Thorough Legal Aid for Accident Victims
More often than not, accident victims discredit their own pain and suffering. Either by ignoring stomach pain or strange bruises, they may refuse an in-depth check-up at an emergency room out of fear of costly medical bills. However, this can be a fatal mistake, as many internal injuries may be hidden due to shock or adrenaline after an accident. If you have been involved in an accident, your condition must be assessed by a medical professional, even if you have no visible injuries and believe you are uninjured. Internal organ damage is a medical emergency and may be life-threatening.
If you or a loved one have suffered internal organ damage due to someone else’s carelessness, then you should not hesitate to contact a Boulder personal injury lawyer. The legal team at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC can review your medical records and accident report to determine if you are eligible for compensation and ensure not a single cent is left out of your case. Contact us at (303) 665-2929 to schedule a free consultation.
What Are Different Types of Internal Organ Damage?
Vehicle collisions, assaults, slip and falls, and several other traumatic events can severely injure a victim by damaging their organs and other bodily structures. Common types of internal organ damage include:
- Head trauma: Traumatic brain injuries, or TBI’s, are common in any accident that involves a blow to the head. Victims may suffer short-term and long-term damage, ranging from memory loss, balance, and even cognitive functions.
- Fractured ribs: Car accidents and falls can lead to a broken rib, which is damaging on its own, but if the fractured bone punctures the lungs, a victim may be looking at a serious medical condition. The lung can collapse, making it difficult to breathe and causing a sharp pain in the chest or shoulder.
- Ruptured spleen: Blunt force trauma can cause the spleen to rupture, which, in most cases, must be removed for the patient to recover. Symptoms of a damaged spleen include low blood pressure, weak pulse, internal bleeding, and pain in the upper left abdominal area, which may extend to the shoulder.
- Kidney damage: Trauma to the abdomen can cause the kidney to bruise, suffer internal bleeding, or tear. All of these injuries can be identified via blood in the urine.
- Ruptured abdominal aorta: The abdominal aorta is a portion of the largest artery running through the abdomen. It supplies the abdominal organs, pelvic organs, and legs with oxygenated blood. If you slam against a steering wheel or strike your chest in a fall, the abdominal aorta can rupture, which can lead to fatal blood loss.
- Injured bowels: The intestines make up a large portion of your abdomen, which means they can suffer blunt force trauma in an accident or puncture wounds in an assault. Even a seatbelt can cause bowel damage if the accident is traumatic enough. Symptoms of injured bowels include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, muscle tenderness, and shock.
- Damaged liver: In addition to the kidneys, the liver is also at risk of suffering blunt force trauma. Symptoms may include a bloated abdomen, weak pulse, and pain in the upper right abdominal area.
Any one of these injuries can be life-threatening if not treated immediately, which is why you should get a full medical review after an accident. If you are still experiencing symptoms in the days following your first check-up, contact your doctor to ensure nothing was missed. Some injuries take longer to present themselves and require a thorough medical review.
The Impact of an Internal Injury
Internal damage cannot be walked off or recovered from easily. In most cases, doctors may have to conduct multiple tests to determine the extent of the damage, including CT scans and MRI’s. Once they have identified the damaged organ, they may suggest several avenues of treatment. In some cases, such as with internal bleeding, you may need a blood transfusion and intravenous medication to stabilize your blood pressure. More severe damage may require surgery to repair any tears.
Damaged organs can also have long-term consequences. If your heart or lungs are impaired, you may have to avoid exercising and work for some time to ensure they fully recover, or altogether if the strain puts you at risk for further trauma. In addition, your doctor may prescribe medication to stabilize the chemicals in your body and aid your organs in their regular functions. This can be expensive, especially if you also required an organ transplant, which may decrease your life expectancy.
At the end of the day, internal organ damage can completely change your life, leading to extensive medical bills and years of treatment. If your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, you should not pass up the chance to file a claim against them.
Legal Representation After Serious Injuries
At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our team offers each client more than just the legal aid they need to file a claim for damages. We also get clients in contact with professional medical services to get proper treatment, review their finances to ensure their credit is protected, deal with their own insurance policies, and provide consistent and reliable communication throughout the whole process. Because we only accept a limited number of cases at a time, you will receive personalized legal advice from our lead attorney, J. Todd Tenge. To get in touch with an experienced and skilled Boulder internal organ damage attorney, call (303) 665-2929.