Internal Injuries and Organ Damage After a Motorcycle Accident in Wisconsin
When the Damage Isn’t Visible, But the Impact Is Life-Altering
Not every injury is obvious.
After a motorcycle crash, some of the most serious injuries aren’t the broken bones or road rash. They’re the ones happening quietly — inside your body — while adrenaline masks the pain and emergency responders are still sorting things out.
If you’ve suffered internal bleeding, organ damage, or any kind of internal trauma after a motorcycle accident in Wisconsin, you’re not alone. And you’re not overreacting. These injuries can be deadly — and if you’ve been through one, you deserve answers, support, and justice.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we stand with riders who’ve had their lives flipped upside down by someone else’s carelessness. If a distracted driver or reckless motorist put you in this position, we’ll help you fight back.
What Are Internal Injuries?
Internal injuries are exactly what they sound like: trauma inside your body that you can’t always see right away — but can be every bit as dangerous, if not more so, than anything on the surface.
Some internal injuries are life-threatening and require immediate surgery. Others develop slowly, showing symptoms days or even weeks after the crash.
Common Internal Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents:
Internal bleeding (also called hemorrhaging)
Organ damage (to the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, or bowels)
Collapsed lungs (pneumothorax)
Ruptured spleen
Abdominal trauma
Liver lacerations
Kidney damage or failure
Bladder or bowel injuries
Rib fractures that puncture organs
Diaphragm tears or hernias
Even if you walked away from the crash or were “cleared” in the ER, internal injuries can worsen over time. That’s why it’s critical to listen to your body, follow up with medical providers, and never dismiss new or strange symptoms.
Types of Motorcycle Accidents That Cause Internal Trauma
Motorcycle riders don’t have airbags or crumple zones. When there’s a crash, it’s your body that absorbs the impact. Certain types of crashes make internal injuries far more likely:
Left-Turn Collisions
These are some of the most dangerous types of accidents. When a car turns in front of a rider going straight, the motorcycle often slams into the side of the vehicle or the rider is thrown over it. The force of impact can rupture organs or cause internal bleeding even if the rider doesn’t hit anything sharp.
Rear-End Crashes
If a car slams into the back of a stopped motorcycle, the rider may be crushed between vehicles or thrown forward. The blunt force trauma can lead to splenic rupture, rib fractures, or internal hemorrhaging.
Sideswipes and Lane Merging Accidents
When a car swerves into a rider’s lane and hits them from the side, the force can compress the chest or abdomen, causing rib breaks, lung collapse, or hidden bleeding. Even “low-speed” sideswipes can cause damage if you’re forced into a guardrail or another vehicle.
High-Side and Low-Side Lows
A rider who lays the bike down to avoid a crash — or gets thrown off in a high-side — often hits the ground or other objects with serious force. Organs can slam against the rib cage or spine, causing bruising, rupture, or internal fluid leakage.
Ejections and Road Ejection
Any crash where the rider is thrown off the motorcycle carries a high risk of multi-organ trauma, especially if the rider slides into a curb, guardrail, signpost, or vehicle.
Symptoms of Internal Injuries to Watch For
Here’s the hardest part about internal injuries: they can seem like nothing at first. A little soreness, some nausea, maybe fatigue. But left untreated, they can quickly turn into a life-threatening emergency.
If you’ve been in a motorcycle crash and notice any of these symptoms, get checked out immediately:
Abdominal pain or swelling
Severe bruising (especially on the stomach, chest, or back)
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Dizziness or fainting
Blood in urine or stool
Coughing up blood
Chest pain
Rapid heartbeat or low blood pressure
Extreme fatigue or confusion
Even if paramedics cleared you, these symptoms can develop hours or days later. Don’t brush it off. Get the scans. Get the bloodwork. Your life may depend on it.
The Long-Term Impact of Internal Organ Damage
Some internal injuries heal. Others leave you dealing with lifelong consequences. Riders we’ve worked with have suffered:
Kidney failure and dialysis
Bowel resections or colostomies
Lung problems and reduced breathing capacity
Chronic digestive or urinary issues
Repeat surgeries and long hospital stays
Permanent dietary restrictions or lifestyle changes
Psychological trauma from the crash and medical aftermath
These injuries affect every part of your life — not just your body, but your work, your finances, your family, and your identity.
Why Riders Need an Experienced Motorcycle Lawyer
Insurance companies are trained to minimize these kinds of claims. They’ll argue:
“There’s no visible injury.”
“You didn’t complain about it at the scene.”
“You were already dealing with those symptoms.”
“It doesn’t look that bad on the imaging.”
They’ll send your file to their doctors. They’ll stall. They’ll offer pennies on the dollar for something that could affect you for the rest of your life.
That’s where we come in.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we know the games insurers play — and we know how to beat them. We don’t just handle injury cases. We focus exclusively on representing riders across Wisconsin. That means we understand the dynamics of motorcycle crashes, the nature of internal trauma, and what it takes to prove your case.
What Damages Can You Recover?
If you’ve suffered internal injuries or organ damage in a motorcycle crash caused by someone else, you may be entitled to compensation for:
Emergency room care and hospital stays
Surgery, ICU, and follow-up appointments
Diagnostic testing and imaging (CT, MRI, etc.)
Rehabilitation or long-term medical care
Lost wages and loss of earning potential
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and trauma
Future medical costs
Permanent disability or diminished quality of life
We’ll work with your doctors, specialists, and financial experts to make sure the full impact of your injuries is documented and reflected in your claim.
We Don’t Just Care — We Fight Like Hell
You deserve more than sympathy. You deserve a plan. You deserve justice.
At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we’ll take the time to understand your story, your injuries, and your goals — then we’ll get to work.
Here’s what you get when you work with us:
Direct access to an award winning attorney who knows how to ride, not just a call screener, paralegal, or associate, who has never been on a bike
Contingency-based fees (you don’t pay unless we win- 30% fee if we settle before filing, 33% if we file, and 40% if we go to trial)
Clear communication and updates — no surprises, no fine print
A firm that’s built for motorcyclists — and built to win
We take this personally. We ride or used to ride. We’ve seen what these crashes can do. We’ve lost loved ones ourselves. That’s why we fight like it’s us or our own family — because it could’ve been.
Where to Get the Best Care for Internal Injuries in Wisconsin
Here are some of the top trauma and internal medicine facilities in the state if you or a loved one needs expert follow-up:
Top Wisconsin Hospitals:
Froedtert Hospital (Milwaukee) – Level I trauma center with advanced internal medicine
UW Health University Hospital (Madison) – Excellent for diagnostics and organ care
Aurora BayCare Medical Center (Green Bay) – Known for emergency trauma and organ surgery
Marshfield Medical Center (Marshfield) – Internal and critical care specialists in central WI
Gundersen Health System (La Crosse) – Comprehensive post-crash trauma recovery care
If you need help connecting to the right specialists, we can help with that too.
Talk to a Motorcycle Lawyer Who Gets It
Internal injuries are serious — and they deserve to be treated seriously. Whether your crash happened in Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, Appleton, Kenosha, or a backroad outside Baraboo, we’re here for you.
Let us help you take the next step.
Fill out the free case evaluation form. We respond fast — and if we can help, we’ll set up a free consultation right away. If we can’t, we’ll still point you in the right direction.
McCarthy Motorcycle Law
Wisconsin’s Motorcycle Law Firm
For injured riders. By people who ride.