Although common, ruptured spleens aren’t typically the first injury that comes to mind when you think about car crashes. However, a spleen injury is extremely serious and can threaten your life if not treated properly.

Located just under your rib cage on the left side, the spleen helps your body to fight infection and filter old blood cells from your blood stream. Without a properly working spleen, you are prone to infections—such as the flu—and may have severe abdominal pain.

Do You Have a Ruptured Spleen?

The most common cause of a ruptured spleen is blunt trauma to the abdomen, such as when you’re involved in a car accident. The spleen is considered “ruptured” when it experiences a tear.  Some ruptured spleens call for emergency surgery, while others are resolved with a few days of treatment in the hospital. Receiving immediate treatment is essential when you suspect you have a ruptured spleen. Some of the most common symptoms of the injury include:

  • Lightheadedness and confusion, as well as blurred vision or fainting because of the blood loss.
  • Extreme or moderate pain in the upper left of the abdomen or the left chest wall.
  • Pain in the left shoulder, called Kehr’s sign. Typically, the discomfort is felt when breathing in and is caused by the blood from the spleen irritating the phrenic nerve.
  • Tenderness when touching the upper left abdomen.

Although you should always seek medical attention following a car crash, doing so is even more crucial when you have the symptoms of a ruptured spleen. The spleen is the most vulnerable organ in the abdomen and needs immediate treatment when injured.

Get the Compensation You Deserve For Your Injuries

A ruptured spleen can cost you thousands of dollars in medical fees. If you were hurt in a car crash, an experienced lawyer can explain your rights and help determine if you’re entitled to compensation.

The attorneys of Johnson and Gilbert have helped many car accident victims in the Daytona Beach area get the compensation they deserve. Find out if we can do the same for you.

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