Our Charlotte truck accident lawyer can tell you, seat belt injuries can unfortunately sometimes include injuries to the spleen during an auto accident. The spleen, located in the upper left abdomen, is an organ involved in filtering blood and supporting the immune system. It is susceptible to injury due to its location and the forces involved in a collision.
During an auto accident, when a person wearing a seat belt experiences a sudden deceleration or impact, the seat belt can exert significant force on the body. This force can cause the spleen to be compressed or struck against the ribs, resulting in spleen injuries.
Why is the spleen often injured in car accidents?
The spleen is a relatively fragile organ. This combined with its location under the rib cage makes it particularly susceptible to trauma. An impact or external blow to the left side of your abdomen can potentially rupture the spleen. You can then develop a slow or rapid decompensation of the spleen. Car accidents are the leading cause of splenic rupture.
Common spleen injuries from seat belts include:
Splenic Contusion
A splenic contusion refers to a bruise on the spleen caused by a direct impact. It may cause pain, tenderness, and swelling in the left upper abdomen.
Splenic Laceration
A splenic laceration occurs when the spleen is torn or cut due to trauma. It can result in internal bleeding, abdominal pain, tenderness, and signs of hypovolemic shock (rapid heartbeat, dizziness, pale skin, low blood pressure).
Splenic Rupture
A splenic rupture is a severe form of spleen injury where the spleen tears completely, leading to significant internal bleeding. It is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms include intense abdominal pain, bruising of the abdomen in the area, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, and signs of shock.
Spleen injuries can range from mild to severe, and prompt diagnosis and treatment are vital to prevent complications and ensure the best possible outcome.
It is important to seek medical attention promptly after an auto accident to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of any injuries. Medical attention should be with a qualified medical provider that knows how to care for you and who knows about insurance claims. Not all doctors want to get involved with insurance claims; and for those who do not, they can seriously damage your bodily injury claim. We will help you find the right doctor for the type of injury you have sustained. Picking a doctor at random is a sure recipe for insurance claim issues.
Early detection and treatment intervention of an injury is critical to assure the best healing outcome. The medical/scientific literature is full of research on why this is so, but you must evaluate, treat and get proper legal representation. As a doctor who represents injured people, I know injuries. I treated thousands of accident injuries, and now I represent them in the legal arena. I fight for you and never for insurance companies. Call us if you need our help. Our staff at Ted A. Greve & Associates, PA is highly trained to help you every step of the way. The call to and consultation with my office are free. Call 1-800-333-4333 24 hours a day so that we can help start you on the way to health, and insurance claim recovery.
