Abdominal trauma, or Blunt Abdominal Trauma (BAT), occurs when the person’s abdomen collides with another object, causing compression of the abdomen and the surrounding organs, including the stomach, pancreas, kidneys, liver, spleen, and intestines.
Car accidents still happen frequently on US roads, even if the statistics show a decrease compared to the last decades. Even when driving safely yourself, you are at risk of becoming a victim of a car accident. It’s important to know what to do from a legal and medical point of view after such an event.
Chris Hoffman is an excellent attorney. He is the best above the rest. What makes him different? He communicates promptly - I don't have to leave message after message for him to reach out to me. When I telephone his office, if he doesn't answer the telephone, his assistant does. Chris Hoffman is very attentive and focused. He means business, and he hit the ground running on the cases. I'm so blessed to have him for my attorney.
"Of all the lawyers I have met, this one is a true professional. This attorney goes against the biggest law firms and wins!"
Response from the owner:The compliment is much appreciated. Like every profession, it all starts with training our lawyers to be the best at every aspect of car accident cases. But the foundation of a great case is a great client. Thanks!
I'd say this lawyer is in the top three of the best you'll ever see. Add this attorney to the interview list if you ever get in an automobile accident. This Law Firm is on another level.
Response from the owner:Much appreciated. Techniques that an attorney or any professional uses are paramount for success. This is part of our lawyers training and preparation. It leads to success. Thank you!
People say this is the best car accident lawyer in St.Louis. Yep! Seeing this attorney in action is incredible.
Response from the owner:Great compliment. We work hard to be the best. Our lawyers also work very hard to help other lawyers in our profession. Not matter what, a cases is only as good as the client is. Thanks!
Response from the owner:Thanks! Referrals and recommendations from prior car accident clients is our #1 source of cases. People who grew to trust us send family and friends.
The Hoffman law firm is truly professional. After hiring them I was truly relieved and knew I was in good hands. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Being in good hands is important. Many lawyers take cases with little experience and little resources. Our firm specialized decades ago. We are focused exclusively on accident cases.
The lawyers on tv just dont compare for auto accident injury cases. Mr.Hoffmann is as good as they get.
Response from the owner:Thank you. The TV attorneys are just settlement mills. People are hiring a paralegal, not a lawyer. Our law firm is different. You are represented by an attorney and we do not have settlement quotas.
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Response from the owner:TV car accident lawyers are just mass production. This is not a good fit for litigated cases. Paralegals instead of lawyers. Monthly quotas for settlements. Car accident victims end up in a cattle call with the lawyers on TV.
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Response from the owner:Our lawyers train and track the best approaches on cases. Whether litigation in cases or the practicalities of certain treatment, the growth of our lawyers over time is paramount. Always staying ahead of and setting practice trends. Thank you.
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
Response from the owner:This is a sad reality for car accident lawyers. The #1 passenger in an auto accident is a relative. Helping a family make it through this and putting the family back together is one of the most rewarding things I do as an automobile accident attorney.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Response from the owner:Thank you. When accident are severe and you lose the ability to work or to continue a business, having an accounting and tax background is key. Valuing large losses are second nature for us.
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
Response from the owner:Our attorney have deposed nearly all the trauma surgeons at every Level 1 Trauma Center in Saint Louis. These doctors save lives after a car accident. Whether controlling bleeding or reestablishing blood flow or bone structures, they are life savers.
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner:Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner:Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner:Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
Car wrecks can cause a wide variety of injuries, ranging from minor bruises to serious and life-threatening injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. Among all the car accident-related injuries, internal injuries are the ones that are possibly the hardest to diagnose because the symptoms might not show up immediately. These injuries are not immediately apparent to the emergency responders or paramedics at the accident scene or even to the victims themselves. Some of the most common internal injuries that a victim may sustain in a car accident include abdominal injuries. In this post, we will discuss car accident-related abdominal trauma.
Abdominal injuries may include internal tears, bruising, or bleeding, and the condition can be life-threatening if left untreated. Abdominal trauma, or Blunt Abdominal Trauma (BAT) occurs when the person’s abdomen collides with another object causing compression of the abdomen and the surrounding organs including stomach, pancreas, kidneys, liver, spleen, and intestines. This puts excessive pressure on the abdominal wall. Abdominal trauma is a common result of car wrecks, especially those that occur at high speeds, where the force of the collision causes the body to propel forward or sideways into the steering wheel, seatbelt, dashboard, or frame of the vehicle. Abdominal trauma should be treated immediately, or it can turn fatal. Untreated BAT is a leading cause of death among accident victims of all age groups.
As we said, car wrecks are the primary cause of blunt abdominal trauma, but they can also result from motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slips and falls, and other causes.
Signs and Symptoms of Blunt Abdominal Trauma
The signs and symptoms of blunt abdominal trauma may vary depending on the nature of the injury. It can range from minor bruising to serious internal hemorrhaging. In many car accident cases, the victims might get something often called a “seatbelt sign.” It is bruising on the abdomen along the site of the lap belt. Some other signs and symptoms include:
Low blood pressure
Syncope (fainting)
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Pain, fullness, or pressure in the abdomen or surrounding areas
Abdominal bloating
Nausea and/or vomiting
Blood in the urine or stool
Muscle weakness
Difficulty passing stool
You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms following a car wreck. If left untreated, blunt abdominal trauma can lead to complications including:
Ruptured organs and spleen are most commonly affected
Ruptured Spleen: Symptoms, Treatment, and Compensation after a Car Accident
Patients with ruptured spleens are often the
victims of car crashes, as only a brutal impact can cause such a serious
injury.
Symptoms of a Ruptured Spleen
Even if the spleen is not a vital organ, it plays a very important role in our bodies. The spleen creates white blood cells that fight off infections, so it is part of your circulatory and immune system.
A spleen rupture is a very serious injury that may even lead to death if not treated in an emergency unit. Your symptoms may not seem serious enough immediately after the accident. Also, due to the adrenaline released in your body, you may feel less pain, so it’s very important to see a doctor after a car crash.
Symptoms of a ruptured spleen include:
Pain in the upper left part of your abdomen or even further from the spleen. Some patients feel pain in their left shoulder and don’t expect their abdominal organs to be the cause of it;
Low blood pressure can signal trauma to the abdomen, internal bleeding, and shock;
Nausea and vomiting;
Bruising in the upper left part of your abdomen, which can indicate internal bleeding or soft tissue injuries that can lead to bleeding a while after the accident;
Confusion and disorientation;
Pale skin is often observed in patients who are in shock or who have internal bleeding.
Treatment of a Ruptured Spleen
The treatment of a ruptured spleen includes,
in most cases, emergency medical care, blood transfusion, and even surgery.
Some patients have to go through a splenectomy, which is the total removal of
the damaged spleen.
Depending on the severity of your spleen injury, you might have to go through extensive medical treatments and be medicated against infections and pain. For legal and medical reasons, make sure you see the doctor when suspecting a spleen injury, go to the recommended tests and consultations, and collect medical records of your visits. The costs of your treatment should be covered by the at-fault driver or his insurance company.
Legal Help if You Are Injured in a St. Louis Car Wreck
If you or someone close to you has sustained blunt abdominal trauma in a car wreck, you may be faced with huge medical bills. If your accident was caused due to the negligence of another individual, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!
