Colorado Springs Organ Damage Attorneys
Did You Suffer Catastrophic Organ Damage in an Accident? Call Us
After being involved in a serious accident, whether it was a car collision or a dog attack, you are likely feeling lucky to walk away at all. Your surface injuries seem minor, so perhaps you decide not to seek medical assistance at all. Well, that would be a mistake. Even if you don’t notice any immediate severe injuries, it is very possible that you are suffering from internal damage. Internal injuries are often not noticeable on the skin until hours or days after they happen. And with the shock of the accident masking your pain, you may not feel injured until the next day. Oftentimes, the symptoms of organ damage are much more subtle.
However, organ damage and other internal injuries can be fatal, even in as little as a few hours. That is why you should always seek medical assistance after a car accident, even if you think that you have walked away unscathed. Of course, you may be worried about the medical costs, but with a skilled Colorado Springs organ damage attorney from The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. by your side, then you can hold the at-fault party liable for your medical bills and personal costs. Call us at (719) 475-2555 for the legal help you need today.
What Are Common Causes of Internal Injuries?
Although many of our organs are shielded by bones, just as many are given little to no protection. This means that even a small amount of force could result in a bruise, stretch, or tear on one of our organs. On top of that, bones are only built to withstand so much force. This means that if an impact is great enough, the bones could break, leaving the organs beneath vulnerable, or even puncturing them after the break.
Due to this vulnerability, internal injuries can come as a result of many different kinds of accidents. Some of the more common ones include:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle collisions
- Bike accidents
- Truck crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Dog attacks
- Slip-and-falls
- Swimming pool accidents and drownings
Any kind of accident that puts force on your body can result in serious internal damage. For example, if you were rear-ended while driving to work and hit the steering column, blood vessels along your abdomen and chest could rupture, leading to internal damage.
Alternatively, you could potentially slam your head against the dash, causing a traumatic brain injury. While the brain is protected by the skull, it can still move around. This means if your body is suddenly jerked forward, your brain could slam into your skull, potentially bruising it. In turn, an open-wounds to the skull could cause blood loss to the brain and cell damage. What ever the cause of the internal injury, the fact remains that any level of bruising to your organs or blood vessels can be incredibly dangerous.
What Organs Can Be Damaged?
Each organ performs a different role in your body. If even a single organ is damaged, it could impact several bodily functions, such as breathing, bladder control, and blood filtration. Tears and lacerations have the potential to either bleed out or become infected. In either case, death is possible. That is why you should always seek medical assistance if you notice any symptoms of organ damage.
Broken ribs: The ribs help protect your heart and lungs from damage. However, the ribs can be broken and fractured, particularly in serious auto accidents. These bone fragments could cause your lungs to collapse or rupture your aorta. Both of these can be characterized by an incredibly sharp pain in the chest, although the collapsed lung will also make it difficult for you to breathe. In addition, a ruptured aorta is often fatal.
Punctured lungs: The lungs are surrounded by the ribs and spine, giving them a certain level of protection. However, when the ribs are broken, it can lead to the sharp bone cutting through the soft tissue of the lung, creating a puncture. This puncture can make it difficult to breathe and lead to a collapse. If you have a hard time breathing, coupled with an intense pain in your chest, then you should seek immediate medical help.
Brain damage: As we mentioned above, despite being protected by the skull, the brain can easily become severely damaged in an accident. These damages can lead to symptoms like intense headaches, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, nausea, short-term memory issues, and even mood swings.
Kidney damage: Your kidneys are located in your abdomen and can be injured during a collision or fall. While a damaged kidney is not likely to be immediately fatal, this kind of injury could still kill you if not properly treated, whether it be a bruise or tear. If you notice blood in your urine, you should immediately seek medical help, as that is a sign that your kidney is damaged.
Ruptured spleen: If you experience blunt force trauma to the area above your stomach, then your spleen could either rupture or tear. The spleen is responsible for fighting off infections, so suffering damage here can be quite dangerous. If you notice that you have pain above your stomach, a weak pulse, and a lowered blood pressure, then you should talk to a medical professional about your accident.
Torn liver: Just like the kidneys, the liver is at a high level of risk if you experience trauma to the abdomen. While livers have the incredible ability to regrow, a damaged one could still wreak havoc on your body. Symptoms for this injury include a swollen or bloated abdomen, a weakened pulse, and an intense pain in the abdomen.
Internal bleeding: While blood vessels are not classified as organs, they still perform an incredibly important function in your body. When veins and arteries are torn, you can suffer internal bleeding and lose oxygen to certain organs and muscles. This can quickly lead to cell death. Without proper medical help, the internal bleeding can quickly turn fatal. If you notice that you feel weak or numb, have an intense headache, or are experiencing a loss of coordination, then you should visit an emergency room immediately. A clear sign of internal bleeding is large bruising, which can also point to organ damage.
How to Recover After Organ Damage
Severe internal injuries can be difficult to recover from. The first step is a diagnosis, which can require multiple tests and scans. From there, you will likely need surgery in order to correct the damage. Unlike with a cut, organ damage can’t simply be stitched up. The surgeons will need to get access to the organ first and then will likely need to perform a complicated procedure to fix the wound. After that, you may need to have an extended stay in the hospital so that doctors can observe your progress and intervene if you don’t seem to be healing properly. Even after being released, you will likely be on strong medication and may have to take a lengthy period of time off of work in order to fully heal.
All of that takes a great deal of time and costs a great deal of money. Those are two luxuries that many of us simply don’t have these days. On top of that, if the internal damage required a transplant, you may now have been left with a lifelong disability that could seriously impact your future and your career. All of this is to say, if you suffered from internal damage, then you will likely be feeling the consequences of that injury for a very long time.
Call The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. for Experienced Legal Aid
But how is it fair that you are paying for an accident that wasn’t even your fault? Shouldn’t the person responsible for your injuries be the one to pay the medical bills? We at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. agree with you completely. That is why we are so focused on offered accident victims the strong legal support they need. Our lead attorney is a nationally recognized legal author who can thoroughly review your case and prepare a detailed claim on your behalf. If your injuries were caused by a negligent individual, then you should not hesitate to reach out to an experienced Colorado Springs personal injury attorney by calling our firm at (719) 475-2555. We have the skill and know-how to get you the settlement you deserve.
Additional Information
- The Hidden Dangers of Internal Bleeding
- Overview of Abdominal Injuries - Merck Manual
- Punctured Lung - Healthline
