood to tissues throughout the body.
Hypovolemic Shock
Hypovolemic shock does not involve cardiac dysfunction directly or as its primary mechanism. Instead, in hypovolemic shock the sufferer experiences a decrease in “intravascular volume” of blood, per the NLM. Blood depletion due to acute hemorrhaging is a common cause, but severe dehydration (such as that sometimes experienced by individuals with serious vomiting or diarrhea) can also lead to a decrease in overall blood volume and, hence trigger hypovolemic shock. Hypovolemic shock can occur in the hours to days after a car accident, particularly if there is unidentified internal bleeding.
The risk of this type of shock is one of the main reasons why it is always a good idea to get a medical assessment after being in a car accident. Even if an initial checkup shows no obvious injuries, however, monitoring for signs of shock for a few days to a couple of weeks following a car accident can be a wise precaution to help identify signs of hypovolemic shock early if they do emerge.
Distributive Shock
The defining feature of “distributive” shock is vascular dilation in the sufferer’s extremities. This “vasodilation” makes it virtually impossible for the heart muscle and existing blood volume to maintain adequate perfusion (the delivery of oxygenated blood to cells throughout the body), leading to shock symptoms even though the blood volume might under other circumstances be adequate and even though the heart muscle itself may not initially show impaired function.
Distributive shock may be related to any of the following underlying causes:
- Septic Shock: Also called sepsis; a severe response to systemic infection, particularly infection in the bloodstream
- Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS): A life-threatening systemic inflammatory response, for which the trigger in a specific instance may or may not be a type of infection (such as a severe viral or bacterial infection)
- Anaphylactic Shock: Also called anaphylaxis; an immunoglobulin-mediated hypersensitivity that results in cardiovascular collapse, accompanied by spasms of the bronchial tube (windpipe), which can lead individuals suffering from this type of shock to experience respiratory as well as circulatory distress
- Neurogenic Shock: Dysregulation of the circulatory system pursuant to cranial or spinal trauma; the Cleveland Clinic notes that neurogenic shock can be distinguished from hypovolemic shock by the decreased heart rate associated with neurogenic shock, compared with the rapid pulse commonly seen in hypovolemic shock victims
- Endocrine Shock: Disruptions of the endocrine system leading to decreased blood volume or decreased efficiency in distributing (hence distributive shock) oxygenated blood throughout the body; this type of shock can be associated with the failures of the adrenal system
Types of Shock After a Car Accident
The types of shock an accident victim may experience after a car crash depend to some extent on the types of injuries he or she sustained in the crash itself. An experienced personal injury attorney with Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer may be able to offer some perspective on the types of shock most commonly witnessed after car accidents during a free assessment of your car accident case. However, two in particular to watch for are:
- Distributive shock from neurogenic causes, particularly if there were spinal column injuries or if the onset of shock symptoms is accompanied by symptoms that could also be associated with bruising of or swelling around the spinal cord
- Hypovolemic shock, particularly if the victim sustained percussive impacts during the crash but without obvious bleeding
Depending on the circumstances, it is also possible to develop other types of shock after a car accident. Becoming familiar with the signs of shock and monitoring for symptoms can help you to stay alert and catch shock in its early stages, improving the chances of timely treatment.
Seek Perspective From an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
If you recognize signs of shock after a car accident, it is imperative that you seek help immediately, whether the symptoms are your own or someone else’s. Shock is a life-threatening and extremely time-sensitive condition; if the individual goes into heart failure, or suffers significant loss of blood to the brain, seconds will count. Monitoring closely for signs of shock in the days following an accident can help with early identification and intervention. Once the shock sufferer’s condition is stable, it may be time to consider speaking with a personal injury attorney to review options for seeking compensation for damages, as a severe experience with shock can often result in costly medical bills and missed wages from time off work. Consider scheduling a consultation with Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer to review your case. Our attorneys in New Hampshire, Florida, and Vermont are ready to hear from you today when you call (802) 457-4848.