Signs and Symptoms of Abdominal Trauma After a Car Accident

Vehicle accidents can result in a range of injuries for individuals in the Denver area, including abdominal trauma. However, the signs and symptoms of internal abdominal injuries often do not appear right away after a vehicle accident occurs. Here, we want to discuss the most common symptoms that individuals need to be aware of that could indicate that they have experienced abdominal trauma as a result of a car accident.

Signs and Symptoms of Abdominal Trauma After a Vehicle Accident

Abdominal trauma is not uncommon in a vehicle accident, particularly if one or more vehicles were traveling at high rates of speed when the incident occurred. Any type of abdominal injury must not be taken lightly, because what seems as minor soreness or pain could actually be a serious internal injury that requires medical care. Some of the signs and symptoms that a person has experienced vehicle accident abdominal trauma include the following:

• Bruises or lacerations on the abdomen where the seatbelt would have been
• Pain in the stomach or pelvic region
• Tenderness or swelling in the abdominal cavity
• Vomiting or nausea
• Blood in stool or urine
• Fever or chills
• Gas or air in the abdominal cavity
• Distention of the abdomen
• Constipation or diarrhea

Unfortunately, children face a greater risk of abdominal injuries in a vehicle accident because their abdominal muscles have not yet fully developed, and they have less abdominal fat when compared to adults.

If you suspect that you have sustained an abdominal injury caused by a vehicle accident, or if you begin to experience any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above in the hours or days following the incident, you need to seek immediate medical care. This could be a sign that there has been internal organ damage or internal bleeding. If these conditions are not fixed as soon as possible through surgical intervention, a person could sustain long-lasting disabilities or even die as a result of the trauma.

Common Causes of Car Accident Abdominal Trauma

Internal injuries can happen in a variety of ways as a result of a vehicle accident. Even though seatbelts are meant to save our lives, they can still lead to major abdominal trauma. Whenever an accident occurs, our seatbelts are meant to hold us in place, but they can also place significant strain both on the outside of our abdominal cavity as well as on the inside as our body pushes forward against the lap belt for the shoulder belt.

Additionally, any type of external trauma that strikes our abdominal area during an accident could lead to significant internal injuries. It is important to point out that there does not necessarily have to be any type of shrapnel penetration of the abdominal area for a serious injury to occur due to blunt force trauma. A hard strike to the abdomen could lead to major bruising of internal organs or uncontrolled internal bleeding that is not necessarily visible right away. Sometimes, bruising or bleeding is not noticeable until hours or days after a crash.

Call a Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you or somebody you care about has sustained an abdominal injury caused by a vehicle accident in Denver or throughout Colorado, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. A Denver car accident lawyer can conduct a complete investigation into your case and make sure that you are evaluated by trusted medical professionals. Your attorney will be responsible for handling all communication with the insurance carriers involved so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Ultimately, the goal is to make sure that you receive coverage of your medical bills, property damage expenses, and pain and suffering damages.