Paramedics rescuing car accident victim.

Internal injuries are dangerous because they are difficult to diagnose and treat. This is because the symptoms might not be as obvious as those associated with cuts, broken bones, and other external injuries. Some symptoms might take time to develop or appear. If left untreated, an internal organ injury could have serious complications like damage to internal organs, organ failure, or death. That’s why it is crucial to seek immediate medical treatment after any accident that might’ve resulted in injury. If someone else’s actions or inactions were to blame, contact an experienced Athens internal injury attorney right away to discuss your rights and legal options.

At R. Alan Cleveland, LLC, our personal injury attorneys have helped countless clients in Georgia seek fair compensation for internal injuries caused by preventable accidents. When you need someone to help you hold someone accountable for the harm you’ve suffered, we’re the firm to call. Contact us for a free consultation with a member of our team to learn more.

What Kinds of Accidents Lead to Internal Injuries?

Alan Cleveland, LLC provides knowledgeable and aggressive representation to those who’ve suffered internal injuries in:

What Are the Most Common Kinds of Internal Injuries?

Blunt force trauma and other external forces can rupture an organ, cause internal bleeding, or fracture a bone. The most common types of internal injuries include:

  • Internal bleeding – Internal bleeding often results from a penetrating injury or blunt force trauma to the body. Violent forces can damage the blood vessels preventing them from repairing themselves.
  • Torso and rib injuries – Rib injuries are common in accidents, such as car crashes and severe falls. Trauma to the chest can fracture ribs, puncture a lung, and/or lead to internal bleeding.
  • Organ injuries – Damage to any internal organs can lead to organ failure. Kidney damage and liver lacerations commonly occur in high-impact accidents that place significant pressure or force on the body.
  • Pneumothorax – A pneumothorax is a collapsed lung. It can result from a bone fragment from a fractured rib puncturing the lung. When the lung collapses, air enters the chest cavity disrupting normal breathing.
  • Ruptured spleen – A blow to the left lower chest or left upper abdomen can cause the spleen to rupture. It can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding without emergency medical care.

What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Internal Injury?

The symptoms you might experience with an internal injury depend on the type and location of the injury. For example, damage to internal organs in the abdomen can cause severe abdominal pain, whereas internal bleeding in your head can cause headaches.

Internal bleeding is one of the most common internal injuries in accidents. It might not cause immediate symptoms. However, some symptoms are apparent immediately after an accident. Organ damage that causes internal bleeding can be painful.

The Cleveland Clinic cites the following as the most common symptoms of internal bleeding:

  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue

Severe internal bleeding can lead to various complications if left untreated, such as:

  • Shock
  • Chest pain
  • Confusion
  • Organ failure
  • Coma
  • Seizure
  • Faster heart rate or breathing
  • Death

How Do You Establish Fault for an Internal Injury?

Negligence is a common basis for personal injury cases. Negligence occurs when one party fails to exercise a reasonable degree of care to avoid harming someone else. The required degree of care depends on the situation. For example, negligence in a premises liability case might involve inadequate maintenance or poor lighting. In a motor vehicle collision, negligence could include distracted driving, speeding, tailgating, running a red light, or other behaviors that led to the crash.

Proving fault and liability can be challenging, so you should hire an experienced Athens internal injury attorney from R. Alan Cleveland, LLC to handle your case. We could investigate and gather the available evidence to determine who might owe you compensation for the harm you suffered. Some evidence that might be helpful to your case could include:

  • Accident scene photos or video
  • Video surveillance footage
  • Statements from eyewitnesses
  • Medical records, bills, and other documentation
  • Police/incident report

What If I Was Partly Responsible?

Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence doctrine, which means that in a personal injury lawsuit, the court will determine the degree of fault of each party involved in the accident and assign liability accordingly. If the injured party is found to be partially at fault for the accident, the court will reduce their recovery by their percentage of fault. However, if their percentage of fault is found to be more than 50%, they will be barred from recovering any money for their injuries or other losses.

For example, a plaintiff might be awarded $100,000 in compensation. However, if a jury determines they’re 20% liable for the accident, the award would be reduced to $80,000.

What Compensation Can I Receive Through an Internal Injury Lawsuit in Athens?

When filing a lawsuit for internal injuries suffered in an accident, the liable party could owe you money for your:

  • Medical bills 
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Physical impairment or disability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Property damage
  • Out-of-pocket expenses 

What Is the Deadline for Filing an Internal Injury Claim in Georgia?

The statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits in Georgia is two years. That means you generally have two years from the accident date to initiate your lawsuit against the at-fault party.

Once that time expires, the court will be barred from hearing your case. However, some exceptions extend the timeframe for filing suit.

Typically, the medical malpractice statute of limitations allows a two-year window to file a lawsuit. However, the discovery rule provides more time if you don’t discover your injury or realize it’s due to medical malpractice until later. Instead of initiating your lawsuit within two years of the injury date, the exception allows up to five years from when the medical malpractice occurred.

Product liability lawsuits also allow exceptions to the statute of limitations. The statute of repose gives you a ten-year timeframe to file suit from the date of using or consuming the defective product. That means you might be able to pursue legal action even if you don’t discover your injury until after the typical statute of limitations expires. These are complicated cases, so you should consult a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer to learn about the deadline to file suit in your case.

Contact an Athens Internal Injury Lawyer

Did you or a loved one suffer internal injuries in an accident in Athens? If so, R. Alan Cleveland, LLC can help. We are prepared to fight to get you the justice and compensation you deserve. Our consultations are free, and we won’t charge you anything for our services until we win your case. Call or contact us online now to get started.