Texas roads are full of car accidents. After these collisions, some walk away without a scratch, and others are left with life-altering injuries. The severity of injuries may be felt right away, but sometimes, the pain does not hit the accident victim until days or even weeks later. This is a condition known as delayed pain, and one of the most prominent symptoms of a larger health issue is abdomen pain.
In some circumstances, shock and adrenaline can mask the pain of an injury. This rush of endorphins can lead to false impressions that no injury exists, but delayed abdomen pain is very real. If the delayed pain is not addressed with medical attention, it can become a long-term health issue.
If you or a loved one is experiencing abdomen pain relating to a vehicle collision, it is important to first seek medical attention. Then, reach out to an experienced Texas car accident attorney.
Defining Delayed Abdomen Pain
After a vehicle collision, delayed pain occurs when pain, discomfort, or symptoms are not immediately experienced. These symptoms may be detected hours, days, or even weeks later.
An accident victim’s body reacting to the initial response to trauma and stress is the cause of this delayed response. The body releases adrenaline and endorphins following a crash. The body’s chemical response acts as a natural painkiller, temporarily masking pain signals. As this initial response wears off, the pain from the sustained injuries becomes evident.
One of the most serious types of delayed pain is pain or swelling in the abdomen. Damage to internal organs or internal bleeding may be signaled by abdomen pain. But it may take hours or days for the pain to start. Other delayed symptoms of internal bleeding or organ damage may include dizziness and fainting.
Abdominal Injuries Can Be Life-Threatening
The abdomen houses important organs, including:
- Spleen
- Liver
- Kidneys
If an abdominal organ is injured or completely ruptured in a collision, there is a significant amount of internal bleeding. Organ injuries and ruptures may even occur after an accident. Additionally, if organs burst, they can empty their contents into the abdominal cavity. This may lead to possible infections and, in some cases, death.
Organ damage is an extremely serious condition. Your organs need to work in concert and unimpaired to keep you alive. Because of the high chance of hemorrhage or infections, getting a medical evaluation is essential following a car accident.
Common Abdominal Injuries
A few common organ disorders that arise following a car crash may include:
- Bowel obstruction
- Kidney trauma
- Liver damage
- Peritonitis
- Ruptured spleen
- Tears in the abdominal muscles
- Traumatic appendicitis
Anyone involved in a collision, big or small, should first get checked out by medical professionals and always keep on the lookout for new or worsening symptoms. Getting immediate care not only helps your health and recovery, but it can also become evidence for later insurance or legal claims.
Common Causes of Stomach Pain After a Car Crash
The science is secure—seatbelts and airbags save lives, but there are times when injuries can be caused by seatbelts and airbags. As your body is thrown around during a vehicle collision, the devices put in place to protect you can also cause blunt abdominal trauma as your body is slammed against them.
Often, during a crash, our entire body tenses. This tension may not be released for hours, even days. During these hours and days of tension, the prolonged pressure affects the stomach and can lead to a range of issues.
Seat Belt Syndrome
One of the most common delayed pain symptoms resulting from a car accident is seat belt syndrome. This is a type of abdominal injury caused by the intense force a seat belt applies on the stomach and chest during a vehicle collision. Severe damage can come from the sudden pressure of a seatbelt impacting the internal organs.
Seeking Medical Attention
Seeking Medical AttentionUndiagnosed and untreated injuries may lead to chronic widespread pain, extended periods of suffering, and delays in healing and recovery. This may ultimately end up in irreversible damage to your long-term health. This is especially true of untreated abdomen pain that leads to organ damage or internal bleeding.
To avoid these risks, early intervention is the key to treatments that may reduce the pain and increase the function of the affected areas, promoting healing. Being proactive ensures you are on the recovery path back to normal. Seeing a doctor quickly also strengthens and validates your legal claim related to your accident.
Treatments for delayed pain are often scrutinized by Insurance companies. Delayed pain is commonly misconstrued as not serious or unrelated to the accident. Prompt medical evaluation provides documented evidence and draws a clear line connecting the accident to your injuries and solidifying any personal injury claims.
Documenting Delayed Injuries
In both immediate injuries and delayed injuries, medical records are the cornerstone evidence of any personal injury claim. Medical documents provide detailed and credible accounts of:
- Injuries suffered
- Prescribed treatment received
- The impact of the injuries on a person’s life
Medical documents also offer objective and influential evidence for your claim and the compensation you deserve for your recovery. While documenting your symptoms and medical visits, consider the following tips:
Keep a Journal
You should dedicate your time to keeping a detailed journal immediately after the accident. In this journal, it is important to record:
- Symptoms
- Pain levels
- How injuries impact daily activities
- Difficulties sleeping
- Inability to perform certain tasks
- Emotional distress
Save and Organize Your Medical Documentation
These documents can provide a timeline and describe the severity of any injuries, so make sure to collect and organize every piece of medical documentation related to your accident, including:
- Emergency room records
- Doctor’s notes
- Prescription receipts
- Physical therapy records
Follow up on All Treatments and Appointments
Do not miss any of your recommended medical treatments or follow-up appointments. This documents compliance with medical advice and a commitment to healing.
Record Expenses
Record ExpensesKeeping a detailed record of expenses related to your injury is crucial for seeking reimbursement. This may include medical bills, travel expenses to medical appointments, and any other costs you incurred due to your injury.
Communicate with Healthcare Providers
Your healthcare provider should be informed about all the symptoms and challenges faced because of the injuries suffered in the vehicle collision. This type of clear communication ensures medical records accurately reflect the severity of all injuries and the impact they have had on your life.
It is important to be as thorough and accurate as possible when keeping this detailed documentation. Accurate records serve as vital evidence for your claim and strengthen the case for recovering the financial compensation necessary for rehabilitation and recovery.
Contact a Texas Car Accident Lawyer Today
Recognizing and addressing the symptoms of abdomen pain takes vigilance. Prompt care for immediate or potential injuries is vital for both the immediate health and the long-term recovery of a collision victim.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash and experiencing symptoms of abdomen pain, it is important to reach out to the Houston car accident attorneys at the Krist Law Firm, P.C. Contact us today so we can get to work protecting your rights.