In motor vehicle accidents, internal bleeding is one of the most troubling injuries sustained. The sudden impact and rapid deceleration can cause trauma deep inside the body. It might be obvious that the need for medical attention is urgent when something is puncturing the head, chest, or abdomen, but in many cases, internal bleeding can occur without penetration.
Victims in car accidents who suffer internal bleeding may be thrust into life-threatening circumstances. The internal damage to organs may cause permanent effects, leading to extensive medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident with these kinds of injuries, you should get legal help for internal bleeding in WA. An experienced Washington car accident lawyer is committed to helping accident victims fight for justice and fair compensation. Contact our Washington internal bleeding law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation to learn more about how we can help.
Understanding Internal Bleeding
When an auto accident happens, it has the potential to cause internal bleeding in victims. Blunt-style injuries occur when the body comes into contact with another object, such as the steering wheel or dashboard. However, blunt injuries may also be present even if you are wearing your seatbelt. In other words, you don’t have to be thrown into anything to suffer internal organ damage or bleeding. The sheer force of a major car crash can cause this trauma.
Penetrating injuries are also possible, especially if sharp vehicle parts or other items from the vehicle are flung on impact. Both of these types of injuries require immediate medical attention, though the most concerning thing about blunt injuries is that you may not notice any symptoms right off the bat, potentially endangering your life.
How Does Internal Bleeding Occur?
Whether by blunt force or penetration, internal bleeding can occur from a variety of internal injuries suffered in a car accident:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
In car accidents where a victim’s stomach is compressed, it could cause an abdominal aortic aneurysm, leading to its rupture.
Broken Ribs Causing Organ Punctures
In car accidents, many victims suffer from broken ribs. Sometimes, just the ribs have fractures, though depending on the type of fracture, bone fragments may puncture nearby organs. When this happens, it can cause life-threatening injuries.
Damaged Blood Vessels
Internal bleeding is often the result of damaged blood vessels due to the blunt impact of the crash. Victims should always seek a full medical evaluation to rule out internal bleeding as well as the other internal injuries on this list, as any of them could lead to death. However, you may not realize you’re hurt, which is why you should watch for the symptoms.
If you have internal bleeding, you will likely experience abdominal pain. You will likely also feel cold, fatigued, lightheaded, and excessively thirsty. Your complexion may go pale as well. We can’t stress enough how serious internal bleeding can be, which is why our Washington internal bleeding law firm urges you to always seek medical treatment immediately after an accident.
Organ Injuries
Sometimes, specific organs, such as the kidneys, liver, and spleen, incur injury during a car crash. These organs can’t function properly when they are damaged, and the impacts of bleeding organs can have fatal consequences if treatment is not sought.
If you have sustained any of these injuries, get legal help for internal bleeding in WA through Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group.
The Role of an Attorney in Internal Bleeding Cases
When it comes to personal injury cases where victims have suffered internal bleeding injuries, an attorney plays an instrumental role. To hold another party liable for your injuries, you must show that their negligent actions caused you harm.
It can be incredibly difficult to take the necessary steps for building a case without a deep understanding of the laws or legal processes. When you hire a skilled internal injury lawyer in Washington State, they will:
Prove Negligence
Before your internal bleeding case can go anywhere, it must be shown that the defendant was negligent to hold them responsible for your compensation. This requires satisfying all four elements of negligence under the law. The party in question must have owed you a duty of care, and in a car accident, that may be the easiest part to prove since every driver on the road owes all other drivers a duty to drive safely while obeying traffic laws.
When this duty is established, a breach of duty is the next metric. A defendant may breach their duty of driving safely by driving while intoxicated, speeding, running a red light, or taking some other negligent action. Causation is the third part of negligence, where the breach of duty is linked as the direct cause of the accident and injuries. Finally, you must have suffered damages from this event, such as medical bills and lost wages.
Preventing Blame Under Pure Comparative Negligence
Once your attorney can show that all four of these elements of negligence have been met, compensation can be sought. However, you may also be blamed, and the pure comparative negligence rule in Washington State could mean that you are given a percentage of fault in this incident.
Perhaps you were going just above the speed limit when traveling through an intersection when the defendant ran the red light and slammed into your vehicle. The insurance company could argue that if you’d been going within the speed limit, you wouldn’t have gotten into the accident. They’ll use this to pin some of that fault on you, perhaps 10%, to reduce your compensation by that amount.
Most of the time, the insurer will try to spin the situation in their favor to reduce or eliminate the company’s liability. They know that internal bleeding commonly causes permanent damage and can be costly with lifelong medical care. If you don’t have an attorney, they will try to tell you that hiring one is not necessary because it benefits them since you don’t have experience negotiating complex legal claims.
Gathering Evidence and Expert Medical Opinions
Internal bleeding is a serious matter, and if you realized from the moment of your crash that you were hurt, you were probably whisked away via ambulance. Your health and well-being are most important, though leaving the scene by ambulance means you don’t get the chance to take photos or videos or gather other evidence.
At Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group, we can take that step for you and track down evidence from your crash. While photos and videos can help, they aren’t the only pieces of evidence we can use to fight for your compensation. We can track down witnesses from the police report, obtain surveillance footage, and hire experts to testify about your condition.
With over 100 years of combined experience, we put it to work for you on our quest to get you a favorable outcome. Contact us today to get a free case evaluation with a Washington internal trauma attorney.
The Legal Process for Pursuing an Internal Injury Claim in WA
The law entitles accident victims who were hurt through another person’s negligent actions to seek justice under personal injury law. After you get medical care for your injuries once you have stabilized, you should contact an internal injury lawyer in Washington State to start the legal process.
Initial Consultation and Case Evaluation
We offer free initial consultations to help you determine if you have a valid claim for your internal injuries. We will provide you with your legal options and let you decide which action to take.
Filing a Lawsuit
If you have a valid injury claim based on negligence, we will file a complaint to initiate your lawsuit proceedings. This will lead to discovery, where evidence is shared, and pre-trial procedures begin.
Negotiations and Potential for Trial
Our attorneys use the evidence to build a strong case strategy and leverage your maximum settlement. In most cases, negotiations will be reached. However, there may be scenarios where going to trial is best. We will be prepared for all possible outcomes from the start while working to get you the settlement you deserve.
Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law’s Approach to Internal Injury Cases
The serious nature of internal bleeding injuries means that victims who sustain them will require extensive medical care. At Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group, we understand the difficulties of these types of injuries, which is why we put our full focus on prioritizing your needs.
We deliver dedicated client support with our own team that provides communication and updates regularly, allowing us to be accessible to you at any time. Our ultimate goal is to help you restore your life to as whole again as possible after these traumatic injuries. Contact our Washington internal bleeding law firm today at (253) 845-0577 to get our personalized approach and over a century of combined legal experience in your corner.