After being in a collision with a truck, you may see blood and physical injuries that need medical treatment, but you may have also suffered injuries that are invisible on the outside. In fact, it is common for motorists to suffer internal injuries following any type of crash, especially collisions involving large semi-trucks.
Unfortunately, most people don’t know they have suffered internal injuries because it is natural to be more focused on the external injuries, and the symptoms of trauma to the interior of the body can be mild at first. However, the truth of the matter is that internal injuries in collisions occur at an alarming rate, especially internal abdominal injuries.
How to Identify a Hidden Abdominal Injury
Because internal injuries can remain hidden, it is important to learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of some of the most common types of internal abdominal injuries caused in trucking accidents. Here are some of the signs that trauma to the abdomen could have occurred in a crash:
- Abdominal pain and tenderness. When a victim suffers pain in the abdomen, it could be a sign of an organ injury, internal bleeding, or an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Seat belt bruising on the abdomen where the lap portion of the seat belt rests. This can be a sign that there is injury to abdominal organs. Seatbelts can help save lives, but they can also can cause internal injuries.
- Bruising and skin discoloration. This could be a sign that internal bleeding has occurred near the surface of the skin. Sometimes swelling of the injured area also occurs with internal bleeding.
Some other signs of abdominal injuries include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and blood in urine, stool or phlegm. While there are many symptoms of internal abdominal injuries, deep pain is often the first clue that something isn’t right and that trauma to the abdomen has occurred. Because some of these symptoms could also be signs of different types of injuries, it is best to get a thorough medical evaluation as soon as possible.
Internal Injuries Can Have Serious Consequences
Sadly, internal bleeding and other internal abdominal injuries can lead to organ failure, shock, and even death. When organs are injured, long-term damage could be the outcome. Additionally, when internal bleeding occurs, a victim who survives may suffer from future complications that can have a serious outcome on one’s finances. This is why it is important that victims of trucking accidents seek professional medical and legal help to make sure their physical health and financial well-being are being protected.
If you have been impacted by internal trauma after a truck crash, you should find out how to go about recovering the losses you incurred. To learn more, feel free to click the live chat button to the left of the screen, and we can answer your questions or provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation.
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