Mike Bottaro car accident attorney

Internal Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents in Rhode Island

Did you sustain an internal injury in a motorcycle accident in Rhode Island? Internal injuries are often severe and even life-threatening, requiring prompt and often expensive medical care. But if you’re like many motorcycle wreck victims, you might be struggling to pay for appropriate care, especially if you’re too hurt to work.

If someone else was to blame for your injuries, they could owe you money for your medical care, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other losses. You can’t count on the big insurance companies to do the right thing and pay you the full benefits you deserve. They are more interested in their profits than your well-being. You need Mike and his team to fight for you.

The Providence motorcycle accident lawyers at Bottaro Law are ready to help you pursue the maximum compensation you need to get back on your feet after internal injuries in a motorcycle crash. At Bottaro Law, we make it easy. With our exclusive “No Fee Guarantee,” you can count on us to offer case reviews, 24/7 service, and effective legal representation without any upfront charges. You only pay if we win you money.

Contact us today to find out what our internal injury lawyers can do for you during a free consultation.

What Are Internal Injuries?

An internal injury is any injury that affects the inside of a person’s body, often the organs of the abdominal, cranial, pleural, or thoracic cavities. In serious cases, such as those involving penetrating wounds, an internal injury might be immediately visible. In other cases, however, such injuries are imperceptible without advanced medical scans. 

Motorcyclists are especially at risk for internal injuries in traffic accidents because they are much more vulnerable to the force of an impact. A biker does not have the same steel frames, seat belts, and airbags that protect car occupants from the worst of a crash. Because internal injuries are usually invisible, they are often difficult to detect, making them easy to miss – and particularly hazardous to victims’ health.

Common Types of Internal Injuries from a Motorcycle Accident in Rhode Island

Among the most common internal injuries associated with motorcycle accidents in Rhode Island are:

  • Internal bleeding – Internal bleeding occurs when traumatic injuries damage blood vessels inside the body, preventing the vessels from repairing themselves or forming blood clots. Internal bleeding is a medical emergency that can lead to cardiac arrest if left untreated.
  • Hemothorax – Hemothorax injuries involve internal bleeding that causes blood to collect in the pleural cavity – the space between the lungs and the outer wall of the chest. When blood accumulates in the pleural cavity, it puts pressure on the lungs, interferes with normal breathing, and may lead to collapsed lungs.
  • Injuries from broken ribs – The blunt-force impact of a motorcycle accident can easily dislocate or fracture rib bones. Rib fractures are incredibly serious internal injuries because their jagged ends can damage or puncture internal organs and soft tissues.
  • Pneumothorax – A pneumothorax injury occurs when a broken rib punctures the lung and causes it to collapse, allowing air to leak into the chest cavity. When air enters the chest cavity, it pushes inward on the lungs and makes breathing extremely difficult, sometimes resulting in respiratory or cardiac failure.
  • Aortic ruptures – An aortic rupture occurs when the wall of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, ruptures or bursts. When the aorta ruptures, blood pours out from the artery and floods the surrounding body cavity, which can lead to fluid buildup, internal organ damage, and stroke. 
  • Internal organ damage – A motorcycle accident can injure internal organs like the spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs, stomach, pancreas, intestines, or heart severely enough to cause permanent damage. Many patients with internal organ damage suffer dangerous infections, fluid buildup, sepsis, and organ failure.
  • Intracranial hemorrhage – An intracranial hemorrhage occurs when a traumatic injury causes bleeding inside the skull. Intracranial hemorrhages can have severe or fatal complications if enough blood accumulates in the skull to put pressure directly on the brain.
  • Reproductive organ injuries – Because motorcyclists straddle their bike seats while riding, many suffer straddle injuries in collisions, which affect the groin area. In severe accidents, a straddle injury can damage reproductive organs, such as the ovaries, uterus, testicles, or seminal vesicles.

Symptoms of Internal Injuries to Watch for After a Motorcycle Crash

Internal injuries are serious health concerns that require immediate care. You should see a doctor right away if you notice any of the following after a motorcycle accident:

  • Abdominal pain or pressure
  • An unusually rigid abdomen
  • Pain in the left arm and shoulder
  • Pain in the right arm and shoulder
  • Blood in the urine
  • Bruising or discoloration of the belly
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Rapid pulse
  • Low blood pressure
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Weakness or exhaustion
  • Shortness of breath
  • Confusion or memory loss

Treatments, Complications, and Lasting Effects of Internal Injuries

Internal injuries can have complications and long-term effects like:

  • Organ failure
  • Sepsis
  • Shock 
  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Brain damage
  • Paralysis
  • Blood loss
  • Death

Depending on the circumstances, doctors might prescribe one or more of the following types of treatments for an internal injury:

  • Fluid restoration through intravenous (IV) fluid or blood transfusions
  • Imaging tests like CT scans to identify internal bleeding
  • Surgical procedures to repair damaged organs or drain fluids
  • Prescription medications like blood thinners or diuretics

Recovering Damages for Motorcycle Accident Internal Injuries in Rhode Island

Filing a motorcycle accident claim after an internal injury allows you to pursue money for the following types of crash-related losses:

  • Initial emergency treatment
  • Procedures by surgeons and other specialists
  • Rehabilitation and physical therapy
  • Medications
  • Psychological counseling and therapy
  • Loss or reduction of wages
  • Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma