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Seattle Kidney Damage Lawyers
Strong advocacy for accident victims and patients who suffer organ damage in Washington state
Your kidneys are organs that perform many essential functions, including removing waste and balancing your body’s fluids. Your two kidneys filter about 200 quarts of fluid every day — enough to fill a large bathtub. Most people urinate about two quarts daily. Your body reuses the other 198 quarts of fluid. When accidents cause kidney damage, your body’s ability to perform essential functions can be diminished or destroyed.
At Smith McBroom Injury and Accident Lawyers, we have the experience and resources to hold negligent drivers, property owners, physicians, manufacturers, and others accountable when they cause any type of organ damage. We can help you pursue compensation and protect your future. Contact us today to discuss your rights.
How can we help?
- What negligent acts can lead to kidney damage?
- What are the symptoms of kidney damage?
- How do Seattle doctors diagnose kidney damage?
- What are the treatments for kidney damage?
- What are the possible complications of kidney damage?
- How much is my kidney damage claim worth?
- Do you have a Seattle kidney damage lawyer near me?
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What negligent acts can lead to kidney damage?
At Smith McBroom Injury and Accident Lawyers, we represent clients whose kidney damage was caused by negligence such as:
- Vehicle accidents. Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents can crush a victim’s kidneys when drivers and passengers collide with each other or parts of the car, or when airbags expand. Sudden deceleration can also cause kidney damage. Glass or other objects may penetrate a person’s kidneys. Pedestrians and bicycle riders can suffer kidney damage when they’re struck by a vehicle or when they fall to the hard ground.
- Slip and fall accidents. Falls, especially when a person falls on their back, can cut or bruise the kidneys, causing acute kidney damage.
- Medical malpractice. Hospitals and doctors may be liable for kidney damage if they fail to properly diagnose or treat kidney damage or cause kidney damage through medical mistakes. Certain medications, infections, and toxins can cause kidney damage. Untreated urinary blockages – such as those caused by kidney stones, blood clots, an enlarged prostate, or cancer – can lead to kidney damage if doctors fail to diagnose or treat them promptly.
- Penetrating trauma. Assaults, sports injuries, construction injuries, explosions, defective products, unsafe environments, and other types of events that may cause direct impact can cause kidney damage.
What are the symptoms of kidney damage?
According to Merck Manuals, “kidneys are injured from external trauma more often than any of the organs along the urinary tract.” Common causes include blunt force and penetrating injuries.
Possible symptoms of kidney damage, according to Merck Manuals and the Mayo Clinic, include:
- Blood in the urine
- Pain or bruising in a victim’s abdomen or the area between the ribs and the hip
- Pain due to fractures of the lower ribs
- Lower urine output
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Confusion
- An irregular heartbeat
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in the belly, the side below the rib cage, or the chest
- Seizures or coma
Minor kidney injuries may include only a bruise. More severe kidney injuries occur when the kidney is cut or torn (lacerated) and/or urine and blood leak from surrounding tissue. A blood clot may form around the kidney. Torn kidneys may cause profuse bleeding, shock, and death.
How does kidney damage affect a victim’s life?
Kidney damage can significantly affect every aspect of a person’s daily life. Many individuals experience ongoing pain, fatigue, and problems with urination. In more serious cases, dialysis may be required to perform the vital functions the kidneys can no longer handle.
Beyond the physical symptoms, victims of kidney damage may have a lot of emotional stress and a lot of questions about their health, such as whether they can return to work, exercise, travel, and be intimate. Victims may benefit from psychological counseling and support groups.
How do Seattle doctors diagnose kidney damage?
The diagnosis of kidney damage includes:
- A physical examination of the victim
- An oral history of what happened
- Blood tests to show how your kidneys are working
- Urine tests (urinalysis) to check for blood in the urine
- Urine output tests, which measure how much urine you pass in 24 hours
- A computed tomography (CT) test
- An ultrasound
- Rarely, a kidney biopsy may be used when needed to determine the cause of kidney dysfunction
What are the treatments for kidney damage?
According to Merck Manuals and the Mayo Clinic, treatments for kidney damage vary depending on the severity. For example:
- Minor injuries generally require hospitalization, controlling the intake of fluid, and bed rest.
- Serious injuries also require controlling the loss of blood and preventing shock.
- Some kidney injuries, such as penetrating injuries, may require surgical repair.
Possible specific treatments include:
- Balancing your body’s fluids through the use of intravenous (IV) fluids or diuretics, which helps your body get rid of fluids.
- Medications to control your blood potassium.
- Medications to restore blood calcium levels.
- Dialysis, which helps “remove poisons and excess fluids from your body while your kidneys heal.” “During dialysis, a machine pumps blood out of your body through an artificial kidney, called a dialyzer, that filters out waste. The blood is then returned to your body.”
Another treatment method uses arterial embolization, in which doctors pass a catheter through a blood vessel in the upper thigh into the bleeding kidney vessel. When the catheter is at the bleeding site, doctors inject a substance or a coil to block the blood vessel and thereby stop the bleeding (embolization).
Managing a kidney injury victim’s diet is also important. Possible dietary suggestions include:
- Foods to lower your potassium level, such as white bread, white rice, peaches, green beans, apples, and carrots.
- Avoiding foods with added salt.
- Limiting foods with phosphorus, such as dark-colored sodas, bran cereals, milk, and oatmeal.
What are the possible complications of kidney damage?
According to the Mayo Clinic, possible complications of kidney injuries include:
- A buildup of fluid in a victim’s lungs
- Chest pain
- Infections
- Muscle weakness due to an imbalance of electrolytes
- Lifelong loss of the use of the kidneys, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant
- Death
How much is my kidney damage claim worth?
At Smith McBroom Injury and Accident Lawyers, we work with your doctors (and our network of doctors) to understand what treatments you’ll need, what complications may arise, and how your kidney damage will affect your ability to function, work, and enjoy your life.
We seek compensation for all your damages so far and all your future damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages, business income, and benefits – for as long as you can’t work
- Your daily physical pain and emotional suffering
- Any property damage
- Loss of bodily function
- Inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
- Loss of consortium
If kidney damage is fatal, the decedent’s personal representative may bring a wrongful death claim or survival claim under RCW 4.20.010 and related statutes for the benefit of eligible family members.
Do you have a Seattle kidney damage lawyer near me?
Yes. We meet new clients at our office, located at 16400 Southcenter Parkway, Suite 210, Seattle, WA 98188. We also consult with new clients by phone and through online video consultations. If your kidney injuries prevent you from traveling, we can arrange to see you at your home or another location.
We can guide you step-by-step through the claims process.
Contact our Seattle organ damage lawyers now
At Smith McBroom Injury and Accident Lawyers, we’ve been fighting for personal injury victims since 2002. We handle all types of organ damage injuries, including kidney damage. We understand just how devastating kidney injuries can be. Please contact us to schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to fight for all the compensation you deserve.