Stomach pain after a car crash is never something to mess around with. You can have a life-threatening internal injury, even if you cannot see any visible damage on the skin. You could be bleeding internally or have organ damage. The only way to rule out these or other potentially life-threatening internal injuries is to get immediate medical attention.
Below, the attorneys at Anderson & Cummings explain more about stomach pain after a car crash, including common causes and what you can do to protect your health.
If you need legal help after being injured in a crash due to another driver’s negligence, we recommend contacting our law offices right away. We have staff available to take your call anytime, night or day. Your initial case review is free.
Request a FREE case review – there is no risk to you. (817) 920-9000
Is it Common to Have Stomach Pain After a Car Crash?
In the minutes to hours after a crash, adrenalin and shock may make you unaware of any pain. Yet even if you cannot see visible damage, such as bleeding or bruising, you could have a severe or life-threatening injury.
Even if you went to the emergency room right after a crash, which we strongly recommend, your doctor may not have checked your abdominal area. This is why the way you discuss your injuries with your doctor is critical. Be sure to always include even the smallest symptoms. While they may seem small to you, sometimes it is certain symptoms together that can help shed light on what type of injuries you may have. Similarly, the type of crash (head-on collision, rear-end crash, etc.) can also provide insight into your potential injuries.
How Long After a Crash Could Stomach Pain Start?
Typically, signs of internal bleeding and bruising may become apparent 24 to 72 hours after your crash. However, if something hit you in the abdomen or you were in a high-impact collision, this is something to tell the ER doctor right away. Time is critical with any internal injuries. Often, getting diagnosed and treated sooner can be the difference in whether or not a crash victim recovers.
What Kinds of Serious Injuries Could Cause Stomach Pain After a Car Crash?
There are a number of severe injuries you can suffer in a car crash that may cause stomach pain and other symptoms.
Seat belt Injuries
Seat belt syndrome is typically the result of an ill-fitting seat belt, which could cause you injury in a car crash. Your seat belt should be fastened and adjusted to fit snugly but low on your hip and thighs, rather than tight against your stomach.
Abdominal Trauma
If you hit your stomach against an object, like the steering wheel, you could have severe internal injuries, such as organ damage, ruptured organs, damaged blood vessels and internal bleeding.
Abdominal blunt force trauma could cause you to feel pain anywhere between the lower end of your rib cage, down to your pelvic area.
If your organ begins bleeding into your abdominal area, it can cause significant pain in addition to the danger of losing too much blood.
Organ Compression
This is another internal injury that may occur if your stomach or intestines get smashed during the collision.
Whiplash
Most people associate whiplash with symptoms like a headache, numbness or tingling and sometimes even a concussion. However, if the impact is severe, the back and forward motion can also cause damage to blood vessels and internal organs.
What Symptoms May Indicate Internal Injuries?
The symptoms may vary, depending on the type of internal injuries you sustained.
Signs you may have injured one or more internal organs include severe stomach bruising, nausea and vomiting, fever, stomach pain, cramping, bloating and fever.
Some of the most common organ injuries may include:
- Ruptured spleen
- Peritonitis
- Traumatic appendicitis
- Bowel obstruction
- Abdominal muscle tears
- Kidney trauma
- Liver damage
If your bowel ruptures and the contents seep into your body, it could lead to a severe infection, such as sepsis, which can be fatal.
Victims who have internal bleeding may commonly experience feeling lightheaded and weak, vision loss, confusion, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, a stiff neck and a sudden severe headache. Bloating is also common, as blood and other bodily fluids get released into your abdomen.
Can I Sue for My Stomach Pain and Resulting Damages?
Whether or not you can sue for damages as a result of your car crash and resulting injuries depends on several factors, including the type and severity of your injuries. To answer this question accurately, your attorney will need to review what happened and get more details about your injuries as well.
If eligible, you may be able to recover compensation for economic damages, such as medical costs, lost wages, and property damage. You may also be eligible to seek compensation for your pain and suffering damages as well. This could include:
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Chronic pain
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical impairment
- Loss of quality of life
- And more
Our Experienced Attorneys Are Ready to Help
At Anderson & Cummings, we have recovered over $100 million in compensation for our clients. While money cannot take back what has happened to you, it can play an important role in your ability to move forward with your life.
Contact our law offices to get answers to your legal questions. Remember there are deadlines for filing a claim, and if you hire an attorney, he or she will need time to investigate your crash, gather evidence and build a strong case on your behalf.
Our knowledgeable auto accident lawyers in Fort Worth are prepared to help. Call our law offices anytime, night or day, to learn more.
Millions recovered for our clients. Call (817) 920-9000 today.