What to Do If Your Stomach Hurts After a Car Accident
After a car accident, some injuries take a few days to become noticeable. One type of pain that commonly appears sometime after an accident is stomach pain. Stomach or lower abdominal pain after a car accident can be caused by the seat belt pressing against your abdomen.
Here, we will talk about what you should do if you or someone you know is experiencing stomach pain after a car accident.
Stomach Pains After a Car Accident: Your First Steps
The first thing you should do if you have abdominal pain after a car accident is seek medical attention. Stomach and lower abdominal pain can be a sign of internal injuries or internal bleeding.
Sometimes, the impact of a car accident can cause rupture or other damage to your internal organs. Even if you just think you are a little sore, you should see a doctor to make sure the pain isn’t the result of a more serious post-accident injury.
It is especially important that children see a doctor if they are experiencing stomach pains after a car accident. Children do not have as much abdominal fat to cushion an impact as adults. Their abdominal muscles may also not be fully developed, making them more susceptible to abdominal injuries.
Signs and Symptoms of Abdominal Pain
While abdominal pain after a car accident is one sign of abdominal trauma or internal injury, there are other symptoms to watch for as well. Possible signs of an internal injury include:
- Swollen stomach after car accident;
- Cuts or bruises where the seat belt rests on your abdomen;
- Upset stomach after car accident;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Constipation or diarrhea; and
- Fever.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Abdominal pain after a car accident may not start until hours or days after the accident. You should see a doctor about delayed stomach pain just to be safe.
Seat Belt Syndrome
The medical community has dubbed the various car accident injuries caused by seat belts “seat belt syndrome.” When a car stops or decelerates suddenly, your body will push against the seat belt with a lot of force.
While seat belts help to keep drivers and passengers in place, preventing head injuries, the force of your body pressing against the seat belt can cause other injuries. These include bruises or marks from the seat belt, chest and neck injuries, and fractures of the lower spine.
The force of the impact from your seat belt during a car accident can be strong enough to rupture or cut organs or major arteries. This can cause conditions such as internal bleeding which can be deadly if left untreated. Even if you do not think you were in a high impact collision, you should seek medical attention for stomach pain after a car accident.
How We Will Help with Your Abdominal Pain After a Car Accident Case
If you experienced abdominal pain after a car accident and were diagnosed with internal injuries, our law office can help you get compensation. If a negligent driver caused your accident, you may be able to recover your medical costs and lost wages through a lawsuit.
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk has more than 30 years of experience helping accident victims and other injured people get the compensation they deserve.
Our law office is ready to talk about your accident and answer any questions you may have. We will treat your case like a priority from beginning to end so you can cope with the aftermath of your accident injuries.
Contact us today to talk about receiving prompt and aggressive representation in your personal injury case.