Valuing a Ruptured Spleen

This page will look at average settlement value of ruptured spleen injury in an auto accident case. The spleen is a small organ that sits under the left side of your rib cage. The spleen acts as a filter for your blood and releases white blood cells that help fight infection. A ruptured spleen occurs when the outer casing of the spleen is torn or punctured.

The spleen is delicate compared to other internal organs in the body and direct external force can cause the outer casing to rupture. Once ruptured, the spleen and its outer casing will not heal on its own and is very difficult to surgically repair.

A ruptured spleen is a common internal injury in an auto accident. There is a simple, somewhat obvious reason for this. A car accident frequently results in blunt force to your abdomen and the seatbelt crosses directly above the left abdomen where the spleen is. If the car accident generates enough direct force on the abdomen it can easily rupture the spleen.

If your spleen was ruptured in a car accident and had to be surgically repaired or removed in a splenectomy you might be wondering how much compensation you might get in a lawsuit.

A ruptured spleen tends to be a high-value injury for several reasons. First, once the spleen is ruptured the organ is usually lost forever. In most cases, the only treatment option for a ruptured spleen is the removal of the organ so a ruptured spleen is a permanent injury. Second, a ruptured spleen can be very painful and if surgically removed it can result in prolonged discomfort and recovery. Finally, a ruptured spleen usually results in surgery and very high medical bills.

Although every case is different, most accident cases involving a ruptured spleen resulting in the removal of the organ will likely be worth at least $100,000. Some ruptured spleen cases involving big truck companies can be worth $400,000-500,000. The average value range for ruptured spleen injury cases is $150,000 to $200,000. Where an individual case falls in this value range often depends on how much insurance coverage is available.