Internal injuries don’t often manifest right away, but they can quickly deteriorate into serious situations if they are left untreated. Let’s discuss what to do to protect yourself after a trucking accident, what to watch for, and how an attorney can help if you are, in fact, injured internally.
Get Medical Help Immediately—and Call a Lawyer
The first thing to do in the aftermath of a truck accident is to seek medical help as soon as possible—even if you think you aren’t injured or your injuries are minor. Any major impact like a crash can resonate throughout your body, and the jostling can damage your internal organs the same as it can break an arm or leg. Symptoms may not be apparent for hours or even days after an accident, but if it goes undetected, an internal injury could become dangerous very quickly.
The very next thing you should do is contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Proving liability depends on the available evidence—and evidence tends to fade with time. A good attorney will know how to approach the evidence to determine fault. They will also know the right questions to ask, including what is needed for a proper diagnosis of your injuries, so they can calculate how much you should receive in damages.
Types of Internal Injuries You May Suffer in a Truck Crash
Your body contains many internal parts, any of which could be injured by a major impact like a truck crash. These injuries can occur by direct penetration (e.g., debris puncturing your body) or simply by the blunt force of the sudden stop. Some of the most common internal injuries include:
- Broken ribs. Fractured ribs aren’t just painful—they can also be dangerous. Broken ribs afford less protection to your vital organs (i.e., heart and lungs), and severely damaged ribs can also send bone parts into these organs.
- Punctured/collapsed lung. A sharp impact can puncture a lung, which sends air out of the lung into the chest cavity. If the lung collapses, you could struggle to get enough air and eventually suffocate without treatment.
- Injured organs/internal bleeding. Any of the soft organs inside your body could be bruised or lacerated in a truck accident. Damage to the liver, kidneys, or spleen is quite common in these crashes. Left untreated, the internal bleeding could cause you to go into hemorrhagic shock.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm. One common internal injury with severe collisions is an abdominal aortic aneurysm, in which the stomach presses against the aorta (a primary artery) and causes it to enlarge through the accumulation of blood. Left untreated, this aneurysm can be fatal.
- Brain bleeding. An impact to the head, or even the jostling of the brain inside the skull, may damage brain tissues and cause unseen bleeding, which may restrict oxygen to the brain and/or cause permanent brain damage.
Liability for Internal Injuries in Trucking Accidents
With accidents involving trucks, liability may rest with one or more parties, depending on the circumstances causing the crash. These may include:
- The at-fault truck driver
- The trucking company
- The manufacturer of the truck or parts manufacturers
Whoever is liable, the at-fault party may be responsible for paying for the costs of your medical treatment and recovery from your internal injuries, as well as additional damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.
How an Attorney Can Help You
While it can be hard to prove who is at fault in a truck accident, it’s even harder for an injured victim to do so on their own. Your ability to get your full compensation may depend on how quickly you get an experienced truck accident attorney involved. A good attorney will investigate the accident to determine who is liable, calculate the losses you’ve incurred, and work aggressively to make sure the responsible party pays those damages.
If you’re injured in a truck accident in Washington State, the legal team at Max Meyers Law can help you receive the settlement you need and deserve. Contact our offices to schedule a free consultation or call us at 425-399-7000.
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