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Smith McBroom - Seattle Attorneys

Seattle Liver Damage Lawyers

Helping organ damage victims obtain strong recoveries since 2002

Accidents that cause blunt force or penetrating damage to a person’s liver usually require immediate medical care. Liver damage due to accidents or the negligence of others may be fatal. At Smith McBroom Injury and Accident Lawyers, we have the experience and resources to hold the people and businesses that cause any type of organ damage, including liver damage, accountable for the victim’s medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, and other damages. We can work with physicians who specialize in treating liver injuries. To assert your right to compensation, please contact our Seattle organ damage lawyers now.

Attorney Greg McBroom

How can we help?

Free Case Evaluation

Call 206-677-5941 now or fill out the form above to receive a free, confidential consultation.

What is liver damage?

According to the Mayo Clinic, your liver is an organ that can weigh up to four pounds on the right side of your abdomen under your rib cage. Your liver helps you digest your food, get rid of waste products, make proteins for clotting blood, detoxify chemicals, and perform other functions. While disease can damage your liver, blunt abdominal trauma and penetrating trauma can also damage your liver.

According to a study published in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), liver damage due to blunt trauma can cause minor lacerations, bruises, “capsular hematomas with minimal morbidity,” ruptures, and death due to “hepatic avulsions.” Deceleration can also cause liver damage.

What types of negligence cause liver damage?

Common causes of liver damage due to negligence include:

What are the symptoms of liver damage?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of liver damage and disease include:

  • Jaundice – yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
  • Pain and swelling in your belly
  • Itching
  • Dark urine
  • Swelling in the ankles and legs
  • Pale stool
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Bruising easily
  • Lack of appetite

Symptoms of liver damage may not appear immediately, which is why it is important to seek medical attention after any serious accident. Emergency responders assess patients for life-threatening conditions such as shock, low blood pressure (hypotension), and rapid heart rate (tachycardia), all of which may indicate internal bleeding. Emergency room doctors also evaluate patients for signs of abdominal injury.

In addition to physical complications, traumatic accidents that cause liver damage may also lead to emotional and psychological effects, including depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

How do Seattle doctors diagnose liver damage?

The diagnosis of liver damage includes:

  • Laboratory tests. These tests include a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, coagulation parameters, and lactate level.
  • A Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) test. This exam identifies the presence of blood in the abdominal cavity or pericardial sac. This test can help doctors decide if a patient needs immediate surgical care.
  • CT scans, if the patient is stable. These tests include CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis to determine if you have a hepatic injury and the grading of the hepatic injury. Higher-grade hepatic injuries are more serious.
    • According to Merck Manual, there are five grades (1-5) of hepatic injuries. Other trauma grading systems may also include a Grade 6. The main concern doctors have about hepatic injuries is the degree of hemorrhaging/bleeding.
    • Higher grade hepatic injuries can cause shock, a biliary fistula, which may require an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), or biloma formation, which is normally treated with percutaneous drainage.

What are the treatments for liver damage?

Treatments for liver damage include:

  • Non-operative treatment. This type of treatment is appropriate only at a facility capable of hemodynamic monitoring, serial abdominal examinations, and an operating room that is immediately available for emergency laparotomy. Liver-damaged patients need to be monitored in an ICU. There are no set standards for determining when patients can resume a diet, how long to wait before starting chemical deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, or when the patient can resume full activities. Part of the decision-making process depends on what other abdominal injuries the patient has.
  • Surgical treatment. Surgical care includes performing a laparotomy (abdominal surgery). With more destructive injuries, ligation of the feeding hepatic artery or an anatomic hepatic lobectomy may be necessary. Other types of surgeries may also be necessary.
  • Other treatments, such as an angiographic embolization.

In some cases, a Seattle liver injury patient may need a liver transplant.

What are the possible complications of liver damage?

The most common complication of liver damage is bile leak, which can occur in about 20 percent of all patients who receive surgical treatment. Another complication is hepatic abscess, which can develop after “hepatic artery ligation or angioembolization.” Other complications are also possible, depending on the severity of the injury, the treatment, and other factors.

How much is my liver damage claim worth?

At Smith McBroom Injury and Accident Lawyers, our Seattle organ damage lawyers seek compensation for all of a victim’s current and future damages. We can work with your doctors to verify your medical diagnosis, understand the treatments you’ll need, and all of the ways your liver damage is affecting you physically and emotionally. The damages that our organ damage lawyers seek include:

  • Medical bills
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Lost wages, business income, benefits, and any other income for as long as you can’t work
  • Property damage, such as damage to your car in a car accident
  • Loss of liver function
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • The inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
  • Loss of consortium

If your loved one dies due to liver damage caused by the negligence of others, we may file a wrongful death claim through the personal representative for eligible beneficiaries under RCW 4.20.020. Depending on the nature of the claim and the eligible beneficiaries, wrongful death damages in Washington may include:

  • Funeral expenses
  • Medical costs related to the accident or negligence
  • The loss of financial support from your loved one
  • The loss of personal support from your loved one, including comfort, companionship, love, and guidance

Do you have a Seattle liver damage lawyer near me?

Yes. Our office is located at 16400 Southcenter Parkway, Suite 210, Seattle, Washington 98188. If your liver damage prevents you from coming to our office, we can make arrangements to visit you in person. We can also speak with clients by phone and online.

We can answer your questions and help you pursue the compensation you may be entitled to under Washington law.

Contact our Seattle organ damage lawyers today

At Smith McBroom Injury and Accident Lawyers, we understand how life-changing liver injuries can be. Liver damage due to blunt or penetrating force requires immediate medical care. Victims may live with long-term physical pain and emotional trauma. Our Seattle personal injury lawyers can fight for you and your loved ones.

Please contact us to schedule a free consultation.

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