Many car accident victims ignore stomach discomfort, assuming it’s just soreness from the crash. However, a rigid or hard stomach can indicate a life-threatening internal injury.
If left untreated, conditions like internal bleeding, organ damage, or seat belt syndrome can rapidly worsen, leading to severe complications or death. At Keith & Lorfing, we’ve spent over 100 years collectively fighting for injured Texans and have successfully handled 500+ trials. Named Best Lawyers in Abilene in 2023, we bring unmatched legal expertise to every case.
If you’ve suffered a serious injury, we ensure you get the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact our Lubbock personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation to protect your health and legal rights if you’re experiencing stomach pain after a car accident.
What Does It Mean If Your Stomach Feels Hard After a Car Accident?
A hard or rigid stomach after a car crash can be a serious sign of internal injuries. The abdomen houses vital organs, and when it becomes firm or painful, it may indicate internal bleeding or organ trauma.
This rigidity occurs when blood or fluid leaks into the abdominal cavity, causing inflammation and pressure buildup. It may also indicate a ruptured organ, a bowel obstruction, or peritonitis, a life-threatening infection caused by internal injury.
Unlike bruises or surface wounds, internal injuries may not be visible, making it critical to seek immediate medical evaluation. These injuries may not be immediately noticeable but can lead to serious complications if untreated.
Here is how some of these abdominal rigidities could occur:
- Auto accident injuries may cause abdominal trauma: Blunt force impact from the seat belt, steering wheel, or airbag can damage internal organs.
- A car crash impact can result in internal bleeding or organ damage: Sudden pressure on the abdomen may cause a laceration or rupture.
- Abdominal pain after a car accident should not be ignored: Symptoms may start as mild discomfort but can quickly worsen.
- Internal organ injuries may require immediate medical attention: The liver, spleen, and intestines are particularly vulnerable to damage.
- Lower stomach pain and swelling can signal serious complications: Symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and tenderness may indicate internal trauma.
- A laceration or ruptured organ can lead to life-threatening conditions: Delayed treatment increases the risk of infection and organ failure.
- Get checked immediately after an accident: A medical evaluation using CT scans or ultrasounds can help detect hidden injuries.
- Prompt medical attention can prevent long-term damage: Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary for a full recovery.
- Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical costs and lost wages: If another driver was responsible, a legal claim can help cover expenses.
Additional reading: is it worth getting an attorney for a car accident in Texas
Common Causes of Stomach Pain and Hardness After a Car Accident
Stomach pain or a rigid abdomen after a car accident can be a warning sign of serious internal injuries. While some discomfort may be expected after a crash, persistent pain, swelling, or hardness in the stomach should never be ignored.
Below are the potential reasons for abdominal discomfort following a collision and why seeking immediate evaluation is essential for your health and recovery.
1. Internal Bleeding & Organ Damage
A high-impact crash can cause severe trauma to internal organs such as the liver, spleen, or intestines, leading to internal bleeding or ruptured organs. These injuries may not always be immediately obvious, making them especially dangerous.
- Symptoms: Abdominal bruising, dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea, and intense pain.
- Why it’s a medical emergency: Internal bleeding can cause organ failure and shock if left untreated. Immediate medical attention is required to prevent life-threatening complications.
2. Seat Belt Syndrome
While seat belts prevent serious injuries, they can also cause significant trauma to the abdomen during a collision. The force of restraint can lead to soft tissue damage, internal bruising, or even organ rupture.
- Symptoms: Deep bruising, tenderness in the abdomen, difficulty breathing, and signs of internal injury.
- When to seek medical care: If pain worsens, bruising spreads, or difficulty breathing develops, medical evaluation is necessary to rule out internal bleeding.
3. Bowel or Digestive System Trauma
A car accident can damage the digestive tract, leading to bowel perforations or blockages. These conditions may not present immediate symptoms, but they can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
- Symptoms: Severe bloating, constipation, sharp abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever.
- Why delayed symptoms can be dangerous: If a perforation or blockage is not diagnosed early, it can cause infection, sepsis, or require emergency surgery.
4. Symptoms That Indicate You Should Seek Emergency Care
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention to rule out internal bleeding, organ damage, or other serious conditions.
- Severe or worsening stomach pain: Persistent or sharp pain that intensifies over time may indicate internal bleeding or organ rupture.
- Rigid abdomen that won’t relax: A stiff, hard stomach can be a sign of internal trauma, requiring urgent medical evaluation.
- Vomiting blood or blood in stool: Internal injuries may cause bleeding in the digestive tract, which is a medical emergency.
- Difficulty breathing: Chest or abdominal injuries can put pressure on the diaphragm, making it harder to breathe.
- Fainting or signs of shock: Dizziness, extreme weakness, or cold, clammy skin could indicate severe blood loss or internal organ failure.
- Nausea and unexplained swelling: Abdominal swelling or persistent nausea may signal organ inflammation or fluid buildup due to internal bleeding.
5. Can Stomach Pain Be Delayed After an Accident?
After a car accident, adrenaline and shock can temporarily mask pain, leading many victims to believe they are uninjured. However, symptoms may appear hours or even days later as the body recovers from the trauma.
- Why symptoms may appear later: Internal injuries, organ damage, or digestive issues may develop gradually as swelling and inflammation increase.
- Monitor your health closely: Even minor discomfort should not be ignored. Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or new pain develops after the accident.
A rigid stomach or persistent pain should always be taken seriously. Getting a medical evaluation as soon as possible can help prevent complications and ensure that internal injuries are diagnosed and treated in time.
6. Legal Rights for Car Accident Victims in Texas
Car accidents can lead to severe injuries, mounting medical bills, and financial stress, especially when dealing with stomach pain after a crash. Texas law allows victims to seek compensation for their injuries, lost wages, and other damages.
A. Medical bills and compensation
Documenting injuries is key for both insurance claims and legal cases. Stomach pain following a car accident could indicate internal bleeding or organ damage, which requires immediate medical attention.
- Why documentation matters: Medical records, imaging scans, and doctor’s evaluations provide evidence of abdominal injuries after a car accident and help prove the extent of harm suffered.
- Recovering damages in Texas: Texas personal injury laws allow victims to claim economic and non-economic damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future treatment costs.
- Importance of seeking care early: Even if you feel fine, some delayed injuries may worsen over time. It’s important to get checked out by a doctor to avoid denied claims from insurance companies.
Hypothetical Example: John was in an accident that wasn’t his fault. He felt fine initially but developed upper stomach pain days later. Assuming it was minor, he ignored it—until worsening symptoms led to emergency surgery. His insurance denied the claim due to a lack of early medical records, but with legal help, he proved his injuries were serious and recovered compensation.
B. Proving liability in an accident
Here are some of the ways car accident injuries can be proven by liability in a car accident:
| Key Aspect | How It Helps Your Case | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|---|
| Investigating the Accident | A lawyer gathers police reports, traffic camera footage, medical records, and witness statements to establish liability and prove negligence. | Insurance companies often dispute fault, so solid evidence strengthens your claim and prevents insurers from shifting blame. |
| Analyzing Medical Evidence | Medical experts review your injuries, linking them directly to the accident, which is important for compensation. | Proving that injuries were caused by the accident prevents insurers from arguing they were pre-existing conditions. |
| Negotiating with Insurance Companies | Lawyers handle all communication with insurers, preventing you from accepting lowball offers and ensuring you receive fair compensation. | Insurers prioritize their profits, often offering settlements far below what victims deserve. A lawyer ensures you aren’t pressured into accepting less. |
| Calculating Damages | A lawyer considers current and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care costs. | Victims often underestimate the full financial impact of their injuries. A lawyer ensures all potential costs are factored into your settlement. |
| Maximizing Compensation | Whether through aggressive settlement negotiations or taking your case to trial, a lawyer fights to secure full compensation. | Some cases require litigation to achieve fair results. Having a lawyer with trial experience ensures you are prepared for any scenario. |
C. How our personal injury lawyer will help
From gathering evidence to negotiating with insurers, legal representation can significantly impact the outcome of your claim. Here’s how our lawyer will help:
- Investigate the accident: A lawyer collects police reports, medical records, and witness statements to build a strong case and prove liability.
- Handle insurance negotiations: Insurers often try to minimize payouts. A lawyer ensures you don’t accept an unfair settlement and fights for what you deserve.
- Secure maximum compensation: Whether through settlement or trial, a lawyer works to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Serious injuries require serious legal representation. If you’re facing medical bills and lost wages after an accident, our San Angelino car accident attorney is ready to help.
Contact Our West Texas Car Accident Lawyers Today!
If you’re experiencing pain in your stomach after a car accident, don’t ignore the warning signs. Even if the car accident may have seemed minor, abdominal pain is common after a car accident and could indicate blunt force trauma or internal injuries.
Car crash injuries affecting the abdominal area can range from bruising to life-threatening damage, including traumatic brain injuries and organ rupture. A bloated stomach or persistent abdominal soreness could be a sign of internal bleeding, which requires immediate attention.
Injuries like these should never be taken lightly. A car accident should never leave you struggling with medical expenses alone, and your accident should never be ignored if it resulted in serious harm.
Symptoms that signal serious injuries or ongoing pain can occur days after impact. When left untreated, these injuries may cause injuries that worsen over time. The abdominal cavity is vulnerable in crashes, and injuries sustained in an accident that wasn’t your fault could entitle you to compensation.
Our law firm is here to help you get the care you need. Seat belts save lives, but injuries caused by the force of a collision can require extensive medical treatment.
If you need to file a claim, we can ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your recovery. Don’t wait—abdominal pain is a sign of internal bleeding or other serious complications.
If your symptoms signal internal bleeding, it’s important to seek immediate medical care and legal guidance. The force of a crash shouldn’t leave you with financial and physical burdens alone.
Contact us today at (325)-241-9286 to speak with our law firm and schedule a free consultation to get the care that you need to move forward.
Final Points
Seeking legal help will also ensure you receive fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
At Keith & Lorfing, we’re proud to be West Texas tough—fighting for accident victims who need strong, experienced legal representation. When an accident that wasn’t your fault leaves you struggling, we step in to get the care and compensation you deserve.
Don’t let insurance companies take advantage of you. Let us help—contact us today for a free consultation.
