Internal Organ Damage Resulting from an Auto Accident

Car accident victims often suffer severe internal injuries, such as, internal bleeding and organ damage. The consequences of such internal injuries could be devastating and may result in partial or permanent disability and even death. As a result of organ damage, an accident victim may lose his job or income. One way to recover the financial losses is by filing a compensation claim. But before you make a claim, you need to know your legal rights and what you are entitled to.

Understanding internal organ damage

The symptoms of internal organ damage are not necessarily visible. In the absence of visible symptoms like bleeding, cuts, and burns, the victim often overlook the importance of seeking medical attention. This could be dangerous. When you suffer an injury in an accident, but the symptoms are not visible, you should see a doctor immediately. Also, make sure that you keep any medical records handy, because those records may be required later to prove that your internal injury as caused by the accident. Some examples of serious internal injuries include concussion, perforation of liver or spleen, aorta rupture, traumatic brain injury, and lung injuries.

If you suffer any of these injuries, you should seek treatment immediately. In most cases, you won't notice any visible symptoms, but know that these injuries could be life threatening.

What are the immediate steps to take after you suffer an internal injury?

It is difficult to identify the severity of an internal injury, because the injury may not trigger any visible symptoms. You may still experience some common symptoms such as severe pain, bruising, swelling, numbness in the injured area. The first thing to do is to seek medical attention and tell the doctor about the symptoms. Your doctor will be able to decide whether or not you need emergency care. If required, the doctor may want you to undergo some medical tests, such as CT scan. It is also important to report to the police, and keep both the medical and police reports. These documents would help you in the legal process should decide to file a claim for compensation later.

Moreover, you should contact your insurer as soon as you can. Ask them to file a Certificate of Compliance (COC). Failure to submit proof of insurance after a car accident may result in the suspension of driving privileges irrespective of who is at fault. In states with fault-based insurance, the accident victim is entitled to receive compensation from the negligent driver's insurance company. However, it may not be simple to recover any compensation from the insurance company. Some insurance companies may try to prove that you were at fault for the accident, or may try to downplay your injuries and get away with a relatively small settlement amount. This is exactly why you should keep any evidence in support of claim handy.

What compensation you can claim

Depending on your case, you can claim compensation for your medical bills, car damage, and lost wages. It is always a good idea to consult an experienced Willens Law Offices car accident lawyer to see what you are entitled to under Illinois law.