Organ damage after an accident can lead to permanent, debilitating effects for the rest of your life. These are among the most dangerous injuries as they often do not have any visible symptoms. When you’re involved in a car accident with a negligent driver who causes you to suffer damage to your vital organs, you can seek justice and compensation for your injuries.

Without a personal injury attorney, organ damage injury claims can be incredibly challenging. Turn to Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law for Washington organ injury legal support. We provide personalized and comprehensive legal services for victims suffering organ damage and fight for the maximum compensation for your medical bills and suffering. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation with an organ damage lawyer in Washington State.

Understanding Organ Damage and Its Impacts on Victims

Damage to the organs can occur in a variety of accidents, though motor vehicle accidents and their sudden, violent impacts are among the most common causes. There are several scenarios that can lead to organ damage:

Blunt Trauma

When two or more vehicles collide, or a singular car collides with a stationary object, the force of the impact can cause blunt trauma to the internal organs, leading to damage. Blunt trauma is also possible in a fall from a great height, such as from faulty railings on a property or in a construction setting, though motor vehicle accidents cause them more frequently.

The biggest concern with blunt trauma causing organ damage is that there may be no visible signs on the outside of the body. Symptoms may not arise for several hours or more, though anyone involved in these types of accidents should get a full medical evaluation immediately as not treating organ damage can have fatal results.

Deceleration Trauma

Deceleration trauma often causes organ damage to victims in car accidents because of the sudden stop when vehicles collide. The organs are shifted inside, causing blood vessels to tear, creating a dangerous medical emergency.

Penetrating Trauma

When a foreign object penetrates the body, it can open blood vessels, leading to internal bleeding. Blunt traumas can also lead to penetrating trauma if the ribs are fractured as they can puncture the lungs and other vital organs.

Signs of Organ Damage

One of the key reasons that accident victims are urged to seek immediate medical treatment is due to potential organ damage. These internal injuries often do not have any visible signs, though they may provide subtle clues that something is wrong.

Injuries to the spleen are common when organ damage occurs, though it may cause radiating pain that goes up to the left shoulder. Tears in the small intestine may cause slight pain initially that gradually worsens. If you notice blood in your urine, you may have kidney or bladder injuries.

Swelling in the abdomen after an accident should never be ignored as this could indicate the presence of excess blood. If swelling is present along with rapid breathing, sweating, cold or clammy skin, confusion, and a rapid heart rate, call 911 immediately.

The moments following an accident are confusing and scary, and the adrenaline surge it causes may mean you don’t notice these less noticeable symptoms. Make sure you get treatment, and then contact a car accident attorney to help you through the legal process.

The Importance of Seeking Washington Organ Injury Legal Support Immediately

Victims who suffer organ injuries will have more complex cases than those with other types of injuries, making the need for an organ damage lawyer in Washington State vital. There are some very specific reasons why you will not want to proceed without legal support:

Pure Comparative Negligence and Shared Blame

In Washington State, the person who caused the accident is held responsible for damages because it uses an at-fault model. However, the rule of pure comparative negligence also applies, which allows for shared fault. While it does allow you to recover compensation even if you are up to 99% at fault, your settlement will be drastically reduced.

Insurance companies often use tactics to assign more blame to reduce the payout they need to provide. They will ask leading questions and try to twist your words while seeming sympathetic. Additionally, they often tell victims they don’t need an attorney, and if you follow their advice, they’ll be able to talk you into accepting a settlement that is far too low to cover your expenses.

Organ damage injuries are costly and there is no reason why you should be paying for your medical bills or floundering from lost wages by being unable to work when someone else was negligent.

Getting the Full Value of Your Case

Serious injuries like these can take a huge toll on your finances. When someone else causes your injuries through their negligence, you can seek compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Your economic damages are all the tangible losses you can pinpoint with your bills and receipts, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages are a little more challenging since they’re subjective, though with proper proof, you can show the degree of your pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disability, and other impacts.

When you try to negotiate with the insurance company for your settlement, they don’t factor in all of these losses. They may not even provide you with an offer that fully covers your medical expenses. Having an organ damage lawyer in Washington State is the best way to get the full value of your injury claim.

Statute of Limitations

In addition to issues with state laws and insurance companies, organ damage victims need to be mindful of the statute of limitations. This statute of limitations limits the time they have to file a lawsuit. It is set for three years from the date of the accident, which isn’t as long as it may seem.

When the clock starts ticking, you’re still in the hospital fighting for your life. By the time you stabilize and come home, you may not feel up to talking to the insurance company all day. Once you do file your claim, they’ll either offer a low settlement or deny your claim. With this time gone, you’ll need to find an attorney to help you file your lawsuit within the remaining time period where key evidence may no longer be available.

In essence, it’s best for your physical and mental well-being to hire an attorney immediately to focus on maximizing your compensation and protecting your legal rights.

Legal Process for Filing Organ Damage Claims

When you file organ damage claims, here is what you can expect during the legal process:

Attorney Consultation

In order to hold the other party responsible for your injuries and damages, you’ll need to show that they were negligent. Contact Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group to schedule a free consultation where we can help determine if negligence was a factor and review your legal options.

Investigations and Evidence

Suppose you have a valid organ damage claim. In that case, our attorneys will investigate your accident and gather all relevant evidence to support your claim, giving you the best chance of maximum compensation.

File a Complaint

The next step is to file a formal complaint against the defendant detailing your claims and requesting their response. The defendant will be served with a copy of the complaint to notify them of the lawsuit.

Discovery Phase

During the discovery phase, both parties will exchange information through documents, depositions, and interrogations.

Negotiations

In personal injury cases, negotiations are conducted to attempt to reach a fair settlement. This is often conducted through mediation in an attempt to resolve the case in an agreeable way without going to court.

Trial

When neither party can agree to the settlement terms, the case will be decided by a judge or jury.

Benefits of Choosing Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group for Your Legal Needs

Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group provides client-focused legal representation to help get you the compensation you deserve. Our passion is to protect your legal rights, and we do so by making the process as smooth as possible.

We communicate consistently to reduce your stress, explain the entire process, and help you know what to expect. With over 100 years of combined experience, we continue to uphold our clients’ rights and work for the best outcomes.

Choosing our attorneys means that you have legal representatives who truly understand the challenges you face. When an injury isn’t your fault, we’re here to help you through the aftermath to see brighter days ahead, just as we’ve done for the tens of thousands of injured victims we’ve represented over the years. We take away the stress of navigating the legal system and fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on your health and recovery.

Contact us today to get Washington organ injury legal support, starting with a free initial consultation!