When a Car Accident Leads to a Pulmonary Embolism
You walk away from the crash. Bruised. Shaken. Maybe a little sore. But alive.
A week goes by. Then another. Out of nowhere, you are struggling to breathe. There is a strange pain in your chest. Maybe some swelling in your leg. You chalk it up to the accident. Just healing, right?
Maybe not.
What you might be feeling is a pulmonary embolism after a car accident—a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that happens when a blood clot travels to your lungs and blocks blood flow. And yes, it can absolutely happen days or weeks after the initial impact.
What is a pulmonary embolism—and why it is so serious
Let us break it down.
A pulmonary embolism (PE) is when a blood clot, usually one that started in the leg, travels through your bloodstream and gets stuck in your lungs. That blockage can stop oxygen from flowing properly through your body. And when that happens? Your heart and lungs have to fight harder to keep you alive.
Most of the time, the original clot forms deep in the leg. It is called a DVT—deep vein thrombosis. That blood clot in your leg after a car accident that you thought was just soreness? It can escalate quickly.
Signs to watch for:
- Chest pain (sharp or dull)
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Leg swelling (often just one leg)
- Coughing, sometimes with blood
- Feeling dizzy or faint
So, can a car accident cause a pulmonary embolism? Yes, it happens more often than people think.
How car accidents can cause blood clots
Trauma causes inflammation. It is your body’s natural response. But inflammation also slows down blood flow. Combine that with being stuck in bed or sitting too long (at the hospital, recovering at home), and now you have created the perfect environment for clots to form.
So yes—can you get a blood clot from a car accident? Absolutely. That is where a lot of them start. They might not show up right away, but they are brewing under the surface.
And it is not just the direct impact. Even a fall after the accident—say, from tripping while getting out of a car, or falling at home from dizziness—can increase the risk. If you are wondering, can a fall cause a blood clot in the lungs? The answer is still yes, particularly if that fall causes trauma or forces you to stay immobile.
Warning signs to watch for (it is not always immediate)
This is what makes post-accident blood clots so scary. They are quiet. They creep in. Sometimes you will not notice a thing until the clot moves. Then, everything changes fast.
People often ignore leg pain, thinking it is just from the crash. But that blood clot after a car accident might be the body’s red flag that something is wrong.
Symptoms you should watch for include:
- Unexplained fatigue
- Trouble breathing
- Swelling that seems worse at night
Do not guess. Do not wait. Get checked out immediately.
What Tennessee victims need to know about delayed injuries
In Tennessee, you have one year to file a personal injury claim from the date of the accident (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104). But here is the catch—delayed injuries like blood clots after a car accident can complicate things. If you do not get diagnosed in time, the insurance company may try to argue the condition is not related.
That is why you need a doctor and a lawyer who understand how these injuries work.
Document everything. Get checked out again if new symptoms appear. The more you stay on top of it, the stronger your claim becomes.
Medical treatment for post-accident blood clots
Let us say your doctor suspects an embolism after a car accident. What happens next?
They may order:
- A CT pulmonary angiogram (to look for clots in the lungs)
- Doppler ultrasound (to check for blood clot in the leg after an accident)
- Blood tests like D-dimer (to detect clot activity)
Treatment may include:
- Blood thinners (like warfarin or apixaban)
- Clot-busting drugs (in emergency cases)
- A filter placed in the vein to stop clots from reaching the lungs
Timing is everything. The sooner you catch it, the better your chances.
FAQs: common questions we hear
Can a car accident cause pulmonary embolism?
Yes, especially if the crash leads to orthopedic injuries, bruising, or long periods of immobility. Even fender-benders can trigger internal trauma.
Can you get a blood clot from a car accident if there is no broken bone?
Yes. You do not need to break a bone to suffer internal damage. Blunt force alone is enough to cause swelling or blood pooling.
Can a fall cause a blood clot in the lungs?
It can. Any fall that causes injury or restricts movement—especially in older adults—raises the risk.
What are the chances of developing blood clots in the lungs after an accident?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. But risk increases significantly with age, surgery, hospital stays, and injury severity.
Why legal help matters in these cases
The reality is that insurance companies look for reasons not to pay. They might argue the accident blood clot was not their problem. Or that your symptoms were caused by something else, even if you are dealing with a very real, very dangerous injury.
That is where we come in.
Our Tennessee personal injury lawyers understand how these delayed injuries unfold. We have helped clients just like you—people who felt fine at first, then ended up in the ER days later. We know how to connect the dots and build a solid case for compensation.
What to do if you suspect a blood clot after an accident
- Listen to your body. If something feels off—get checked.
- Document everything. Pain, swelling, symptoms, appointments.
- Do not sign anything from the insurance company. Not until you know the full picture.
- Call a lawyer. A good one. One who knows what blood clot after accident cases look like in court.
Do not wait—protect your health and your rights
If you have been in a car crash—minor or major—and you are feeling symptoms that were not there before, do not brush them off. That blood clot in your leg after a car accident could lead to something far more dangerous.
And if it already has?
You are not alone.
At Rocky McElhaney Law Firm, we are a team of experienced Nashville personal injury attorneys who are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve after any kind of accident-related injury—including hidden dangers like blood clots. We understand how medical bills, lost wages, and fear can pile up fast.
Let us help. Contact us today for a free consultation. We have offices conveniently located in Nashville, Hendersonville, Clarksville, and Murfreesboro.