Abdominal pain after a motor vehicle accident is actually not all that common. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the latest year of reporting, 5% of Americans involved in a car accident experienced stomach-related injuries.
The relative rarity of major abdominal injuries during car accidents makes them all that much more difficult and dangerous to deal with. Knowing the signs of a stomach injury can potentially save your life.
What Are the Symptoms of Abdominal Injuries?
It can be quite difficult to know whether or not you have a stomach injury following a motor vehicle collision. This is due to the fact that many of the symptoms have delayed reactions. It can take up to 24 to 72 hours for certain signs to even show up. This is because of the adrenaline rush that your body has activated during the car wreck.
Some of the most prevalent symptoms of a stomach injury following a car crash include:
- Generalized stomach pain
- Bruising on the stomach
- Bloating
- Gastrointestinal distress (like diarrhea)
- Constipation
- Pain when urinating
- Nausea
- Dizziness and fainting
- Excessive fatigue
- Low blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever
Seek out medical help immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms after your car accident. This is because these are all good indications that you might have a serious abdominal injury. Stomach injuries can lead to far worse conditions and even death if left untreated.
Having a bit more in-depth knowledge about these symptoms and inflictions can be of great help to determine whether or not you have a serious stomach injury. Some of the most telling signs of a stomach injury are bruising, gastrointestinal discomfort, bloating, and generalized stomach pain.
1 – Bruising on the Abdomen
Bruising on your abdomen will appear as a dark blue, purple, or grey color. It will also cause you great pain and discomfort. This bruising could be an indication of internal bleeding or organ damage/failure.
These are very serious stomach injuries and need to be treated by a medical professional immediately.
2 – Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Having any form of gas or diarrhea after a major motor vehicle accident is cause for concern. Gastrointestinal distress can be a sign of an injury to the intestinal tract. This includes systemic infection, sepsis, and peritonitis.
You will need to visit a doctor in order to begin the right treatment for these types of stomach injuries and to find relief for your gastrointestinal discomfort.
3 – Bloating
Bloating is prolonged swelling of the abdomen, which can cause a great deal of discomfort. Your stomach will feel full and tight due to a buildup of gas. Bloating is usually an indication of abdominal trauma like a soft-tissue injury, blood vessel damage, and/or organ damage.
You need to be examined by medical personnel as soon as possible if you are experiencing bloating.
4 – Generalized Stomach Pain
Generalized abdominal pain can come in the form of soreness, cuts, lacerations, or even minor burns. This abdominal distress can be caused by blunt force trauma, such as being hit by debris during the wreck. It can also be caused by the constriction of your seat belt during the onslaught of the traffic collision.
Even though your seat belt is designed to keep you safe during an accident, it is not all that uncommon to develop a stomach injury known as “seat-belt syndrome.” You should still be thoroughly examined by paramedics at the scene of the accident or by other medical professionals days afterward. You will want to get treated for seat belt syndrome and to make sure that these symptoms are not disguising a more serious stomach injury.
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What Is “Seat-Belt Syndrome”?
Seat-belt syndrome is a type of physical injury that you can sustain from being involved in a major motor vehicle accident. Seat belts are designed and manufactured for your safety and well-being while operating a vehicle or just riding in one. They protect you from being ejected out of the car when a collision occurs.
The amount of injuries and deaths from traffic collisions has been greatly reduced because of this. However, seat belts can also cause a significant amount of harm to the driver and passengers. This is due to how compressed and restricted you are from it.
Your chest and abdomen are usually where the seat belt is located, and that is usually where serious injuries occur. This does not mean that you should refrain from wearing a seat belt next time you get behind the wheel. Seat belts still save countless numbers of lives every day.
This just means that you should be cautious of how you wear the seatbelt (make sure it is on correctly). It also means that you should seek medical attention from paramedics or doctors immediately after the traffic accident has taken place.
Will Insurance Cover Your Abdominal Injuries?
Yes, your insurance should cover any and all personal injuries that you sustained from a major car accident. This includes stomach pain and abdominal-related injuries. This is especially true if you were not liable for the crash.
Your insurance company will try and scam you out of your money. They will lowball the amount you are owed and make negotiating with them next to impossible to deal with. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can save you and your family so much time and stress from having to deal with your difficult insurance company.
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Can you Sue for Stomach Injuries Following a Car Accident?
Many people believe that they cannot hire a personal injury lawyer for a motor vehicle accident if they only started experiencing symptoms of stomach injury a few days after it occurred. Many believe also that it would be too embarrassing to file a lawsuit for a car accident when they have symptoms like diarrhea. These people would be sorely mistaken.
You always have the opportunity to sue for injustices brought against you. You never have to feel embarrassed about what was tragically brought on to you. There is no reason not to hire a personal injury attorney to help return your life back to normal.
This is why Barrios Virguez is here to help. Our team of talented car accident lawyers has recovered over a million dollars in damages for our clients. Suffering from stomach pain after a motor vehicle accident means that you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact a Duluth personal injury lawyer today and receive a free and confidential evaluation of your case.
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