Internal injury claims

Internal injuries can be very serious – in some cases, the consequences can be life-changing or even fatal. If you or someone close to you has suffered from an internal injury because of somebody else’s negligence, we know it can be very difficult to come to terms with what’s happened.

You might still be undergoing treatment, and it’s likely you’ve been stuck at home or in hospital, unable to go to work or spend time as much time with your family.

It can be hard to think about claiming at such a stressful time, but from the moment you contact an expert injury solicitor, they’ll work hard to make sure the process is as clear and simple as possible.

If you do decide to claim, they’ll also work hard to make sure you get the money you need to help you get back to where you were before. And where a full recovery isn’t possible, your solicitor will try to get you the compensation you need to support you for your new future.

A lot of people who have been injured are hesitant about making a claim, because they’re not sure who’s fault their accident was.

With internal injuries, it can be particularly difficult for you to tell whether someone else could be liable, because the injuries can be complicated or take some time to show.

The easiest way to find out is to get in touch for free on 0800 234 6438 – your call will be taken by a legal adviser who will have the training and expertise to be able to let you know whether you could make a case. They’ll do this by asking questions about your experience, but don’t worry they’ll never ask anything that they don’t need to know the answer to.

Internal injuries can affect any of the internal organs or inner-workings of the body, so the types of injuries are wide and varied.

Unfortunately, because of the serious nature of accidents which cause internal damage, you might even have suffered from multiple injuries, such as broken bones.

All internal injuries fall into one of the following two categories:

• Penetrating trauma – happens when an external object penetrates the skin and cause damage to the internal organs (e.g. knife wounds)
• Blunt trauma – caused by a collision or sudden deceleration, such as in a road accident

Find out more about taxi accident claims.

A solicitor can help you make a claim for most types of internal injury, as long as it happened in the last three years and was somebody else’s fault.

Some examples of internal injuries we can help you with are:

• Internal bleeding – in severe cases, this can cause brain damage or heart attacks
• Abdominal aorta aneurysm – a sudden impact or collision can cause the aorta to rupture
• Pneumothorax – where the rib breaks and punctures a lung
• Ruptured spleen – often requires surgery to remove the spleen
• Liver damage – causing blood loss, weak pulse and swelling
• Kidney damage – this is often caused by a ‘blunt trauma’ to the abdomen
• Bowel damage – symptoms include pain and nausea

Although some internal injuries are genuinely unavoidable, your injury might have happened because someone else failed to follow proper safety regulations, or acted recklessly.

For example, internal injuries can often be caused by road accidents – which may include drivers of cars, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists or pedestrians. The forces involved in a collision with another vehicle or object can cause internal damage, or debris from the wreckage can pierce the skin and cause a ‘penetrating trauma’.

Find out more about claiming for cycle accident compensation.

Accidents can also happen at work, especially if your employer has failed to keep you safe by providing you with the safety equipment or training you need. This risk is higher if you work with dangerous machinery, or are at risk of falling from height in your day-to-day work.

All employers have a duty of care to carry out risk assessments and take action to minimise risks. If you’ve suffered from an internal injury because of your employer’s negligence, you can ask for help to make a work accident claim.

When you visit a hospital or medical professional for treatment, you should be able to feel confident that you’ll receive a high standard of care and that you’ll leave in a better condition than you arrived.

Medical mistakes such as delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis or surgical errors can cause internal injuries with potentially life-changing consequences.

After suffering from an internal injury, you should be treated as soon as possible – otherwise your condition can become worse. If a doctor or a member of staff has failed to diagnose or treat your condition in time, then you may be able to claim for the impact it’s had on your life.

If you’re looking for further advice on your accident and injuries, an injury solicitor can help.

You can reach a legal adviser for free on 0800 234 6438, and there’s never any obligation to move forward with a claim after you’ve spoken to them. They’ll be happy to talk you through the claims process and give you the advice you need.

When you speak to them, the adviser will ask some questions about what happened – this is so they can get a clearer idea of whether we can help, and the likelihood of your claim being successful. They’ll then be able to tell you whether they think you can make a claim.

If the legal adviser think someone might be at fault for your internal injury, they’ll ask your permission to transfer you to one of their specialist solicitors. You can say no, but if you decide to go ahead they can put you in contact with them on the same call.

From this point, your solicitor will handle your claim – they’ll get in touch with the negligent party, arrange a no win no fee agreement and will keep you updated on how your case is progressing.