On behalf of Rooney Law Firm posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Thursday, January 28, 2016.
Pedestrians who are hit by a car face the prospect of suffering from abdominal injuries, especially when the person is struck directly in the abdomen. Abdominal injuries include some that are life-threatening, so it is critical for anyone who suffers a blow to abdomen understand to get medical care if he or she is experiencing any of the symptoms associated with internal bleeding.
What are the symptoms of internal bleeding?
Internal bleeding can cause abdominal pain. In some cases, the pain might be mild or it might migrate to another area of the body. The pain might increase in severity as time passes. Besides pain, you might experience confusion, sweating, a rapid heart rate and rapid breathing. The blood loss might cause you to have bluish, pale, clammy or cold skin.
How are abdominal injuries classified?
There are two factors that determine how abdominal injuries are classified — the type of blow that occurred and the structure that was affected. There are two types of blows that can lead to abdominal injuries. Penetrating injuries are caused by an object breaking through the skin. This might occur if a piece of metal goes through the skin and hits an organ. Blunt injuries are caused by a direct hit to the abdomen, such as if a car bumper slams into a pedestrian. The structures that are affected can be hollow organs like the stomach, solid organs like the spleen, the abdominal wall or the blood vessels.
When an abdominal injury causes internal bleeding, the victim needs emergency medical care. In some cases, emergency surgery or blood transfusions may be part of his or her care.
Source: Merck Manual Consumer Version, “Overview of Abdominal Injuries,” Darren Malinoski, MD, accessed Jan. 28, 2016
