VEHICLE COLLISIONS MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE LIVER

Car Accident Liver Injuries

Vehicle accidents often cause damage to internal organs, and the liver is particularly susceptible to injury. In fact, most blunt liver injuries are caused by car wrecks.

According to a study published by the US National Library of Medicine, the anterior location of the liver in the abdominal cavity and the fragile nature of its tissue make it vulnerable to injury.

The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and it can easily be torn open in a collision. Since it filters blood, detoxifies chemicals, metabolizes drugs, secretes bile, and makes proteins needed for blood clotting, damage to the liver is a serious condition.

Liver Injury Risks

Vehicle accidents are the most common cause of a bruised liver, also known as a contusion. Liver tissue may also be sheared, lacerated, or ruptured, causing internal bleeding, bile leakage, or both.

This damage might not be immediately visible, but it can lead to shock, tenderness, a rapid heartbeat, pale skin, and lightheadedness. If acidic bile leaks into the liver tissue or the abdominal cavity, it can cause irritation, abdominal pain, tissue damage, bloating, nausea, and vomiting.

If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms following a vehicle accident, you should seek immediate medical attention. Failing to see a doctor can be a fatal mistake if there is active bleeding into the abdomen.

Treatment and Compensation

A bruised liver is a relatively minor injury that may be successfully treated with bed rest, and most non-operative liver injuries heal without complications. However, if there’s active bleeding or damaged bile ducts, surgery may be required.

If you’ve suffered liver injuries due to a vehicle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of these medical procedures, your lost wages, loss of future earnings, and punitive damages. You need an attorney to help you receive the compensation you deserve. To learn more about what the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., can do for you, visit us on Facebook.