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Car crashes do far more than bend metal and break bones. When your body absorbs the force of a collision, internal organs can tear, rupture, or bleed, leaving no visible wound. You might walk away from a crash feeling shaken but intact, only to discover days later that you have a serious internal organ injury requiring surgery.
Fortunately, you may be entitled to compensation for your organ damage if a negligent driver caused your car accident. At the Law Office of Sean M. Wilson, our experienced Charleston injury lawyers will fight for the at-fault driver’s insurance company to ensure that you receive the settlement and justice you are entitled to under South Carolina law.
Why Does a Car Crash Cause Internal Organ Injuries?
The human body isn't built to absorb sudden, violent crashes. In a car accident, the force of impact or even the pressure of a seatbelt during a high-speed collision can compress the abdomen and chest with enough energy to damage organs that have no bony protection.
This type of injury is called blunt force trauma, and it doesn't require a penetrating wound to be serious. Organ injuries from blunt force trauma are common in T-bone collisions, head-on crashes, and accidents involving large commercial vehicles.
Which Organs Are Most Often Injured in Car Accidents?
Because internal organ injuries produce no visible wounds, they are easy to overlook in the hours and days following a crash. Symptoms like abdominal pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue can seem like ordinary post-accident soreness. However, they may signal a life-threatening medical condition.
Several organs are particularly susceptible to blunt force trauma:
- Spleen lacerations. The spleen can tear or rupture on impact, causing internal bleeding that may not produce obvious symptoms for hours. A significant laceration often requires surgical repair or removal.
- Liver damage. The liver sits just beneath the right side of the rib cage, making it vulnerable in side-impact and frontal crashes. Liver lacerations can cause rapid, life-threatening blood loss and typically require emergency intervention.
- Kidney injuries. The kidneys can sustain contusions, lacerations, or tears in collisions. You may need surgery, dialysis, or an organ transplant.
- Bowel perforation. The small and large intestines can rupture under sudden abdominal compression, particularly when a seatbelt locks against the belly during impact. A perforated bowel allows intestinal contents to leak into the abdominal cavity, creating a serious infection risk.
- Lung injuries. A pulmonary contusion, or bruising of the lung tissue, can occur when the chest wall absorbs significant impact force. Pneumothorax, which is a collapsed lung, is another serious injury that can compromise breathing in ways that worsen over the first 24 to 48 hours.
- Heart injuries. Blunt cardiac trauma happens when the heart strikes the sternum during a frontal collision, potentially disrupting both the heart's electrical system and its pumping function. Chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and other cardiac complications may not appear until well after the crash.
- Bladder injuries. A full bladder is more vulnerable to rupture on impact and is frequently associated with pelvic fractures sustained in severe crashes. Bladder injuries may not be immediately apparent but can cause serious complications if left untreated.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident Organ Injury?
Internal organ injuries often produce some of the highest medical costs associated with car accident claims. Emergency surgery, intensive care stays, extended hospitalization, and follow-up procedures add up quickly. Some injuries, such as kidney, cardiac, and pulmonary organ damage, can create lasting limitations that affect your ability to work or carry out daily activities.
In South Carolina, the negligent driver who caused your car accident is responsible for compensating you for your past and future damages. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, you may be able to recover these types of compensation:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity damages
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress damages
- Property damages
- Wrongful death damages if a loved one died due to their internal organ injuries
How Can a Charleston Injury Lawyer Help With an Internal Organ Injury Claim?
If you suffered internal organ injuries in a car accident, you could be facing substantial medical costs, extended periods of time off work, and long-term complications that affect your ability to work and quality of life. At the Law Office of Sean M. Wilson, our knowledgeable injury lawyers understand how these injuries progress and the toll they can take on your family’s and your life. We’ll communicate with the insurance company, gather evidence, and fight hard for the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on healing and picking up the pieces of your life.