Internal Organ Damage as a Result of a Car Accident

Being involved in a serious Charlotte car accident can result in dangerous internal organ damage. Internal organ damage can be deadly because patients do not always show signs of injury until it is too late. There are not always outward symptoms of internal organ damage immediately after a car accident. Receiving a thorough medical evaluation after a car accident is important because it will allow a doctor to look for internal organ damage symptoms that the emergency responders may have missed at the scene.

Motor vehicles are heavy and have significant momentum and force when moving, even when they are moving at low speeds. When one vehicle collides with another vehicle or a vehicle hits a fixed object, the vehicle’s force is mostly transferred to the occupants as they impact with the structure of the vehicle. Our bodies are not designed to safely absorb the force of a motor vehicle accident.

The force of a motor vehicle accident can cause severe injury to internal organs, resulting in organ damage, internal bleeding, or other internal injuries. When an airbag deploys, it can save the life of a passenger or driver. However, the deployment of airbags can also cause internal injuries. When passengers or drivers are ejected from the motor vehicle, they can suffer internal injuries when they hit the ground or another object.

Motorcyclists are at a higher risk for suffering internal organ damage because they frequently fly off their bikes and collide with the ground or other objects in accidents. Motorcyclists and pedestrians have essentially no protection from the force of a car accident. For that reason, pedestrians involved in car accidents, bicyclists, and motorcyclists can often suffer severe internal organ damage that can result in significant and lasting harm.

Car accidents can result in a vast number of internal injuries, including the following:

• Kidney damage: In most cases, kidney damage happens when the lower back or flank becomes injured in a car accident or motorcycle accident. In some cases, the damage to the kidneys is permanent and requires a kidney transplant or dialysis. In other cases, kidney damage can lead to internal bleeding that results in the victim’s death.
• Liver damage: In a severe car accident, the liver can be injured or torn open due to the crash’s force, causing significant damage. When the liver is injured, it can cause internal bleeding. Surgeons must repair the liver as quickly as possible to avoid fatal consequences.
• Pneumothorax: When a person’s lung becomes punctured, it can collapse, causing air to flood the victim's chest cavity. This complication can be deadly, especially when it is not treated promptly.
• Brain bleeding: Brain hemorrhages are also dangerous and can happen when the head slams against another object or part of the motor vehicle.
• Abdominal aorta aneurysm: When a victim’s stomach becomes crushed in a car accident, the abdominal aorta can rupture, which almost always results in death.
• Fractured ribs: Not only are fractured ribs extremely painful, but they can also be dangerous. A broken rib can puncture a person's lungs or damage their blood vessels, resulting in a medical emergency or even death. Recovering from broken ribs is a long and painful process.
• Internal bleeding: Internal bleeding is one of the most common injuries from car accidents, but it can also be one of the most deadly. When doctors cannot locate where the bleed is happening, they are unable to treat it. Additionally, when the patient has a ruptured blood vessel, it can cause bleeding that will not clot. Even the formation of blood clots can be dangerous because they prevent a person's blood from circulating. When internal bleeding is not treated correctly, or medical professionals cannot identify the internal bleeding source, death can occur quickly.

If you or a loved one who sustained internal organ damage due to a Charlotte car accident, Arnold & Smith, PLLC is here to help. Our car accident lawyers have successfully represented many Charlotte-area clients who suffered internal injuries in a car accident. We have also represented clients who have lost their loved ones in a car accident due to internal injuries. Whether you plan to file an insurance claim for compensation or bring a personal injury lawsuit, we can help. Contact our Charlotte personal injury law firm today at 704.370.2828 to schedule your free initial consultation.