Internal Organ Injuries in Car Accidents

Car accidents can lead to a host of significant, life-altering injuries, some more serious than others. In addition, some injuries can be harder to detect than others, making them even more dangerous if a victim goes untreated. Internal organ injuries in car accidents can have symptoms that do not appear for a long time, after additional complications have already arisen. Furthermore, if an internal organ injury is not quickly diagnosed in the aftermath of a collision, insurance companies or liable parties may argue that those injuries were not related to the accident. If you have been involved in a car crash, Miami car accident attorney Robert Dixon and his staff at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help make sure that your legal rights are properly protected and asserted so that you get the support that you need in your recovery. Our attorneys represent clients throughout the South Florida region, including in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.

Receiving immediate medical attention following a serious accident is important in order to make sure that your injuries are identified, even if you do not feel symptoms. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of an internal organ injury is vital to help prevent the injury from becoming debilitating or fatal. Internal organ injuries in car accidents can be caused by the following types of trauma:

• Blunt trauma occurs when a victim has been thrown into a blunt or stationary object in the course of a collision. This could involve a victim’s ejection from a vehicle, or one of his or her body parts hitting the steering wheel. Blood vessels and organs can be compressed or suffer other damage as a result of the impact of making contact with an object.
• Decelerating trauma occurs if an organ continues in a forward motion upon impact, despite a victim’s spine, muscles, or other organs coming to an immediate stop. This type of trauma is a cause of not only heart and lung injuries but also many traumatic brain injuries when the brain strikes the inside of a victim’s skull.
• Penetrating trauma occurs when a puncture wound or laceration is especially deep.

Injuries caused by decelerating trauma can be the most problematic to diagnose, since they may not be symptomatic for days, or even weeks, following an accident. Any type of trauma can affect one or multiple organs, such as the liver, kidney, spleen, heart, lungs, pancreas, and brain. Some symptoms to note following a collision include pain, bruising or tenderness, nausea or vomiting, and fever or swelling. Some of the most dangerous injuries include internal bleeding, intestinal perforations, ruptured spleen, punctured lungs, and traumatic brain injuries. Any of these injuries can lead to infections or other issues due to blood loss when left untreated.

Many internal organ injuries in car accidents are caused by negligent actions. Victims suffering from these injuries often need extended medical treatment that may include multiple surgeries and rehabilitative measures, and therefore they must also cope with the costs of these procedures. When an internal organ injury is caused by negligence, a victim may seek compensation by filing a personal injury claim against those responsible. Showing negligence requires establishing that a defendant, usually another driver, has breached his or her duty to act as a reasonable person would act while behind the wheel, causing the victim’s injuries and resulting in damages. If negligence is proven, a victim can receive damages for past and future medical bills, loss of income due to time missed from work, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Injuries to internal organs can require long recovery times, especially if they have not been diagnosed and lead to further complications. These victims often need financial assistance beyond insurance coverage, making legal action necessary for some of them. Miami attorney Robert Dixon is dedicated to making sure that clients receive the compensation to which they are entitled for their injuries. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we take the time to make sure that each client understands their legal rights and knows what is happening at each stage of their case. If you have been injured in a car accident in Miami, West Palm Beach, or the surrounding areas, call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to set up a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about how we can help.