Internal Organ Injuries After a Dallas-Fort Worth Truck Wreck

A collision with an 18-wheeler can cause devastating injuries even when there is little visible trauma on the outside of the body. The force of a semi-truck crash can damage the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, heart, intestines, bladder, pancreas, and major blood vessels.

These injuries can cause internal bleeding, infection, organ failure, shock, and death. Some victims require emergency surgery immediately after the wreck. Others may initially believe they are only bruised before abdominal pain, dizziness, breathing problems, weakness, or other dangerous symptoms develop.

Internal bleeding can quickly become life-threatening and requires immediate medical care.

If you or a loved one suffered internal organ damage after an 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, semi-truck, or commercial-vehicle wreck in Dallas-Fort Worth, your claim may involve emergency medical expenses, future treatment, lost income, permanent impairment, and other substantial losses.

The Wooley Law Firm represents people seriously injured in crashes involving:

• 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers

• Semi-trucks

• Flatbed trucks

• Box trucks

• Delivery trucks and vans

• Tanker trucks

• Dump trucks

• Construction vehicles

• Garbage and sanitation trucks

• Buses and other commercial vehicles

Learn more about our representation of injured truck-wreck victims on our 18-wheeler and truck accident lawyer page.

Call 214-699-6524 for a free consultation. You do not pay attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.

What Is an Internal Organ Injury?

An internal organ injury occurs when trauma damages an organ, blood vessel, or other structure inside the chest, abdomen, or pelvis.

The injury may involve:

• Bruising or contusions

• Cuts or lacerations

• Tears or ruptures

• Internal bleeding

• Perforation of a hollow organ

• Reduced blood flow

• Tissue death

• Damage to surrounding blood vessels

• Leakage of intestinal contents, urine, bile, or digestive fluids

• Loss of organ function

Blunt trauma can bruise or rupture abdominal organs and blood vessels. Blood may collect inside an organ, within the organ wall, or throughout the abdominal cavity.

Internal injuries can be especially dangerous because the victim may not have an open wound or another obvious indication of what is happening inside the body.

How Truck Wrecks Cause Internal Organ Damage

A commercial truck is substantially larger and heavier than an ordinary passenger vehicle. During a collision, the body may be subjected to direct impact, crushing forces, sudden deceleration, twisting, and repeated impacts.

Internal organ injuries may occur when:

• The chest strikes the steering wheel

• The abdomen strikes the dashboard

• A seat belt places extreme force across the torso

• The passenger compartment collapses inward

• A victim is pinned inside a crushed vehicle

• A door or metal component strikes the abdomen

• An occupant is ejected

• A vehicle rolls over

• A tractor-trailer pushes a car into a barrier

• A jackknifed trailer strikes the side of a vehicle

• A truck rear-ends a stopped passenger vehicle

• A vehicle travels underneath a trailer

• Unsecured cargo strikes or penetrates a vehicle

• The victim suffers multiple impacts during a pileup

Vehicle crashes are a recognized cause of blunt abdominal trauma. Sudden deceleration can damage organs even when there is no penetrating wound.

Even a truck collision at a seemingly lower speed can cause serious injury because of the truck’s size, weight, and momentum. Read more about why a low-speed 18-wheeler wreck can still cause serious injuries.

Internal Bleeding After an 18-Wheeler Wreck

Internal bleeding occurs when damaged blood vessels release blood inside the body.

The blood may collect:

• Inside an injured organ

• Around the organ

• Inside the abdominal cavity

• Inside the chest

• Behind the abdominal cavity

• Around the heart

• Inside the pelvis

• Within damaged muscles or tissue

Unlike external bleeding, internal bleeding may not be visible. A victim may continue talking, walking, or attempting to leave the scene while significant blood loss is occurring.

Severe internal blood loss can cause hypovolemic shock. This is an emergency condition in which the body loses so much blood or fluid that the heart cannot adequately circulate blood to vital organs.

Symptoms of Internal Bleeding

Possible warning signs include:

• Increasing abdominal pain

• Abdominal swelling

• Tenderness

• Severe chest pain

• Difficulty breathing

• Dizziness

• Lightheadedness

• Weakness

• Confusion

• Fainting

• Rapid heartbeat

• Pale or clammy skin

• Low blood pressure

• Excessive thirst

• Blood in the urine

• Blood in the stool

• Vomiting blood

• Coughing up blood

• Shoulder pain

• Loss of consciousness

Symptoms may depend on the organ involved and the amount and location of the bleeding.

Suspected internal bleeding requires emergency medical attention. Do not attempt to diagnose or monitor a potentially serious internal injury at home.

Liver Injuries After a Truck Accident

The liver is a large organ located primarily in the upper-right portion of the abdomen. It performs many essential functions, including filtering blood, processing nutrients, producing bile, and helping regulate blood clotting.

A powerful impact may bruise, tear, or rupture the liver.

A liver injury may cause:

• Pain in the upper-right abdomen

• Abdominal tenderness

• Internal bleeding

• Abdominal swelling

• Low blood pressure

• Rapid heart rate

• Weakness

• Dizziness

• Shock

• Bile leakage

• Infection

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury and may include:

• Hospital observation

• Repeated blood tests

• Blood transfusions

• Imaging

• Angiographic embolization

• Drainage procedures

• Emergency surgery

• Repair or removal of damaged tissue

A severe liver injury can result in extensive blood loss because the liver contains many large blood vessels.

Even after discharge, a victim may require follow-up imaging, activity restrictions, medication, and monitoring for delayed bleeding or other complications.

Ruptured Spleen After an 18-Wheeler Collision

The spleen is located beneath the rib cage on the upper-left side of the abdomen. It helps filter blood and supports the immune system.

A forceful blow to the abdomen during a vehicle crash can rupture the spleen. Without treatment, bleeding from a ruptured spleen may be life-threatening.

Symptoms may include:

• Pain in the upper-left abdomen

• Tenderness

• Pain radiating to the left shoulder

• Dizziness

• Confusion

• Fainting

• Rapid heart rate

• Low blood pressure

• Weakness

Doctors may diagnose a splenic injury using CT imaging or ultrasound. Treatment can range from careful hospital observation to embolization, surgical repair, or removal of the spleen.

Living Without a Spleen

Surgery to remove the spleen is called a splenectomy. Because the spleen contributes to the body’s immune defenses, a person who undergoes a splenectomy may need vaccinations, medical monitoring, and precautions against serious infections.

The long-term consequences of losing the spleen should be considered when evaluating a truck-wreck injury claim.

Kidney Injuries After a Semi-Truck Wreck

The kidneys are located toward the back of the abdomen, on either side of the spine. They remove waste from the blood, regulate fluids, and help control blood pressure.

A truck wreck may injure a kidney through:

• Direct impact to the side or back

• Rib fractures

• Sudden deceleration

• Crushing trauma

• Damage to renal blood vessels

• Penetration by broken bone or metal

Symptoms may include:

• Back or side pain

• Abdominal pain

• Blood in the urine

• Bruising around the back or flank

• Reduced urine output

• Nausea

• Dizziness

• Low blood pressure

A severe kidney injury may require:

• Hospital observation

• Blood transfusions

• Stenting

• Embolization

• Surgery

• Removal of part or all of the kidney

• Dialysis

If one kidney must be removed, the remaining kidney may compensate. However, the victim may require long-term monitoring and may face greater consequences if the remaining kidney later becomes damaged or diseased.

Lung Injuries After a Truck Wreck

The force of a tractor-trailer collision can injure the lungs, chest wall, ribs, and airways.

Common lung and chest injuries include:

• Pulmonary contusions

• Collapsed lung

• Punctured lung

• Blood in the chest cavity

• Air in the chest cavity

• Rib fractures

• Flail chest

• Respiratory failure

• Aspiration injuries

Pulmonary Contusion

A pulmonary contusion is a bruise to the lung tissue. It can cause swelling and bleeding inside the lung, interfering with the body’s ability to receive oxygen.

Symptoms may include:

• Chest pain

• Shortness of breath

• Rapid breathing

• Low oxygen levels

• Coughing

• Coughing up blood

• Bluish skin or lips

• Fatigue

A lung contusion can worsen after the collision as swelling develops.

Collapsed or Punctured Lung

Broken ribs or direct trauma may puncture a lung. Air can escape into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing the lung to partially or completely collapse.

Treatment may require:

• Supplemental oxygen

• Chest-tube placement

• Ventilator support

• Surgery

• Intensive-care monitoring

A victim may continue experiencing reduced endurance, chest pain, shortness of breath, and vulnerability to respiratory complications after leaving the hospital.

Heart and Major Blood-Vessel Injuries

Blunt chest trauma can injure the heart, aorta, and other major blood vessels.

Potential injuries include:

• Bruising of the heart muscle

• Heart-rhythm disturbances

• Tears in the heart wall

• Damage to heart valves

• Bleeding around the heart

• Aortic dissection

• Aortic rupture

• Damage to major arteries or veins

These injuries can quickly become fatal.

Symptoms may include:

• Chest pain

• Shortness of breath

• Weakness

• Irregular heartbeat

• Low blood pressure

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• Unequal pulses

• Loss of consciousness

Diagnosis may require electrocardiograms, blood testing, CT imaging, ultrasound, or other cardiac studies.

Treatment may involve monitoring, medication, blood transfusions, emergency vascular procedures, or open surgery.

Intestinal and Bowel Injuries

The small intestine and large intestine are hollow organs that may be bruised, torn, crushed, or perforated during a truck wreck.

A perforation can allow intestinal contents and bacteria to leak into the abdominal cavity.

This may lead to:

• Peritonitis

• Severe infection

• Sepsis

• Abscesses

• Bowel obstruction

• Tissue death

• Organ failure

Symptoms may include:

• Severe or increasing abdominal pain

• Abdominal rigidity

• Swelling

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Fever

• Inability to pass stool or gas

• Rapid heartbeat

• Weakness

An intestinal injury may not always be obvious immediately after the collision. Pain, fever, infection, and other symptoms may develop as leakage and inflammation progress.

Treatment may require emergency surgery to repair the perforation or remove the damaged section of intestine.

Some victims require a temporary or permanent ostomy.

Bladder and Urinary-Tract Injuries

A violent collision can rupture or otherwise damage the bladder, ureters, urethra, or surrounding structures.

Pelvic fractures can increase the risk of urinary-system injuries.

Symptoms may include:

• Lower abdominal pain

• Pelvic pain

• Blood in the urine

• Difficulty urinating

• Inability to urinate

• Abdominal swelling

• Urine leakage into surrounding tissue

• Painful urination

Treatment may involve:

• Catheterization

• Surgical repair

• Stents

• Drainage

• Antibiotics

• Follow-up imaging

• Treatment for associated pelvic injuries

Complications may include infections, chronic pain, incontinence, scarring, and urinary dysfunction.

Pancreatic Injuries After a Truck Collision

The pancreas is located deep within the abdomen behind the stomach. Its protected location can make pancreatic injuries less common, but direct compression against the spine can damage it.

Pancreatic injuries may cause:

• Severe abdominal pain

• Back pain

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Abdominal tenderness

• Leakage of digestive enzymes

• Pancreatitis

• Infection

• Abscesses

• Tissue death

Because the pancreas lies deep within the body, an injury may be difficult to identify immediately.

Treatment may include hospital observation, drainage procedures, nutritional support, medication, or surgery.

Diaphragm Injuries

The diaphragm is the major muscle separating the chest from the abdomen and plays an important role in breathing.

A severe impact can tear the diaphragm. Abdominal organs may then move into the chest cavity and interfere with lung function.

Symptoms may include:

• Difficulty breathing

• Chest pain

• Abdominal pain

• Reduced breath sounds

• Low oxygen levels

• Nausea

• Rapid heartbeat

Surgical repair is often required.

Delayed Symptoms of Internal Organ Injuries

One of the most dangerous aspects of internal trauma is that symptoms may not immediately reflect the seriousness of the injury.

After a truck wreck, adrenaline, shock, confusion, and other painful injuries may make it difficult to recognize abdominal or chest symptoms.

Problems may worsen because of:

• Continued internal bleeding

• Increasing swelling

• Delayed organ rupture

• Reduced blood flow

• Leakage from a perforated organ

• Infection

• Sepsis

• Blood-clot formation

• Progressive respiratory distress

A victim should obtain prompt medical evaluation after a serious truck collision, particularly when experiencing abdominal pain, chest pain, dizziness, breathing problems, weakness, confusion, or blood in the urine or stool.

Do not assume that the absence of exterior bleeding means there is no serious injury.

How Doctors Diagnose Internal Injuries

Doctors may use several methods to identify organ damage and internal bleeding.

Physical Examination

Medical providers may examine the victim for:

• Abdominal tenderness

• Guarding

• Rigidity

• Swelling

• Bruising

• Chest tenderness

• Difficulty breathing

• Low blood pressure

• Rapid heart rate

• Reduced consciousness

Blood Tests

Blood testing may help evaluate:

• Blood loss

• Organ function

• Infection

• Blood-clotting ability

• Liver enzymes

• Kidney function

• Oxygen levels

CT Scans

CT imaging is frequently used to evaluate injuries to the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.

It may reveal:

• Organ lacerations

• Internal bleeding

• Hematomas

• Perforations

• Blood-vessel injuries

• Fractures

• Fluid in the abdomen or chest

Ultrasound

A focused trauma ultrasound may be used to look for fluid or blood around internal organs.

X-Rays

X-rays may identify rib fractures, pelvic fractures, collapsed lungs, or other injuries.

Exploratory Surgery

When a victim is unstable or doctors strongly suspect a dangerous injury, emergency surgery may be necessary before every injury can be fully defined through imaging.

Treatment for Internal Organ Injuries

Treatment depends on:

• The organ involved

• The amount of internal bleeding

• The victim’s blood pressure

• Other injuries

• Whether the organ is leaking

• The risk of infection

• The victim’s overall stability

Treatment may include:

• Intensive monitoring

• Blood transfusions

• Intravenous fluids

• Oxygen

• Pain medication

• Antibiotics

• Drainage procedures

• Angiographic embolization

• Chest-tube placement

• Mechanical ventilation

• Emergency surgery

• Removal of damaged tissue

• Repair or removal of an organ

Some moderate solid-organ injuries can be monitored without immediate surgery, while severe injuries may require emergency operations.

Long-Term Complications of Internal Organ Damage

Surviving emergency treatment does not always mean that the victim has fully recovered.

Long-term complications may include:

• Reduced organ function

• Chronic abdominal pain

• Breathing limitations

• Recurrent infections

• Scar tissue

• Bowel obstruction

• Digestive problems

• Urinary problems

• Kidney impairment

• Dialysis

• Liver complications

• Increased infection risk after spleen removal

• Ostomy care

• Additional surgeries

• Chronic fatigue

• Medication dependence

• Dietary restrictions

• Psychological trauma

A person may also develop complications from prolonged hospitalization, such as:

• Blood clots

• Muscle loss

• Weakness

• Pressure wounds

• Hospital-acquired infection

• Reduced mobility

• Post-intensive-care symptoms

These consequences may interfere with work, parenting, exercise, travel, sleep, and ordinary daily activities.

Sepsis and Infection After an Organ Injury

A perforated intestine, damaged bladder, bile leak, pancreatic leak, or contaminated wound may allow bacteria or digestive fluids to enter areas where they do not belong.

This can cause:

• Peritonitis

• Abscess formation

• Severe infection

• Sepsis

• Septic shock

• Multiple-organ failure

Treatment may involve additional surgeries, drainage procedures, powerful antibiotics, intensive care, and prolonged hospitalization.

A victim may continue experiencing weakness, cognitive symptoms, or reduced stamina after a severe infection.

Organ Failure After a Truck Wreck

Severe trauma and blood loss can interfere with blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body.

The victim may experience failure of:

• The kidneys

• The lungs

• The liver

• The heart

• Multiple organ systems

Organ failure may require:

• Dialysis

• Ventilator support

• Feeding support

• Medication to maintain blood pressure

• Intensive-care treatment

• Long-term rehabilitation

In the most serious cases, internal injuries may be fatal despite emergency medical care.

How Internal Organ Injuries Affect Employment

A serious internal injury may prevent a person from working for weeks, months, or permanently.

The victim may be unable to work because of:

• Hospitalization

• Surgery

• Pain

• Weakness

• Reduced endurance

• Breathing limitations

• Frequent medical appointments

• Infection

• Dietary restrictions

• Medication side effects

• Lifting restrictions

• Cognitive difficulties following critical illness

Someone who previously performed construction work, warehouse labor, commercial driving, healthcare, law enforcement, or another physically demanding occupation may be unable to safely return.

A claim may include both past lost wages and reduced future earning capacity.

Compensation for Internal Organ Injuries

Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be available for:

• Ambulance expenses

• Emergency-room treatment

• Hospitalization

• Intensive-care treatment

• Surgery

• Blood transfusions

• Diagnostic imaging

• Specialist care

• Rehabilitation

• Medication

• Future medical treatment

• Additional surgeries

• Lost wages

• Reduced earning capacity

• Physical pain

• Mental anguish

• Physical impairment

• Disfigurement

• Out-of-pocket expenses

• Property damage

A serious internal-injury case should not be evaluated solely by adding up the medical bills incurred during the initial hospitalization.

The claim may also involve permanent organ damage, future treatment, employment losses, psychological trauma, and a substantial reduction in quality of life.

Read more about the types of compensation that may be available in our guide to truck-accident damages after a Dallas 18-wheeler wreck.

Physical Impairment After Internal Organ Damage

Physical impairment concerns the loss of the ability to participate in activities that were part of the victim’s normal life.

A person with internal organ damage may no longer be able to:

• Exercise

• Lift heavy objects

• Work full-time

• Perform household tasks

• Care for children independently

• Travel comfortably

• Participate in sports

• Eat a normal diet

• Sleep without pain

• Walk long distances

• Return to prior hobbies

• Live without medical restrictions

These losses may not be fully reflected in medical records or billing statements. Evidence should show how the injury changed the person’s actual daily life.

Who May Be Responsible for the Truck Wreck?

A serious truck collision may involve several responsible individuals and companies.

The Truck Driver

A driver may cause a wreck by:

• Speeding

• Following too closely

• Driving while fatigued

• Texting or using a cellphone

• Making an unsafe lane change

• Failing to check blind spots

• Running a red light

• Driving while impaired

• Making an unsafe wide turn

• Failing to maintain a proper lookout

• Driving too fast for conditions

• Violating hours-of-service requirements

The Trucking Company

The carrier may be responsible for the driver’s conduct and for its own unsafe practices.

Potential company negligence may include:

• Hiring an unqualified driver

• Inadequate driver training

• Negligent supervision

• Retaining an unsafe driver

• Pressuring drivers to meet dangerous schedules

• Failing to inspect the truck

• Failing to maintain the vehicle

• Ignoring prior violations

• Unsafe dispatch practices

• Failure to enforce fatigue policies

The Cargo Loader or Shipper

Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can cause the truck to roll over, jackknife, lose control, or spill materials into traffic.

Flatbed loads involving steel, lumber, machinery, pipes, and construction materials can cause devastating crushing and penetrating injuries.

Learn more about flatbed truck accidents, cargo securement, and liability.

A Maintenance or Repair Company

A maintenance provider may share responsibility when negligent inspection or repair contributes to:

• Brake failure

• Tire separation

• Steering failure

• Wheel detachment

• Trailer separation

• Mechanical breakdown

A Truck or Parts Manufacturer

A defective truck, trailer, tire, brake, coupling device, fuel system, or other component may cause or worsen a collision.

Evidence That Should Be Preserved

The trucking company and its insurer may begin investigating before the injured person leaves the hospital.

Important evidence may include:

• Engine control module data

• Electronic logging-device records

• GPS and telematics information

• Dash-camera footage

• Driver-facing camera footage

• Dispatch records

• Cellphone records

• Driver qualification files

• Training materials

• Hours-of-service logs

• Drug and alcohol testing records

• Maintenance records

• Inspection reports

• Cargo-loading records

• Bills of lading

• Weight tickets

• Post-crash inspection reports

• Company policies

• Witness statements

• Photographs and videos

• Surveillance footage

• Police body-camera footage

• 911 recordings

• Physical vehicle evidence

Electronic information may be overwritten or lost unless prompt steps are taken to preserve it.

Learn more about the evidence that matters after a Texas 18-wheeler wreck and 18-wheeler black-box data after a Dallas-Fort Worth truck crash.

Medical Evidence Needed for an Internal-Injury Claim

Medical evidence may include:

• Ambulance records

• Emergency-room records

• Trauma evaluations

• Operative reports

• Intensive-care records

• CT scans

• X-rays

• Ultrasounds

• Laboratory results

• Blood-transfusion records

• Specialist reports

• Rehabilitation records

• Future-treatment recommendations

• Work restrictions

• Functional-capacity evaluations

• Life-care planning

The evidence should establish:

• Which organs were injured

• The severity of the damage

• The treatment required

• The risk of future complications

• Whether organ function has been permanently reduced

• How the injuries affect work and daily life

• What future care is reasonably expected

How Insurance Companies Defend Internal-Injury Claims

A severe injury does not guarantee that the trucking company’s insurer will offer fair compensation.

The insurance company may attempt to:

• Blame the injured person

• Dispute how the crash happened

• Minimize the collision forces

• Argue that an organ condition was preexisting

• Challenge the need for treatment

• Claim the victim fully recovered

• Minimize future medical needs

• Dispute lost earning capacity

• Downplay chronic pain or fatigue

• Offer a settlement before the long-term prognosis is known

• Request a broad medical authorization

• Seek a recorded statement

• Monitor social-media activity

A settlement should not be accepted before the victim understands the medical prognosis, potential complications, future treatment needs, employment consequences, and available insurance coverage.

Once a settlement and release are completed, the victim generally cannot seek additional compensation merely because another surgery becomes necessary or organ function worsens.

What to Do After a Suspected Internal Injury

Seek Emergency Medical Attention

Call 911 or go to an emergency department when experiencing abdominal pain, chest pain, dizziness, weakness, breathing problems, fainting, or other warning signs after a truck wreck.

Report Every Symptom

Tell medical providers about:

• Abdominal pain

• Chest pain

• Back or shoulder pain

• Difficulty breathing

• Dizziness

• Weakness

• Nausea

• Blood in the urine or stool

• Changes in urination

• Fever

• Increasing swelling

• Worsening pain

Follow Medical Recommendations

Attend follow-up appointments, complete imaging, obey activity restrictions, and promptly report new symptoms.

Preserve Records

Keep copies of:

• Medical bills

• Hospital records

• Work restrictions

• Employment records

• Insurance correspondence

• Prescription receipts

• Travel expenses

• Home-care expenses

Document Your Limitations

Consider recording:

• Pain levels

• Fatigue

• Breathing difficulties

• Dietary changes

• Missed work

• Activities you cannot perform

• Assistance provided by family

• Medical appointments

• Sleep problems

• Emotional symptoms

Avoid a Premature Settlement

Do not resolve the claim before the prognosis, future treatment, potential complications, and employment consequences are understood.

Contact a Truck Wreck Lawyer Promptly

Early legal involvement can help preserve truck data, obtain video, interview witnesses, identify responsible companies, and document the complete effect of the injuries.

How The Wooley Law Firm Handles Internal Organ Injury Claims

An internal-injury case requires more than sending hospital bills to an insurance adjuster.

Depending on the facts, The Wooley Law Firm may:

• Investigate the collision

• Obtain the crash report

• Send evidence-preservation demands

• Secure electronic truck data

• Identify the driver and motor carrier

• Investigate cargo-loading companies

• Review driver qualification records

• Examine hours-of-service evidence

• Obtain maintenance and inspection records

• Locate witnesses

• Obtain available video footage

• Analyze medical and surgical records

• Document future medical needs

• Calculate lost wages

• Evaluate reduced earning capacity

• Investigate available insurance coverage

• Consult qualified experts

• File suit when necessary

• Prepare the case for trial

The goal is to determine why the wreck occurred, identify every responsible party, and demonstrate how the internal injuries have affected—and may continue to affect—the victim’s life.

Dallas-Fort Worth Internal Organ Injury Lawyer

The Wooley Law Firm represents seriously injured people throughout:

• Dallas

• Fort Worth

• Arlington

• Irving

• Garland

• Mesquite

• Richardson

• Plano

• Frisco

• McKinney

• Allen

• Denton

• Lewisville

• Carrollton

• Grand Prairie

• Grapevine

• Mansfield

• Keller

• Southlake

• North Texas

We also handle serious commercial-truck injury cases throughout Texas.

If you or a loved one suffered a liver injury, ruptured spleen, kidney damage, lung injury, bowel perforation, internal bleeding, or other organ damage after an 18-wheeler wreck, call 214-699-6524.

You can also learn more by visiting our Dallas truck accident lawyer page.

Your consultation is free and confidential. You do not pay attorney’s fees unless we obtain a recovery for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internal Organ Injuries

Can an 18-wheeler wreck cause internal bleeding without visible injuries?

Yes. A victim may suffer internal bleeding even when there is no open wound or substantial exterior bruising. Trauma can tear organs and blood vessels inside the chest, abdomen, or pelvis.

What organs are commonly injured in a truck wreck?

Potentially injured organs include the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, heart, intestines, bladder, and pancreas. In blunt abdominal trauma, the spleen and liver are among the organs frequently damaged.

Can internal-injury symptoms be delayed?

Yes. Continued bleeding, swelling, perforation, or infection may cause symptoms to develop or worsen after the collision. A victim should seek immediate medical attention for new or worsening abdominal pain, chest pain, dizziness, weakness, breathing difficulty, or fainting.

What are the warning signs of a ruptured spleen?

Possible signs include pain and tenderness in the upper-left abdomen, pain radiating to the left shoulder, dizziness, confusion, fainting, and signs of blood loss.

Will a ruptured spleen always require surgery?

No. Some smaller or moderate injuries may be managed through hospital observation and follow-up imaging. Severe injuries may require embolization, surgical repair, or removal of the spleen.

Can I recover compensation if an organ was removed?

The loss of an organ may support claims involving medical expenses, future care, pain, impairment, lost income, and other damages. The available compensation depends on the organ involved, medical consequences, evidence, liability, and insurance coverage.

Can I recover future medical expenses?

Future medical expenses may be included when medical and other evidence shows that additional care is reasonably necessary because of the wreck.

What if the hospital initially missed my internal injury?

Delayed diagnosis may complicate both the medical and legal issues. The truck driver and trucking company may remain responsible for the injuries caused by the crash, while a separate medical-negligence analysis may be necessary if delayed treatment caused additional harm.

What if I had a prior liver, kidney, or abdominal condition?

A preexisting condition does not automatically prevent recovery. The issue may be whether the truck wreck caused a new injury or aggravated the prior condition.

How long do I have to file a claim in Texas?

Texas law imposes deadlines on personal-injury claims. Different or shorter notice requirements may apply when a government-owned truck or public entity is involved.

Important truck data and video may disappear well before the filing deadline, so the investigation should begin promptly.

How much does it cost to hire The Wooley Law Firm?

The Wooley Law Firm handles personal-injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no upfront attorney’s fee and owe no attorney’s fee unless the firm obtains a recovery for you.

Speak With a Dallas-Fort Worth Truck Wreck Lawyer

Internal organ damage can be life-threatening and may leave a victim with permanent medical complications.

You may be facing emergency surgery, an extended hospital stay, reduced organ function, future treatment, lost income, and uncertainty about your long-term health. Meanwhile, the trucking company and its insurer may already be collecting evidence and building their defense.

You deserve someone protecting your interests.

Call The Wooley Law Firm at 214-699-6524 for a free consultation about internal injuries caused by a Dallas-Fort Worth truck wreck.

You do not pay attorney’s fees unless we win.