Compensation for Organ Damage Caused by Accident or Negligence

Catastrophic injuries often cause long-term pain and require continuing medical care. They can change your ability to function, work, and enjoy life. Organ damage is often considered a catastrophic injury, and if you suffered this injury because of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to seek damages from the at-fault party.

Organ damage isn’t as always visible or symptomatic as other types of injuries. That’s why it is critical that you seek prompt medical care at a local emergency room or with your family doctors immediately after any accident. Early intervention can make a major difference.

What are common causes of organ damage?

Organ trauma can be caused by a number of things, including:

• Truck accidents
• Car accidents
• Motorcycle crashes
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Mass transit collisions
• Construction accidents
• Defective products
• Falls
• Dog bites or violent attacks

Often, in complex cases resulting in catastrophic injury, more than one defendant is liable. For example, if your organ damage is due to a car accident, and if the owner of the car is different than the driver, the owner may also be liable. If your organ damage is due to a truck accident, the truck owner, truck driver, a trucking broker, and the company that requested the shipment may also be liable.

Which organs are most likely to be damaged in an accident?

Your organs enable different parts of your body to function. Damage to many organs can be life-threatening. A serious car or truck collision or construction site accident can cause damage to the:

• Brain. Traumatic brain injuries can affect every other part of your anatomy, including other organs and nerves. Serious brain trauma can lead to cognitive decline, immobility, and ultimately death.
• Lungs. Damage to your lungs may occur if an airbag opens forcefully in an accident, causing rib or sternum damage. The lungs can be punctured easily, and a punctured lung can be a life-threatening injury.
• Heart. Damage to your heart can be deadly. It can be punctured or torn, but the risk of heart attack is also high after a wreck. There is also a possibility of blood clots, which form in other parts of the body, traveling to the heart.
• Liver. Some damage to the liver, such as bruising, may not affect your ability to live. But the liver can also rupture, which means bile or blood can leak internally, increasing the risk of sepsis. Patients with liver damage may need dialysis or a liver transplant.
• Kidney. You need at least one kidney to survive. A car, truck, or motorcycle crash can puncture or rupture a kidney. In some cases, you main sustain bruising from a seatbelt.
• Spleen. A damaged spleen could be fatal, because it may take days for the rupture to occur. This is why it is critical that you seek medical care after any collision.

Overall, the symptoms of organ damage vary and can include bruises, fatigue, numerous functional difficulties, dizziness, and many other symptoms. In severe cases, organ damage can cause the death of a loved one.

Car accidents and damage to your digestive system

A serious car crash can cause life-threatening injuries to your stomach, bowel, intestines, colon, and pancreas, but they can also cause a wide array of unexpected effects. For example, it is not uncommon for car accident victims to suffer constipation or loose stools after a crash, which could be the result of swelling, inflammation, and/or stress.

However, if these symptoms persist, you should seek medical attention right away. It is possible that you have sustained other internal injuries. Constipation, for example, may result from traumatic brain injury as much as it can be a sign of other organ damage.

How much is my organ damage case worth?

The value of your claim varies depending on many factors including which organ was damaged, the medical care you need, and how the damage affects every part of your life. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers seek compensation for all your:

• Medical bills – current and future. Organ damage victims often require surgery. Some victims may need organ transplants or artificial organs. Many victims need continual medical care for the rest of their lives including physical therapy and psychological care.
• Lost income – current and future. We demand compensation for all the income and benefits you lose while you’re seeking medical help to maximize your health. If you cannot work at the same job or at any job due to your organ injuries, we seek compensation for all your future income losses.
• Physical pain and emotional suffering – current and future. Victims are entitled to damages from the responsible defendants for all their daily aches, pains, frustrations, anxiety, depression, and other types of suffering – for every day they are in pain. Many organ damage victims suffer pain for the rest of their lives.
• Loss of function. If you cannot perform certain tasks or perform them as you did before the accident, such as sleeping or walking, we seek additional compensation for your loss of function.

We also seek compensation for any scarring or disfigurement, loss of consortium, property damage, and other damages.

We work with your doctors and our own network of doctors if necessary to fully verify all your medical needs including the likelihood of future medical care – and all the ways your organ damage is affecting your life.

If you suffer any type of organ damage, your life will likely change forever. At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, we have the experience and resources to help you obtain the medical evaluations you need. We’re skilled at showing how personal injury accidents happen and who is responsible. We demand full compensation for your damages. To schedule a consultation with a seasoned Los Angeles organ damage lawyer, call our offices or fill out our contact form today.

Please note that this blog is not to be construed as legal advice. Because every case is fact-specific, you should consult directly with an attorney to obtain legal advice specific to your situation.