Getting in a California accident can cause many different physical problems. People usually think of problems such as broken bones, back injuries or whiplash when they think of car-related injuries, but it’s also possible to experience damage to your internal organs.
Organs that are particularly vulnerable to damage from the blunt force of a car accident are your kidneys. If you have a direct blow to your abdomen, side, or back, you could experience kidney damage or ruptured kidneys. Untreated damage from blunt force trauma can lead to infections, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and possibly loss of the kidney.
Kidney Injuries from Trauma
The kidneys are a pair of organs located in the flank area, one on each side of the back of your abdomen just below the ribs. They are bean-shaped organs about the size of your fist, and they perform a vital function in removing waste from your body and in filtering blood.
If one or both of your kidneys are injured in an accident, there may be bleeding inside them. Your back or abdomen may feel painful or tender. Whenever you have been injured in an accident and suspect internal injuries, it’s very important to be evaluated by a doctor. Ignoring a ruptured kidney can lead to serious complications and possibly even death.
Signs of Kidney Injury or Ruptured Kidneys
One of the most recognizable signs of a ruptured or damaged kidney is blood in the urine. You may experience pain in either the right or left side of the back or the abdomen, and the pain may be either mild or severe.
Other signs of a possible kidney rupture include:
- Swelling or bruising of the abdomen
- Fever
- Decreased ability to urinate or lowered amount of output
- Lower back pain
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Low blood pressure
- Blurred vision
If your kidney has been severely injured, you may go into shock. Signs of shock include pale, cool skin and an increased heart rate. If you have lost a lot of blood, you may develop anemia.
Diagnosis and Treatment of a Ruptured Kidney
To determine if your kidney is ruptured and to check for internal bleeding, your doctor will probably do some imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI scan. He or she will most likely do a urinalysis to check for blood in your urine along with running some blood tests.
There are several stages of injured kidneys. If your kidney has been bruised, it may heal on its own in a couple of weeks. If the injury is more serious, a period of bed rest may be required, and your doctor will monitor you closely during this time. Your doctor will strive to control blood loss and your fluid intake. A severely ruptured or shattered kidney may require surgery to repair the kidney or it may need to be removed completely.
After an Accident
It may not be obvious right after an accident that you have experienced an injured kidney. If any symptoms of shock or illness develop a day or more after an accident, be sure to call it to your doctor’s attention. Delayed bleeding or urine leakage are examples of complications that may occur if kidney damage isn’t detected immediately after an accident.
A ruptured kidney can lead to extensive medical bills along with lost wages and pain and suffering. It’s important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact Kuvara Law Firm using the form on this page and one of our lawyers will get back to you. We want to help you recover quickly from your California accident.