Stomach pain after a car accident in Michigan
Stomach or belly pain after a crash needs attention. It can come from a bruised abdominal wall, but it can also mean an injury inside the body. If your pain is severe or getting worse, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For milder pain once emergencies are ruled out, NovaMed in Southfield provides follow-up exams and care.
- Seat belt bruising across the belly
- Abdominal wall strain
- Follow-up care after the ER
- Phones answered Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. After hours the line goes to voicemail. Walk-ins from 9 AM.
Call to schedule your car accident injury evaluation
Hurt in a car accident? Our team sets up your visit and checks your auto coverage on the phone. Same-day visits are often available during office hours.
- Same-day visits often available
- No referral needed
- Phones answered Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. Walk-ins welcome at 27211 Lahser Rd, Suite 200, Southfield
Tap to call from your phone. Phones are answered Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. After hours the line goes to voicemail. If you are badly hurt, call 911.
- Same daySame-day car accident visits are often available, and walk-ins are welcome.
- No-FaultMichigan No-Fault (PIP) accepted. We handle the paperwork with your auto insurer.
- RecordsExam findings and reports sent to your insurer or attorney with your permission.
- Southfield27211 Lahser Rd, Suite 200. Serving Detroit and all of Metro Detroit.
When stomach pain after a crash is an emergency
The lap belt holds your hips in a crash, and the force can press into your abdomen. That can injure organs such as the spleen, liver, kidneys or intestines, sometimes with bleeding that is not visible. Symptoms can be mild at first and get worse over hours.
- Belly pain that is severe or getting worse
- A swollen, tight or hard belly
- A seat belt bruise across the lower belly together with pain
- Vomiting, or blood in vomit, stool or urine
- Dizziness, fainting, a racing heart, or pale, clammy skin
- Pain in the left shoulder tip with belly pain
If you have any of these, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. NovaMed does not provide emergency care.
Belly pain that is not an emergency
Once the ER has ruled out internal injuries, many people still have soreness from the seat belt, a strained abdominal wall, bruised lower ribs, or pain that comes from the lower back or hips. That pain can last for weeks and make it hard to sit, bend or sleep.
These injuries should still be examined and treated, and documented as part of your crash injuries.
Follow-up care after the emergency room
A clinician reviews your ER visit, asks how the crash happened and examines your abdomen, ribs, back and hips. If anything suggests an injury that needs emergency care, we send you there right away.
Your plan can include pain management, follow-up exams and specialist referrals when they are medically necessary. With your permission, we send records to your auto insurer or attorney.
Seat belt injuries often affect the chest and back too. See chest pain after a car accident and back pain after a car accident.
Paying for follow-up treatment in Michigan
Under Michigan No-Fault, medical care for car accident injuries is generally billed to the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) part of your own auto insurance, up to your policy’s limits, no matter who caused the crash.
We verify your coverage before your visit and handle the paperwork with your auto insurer. Read more about seeing a No-Fault doctor in Michigan.
What happens at your first car accident injury visit
One visit gets you examined, diagnosed and on a plan, with everything written down.
What to bring
- Photo ID
- Your auto insurance card or claim number
- The police or crash report number, if you have it
- Your health insurance card
- A list of medications you take
- 01Call or walk in
Same-day visit
Call or walk in. Bring your ID, your auto insurance card and the crash report number if you have it.
- 02Exam
A full evaluation
A clinician asks how the crash happened, examines the areas that hurt and checks movement, strength, reflexes and pain levels.
- 03Records
Findings written down
Your diagnosis, exam findings and treatment plan go into your medical record, including how your injuries relate to the accident.
- 04Plan
Care that fits the injury
Follow-up visits, pain management, physical therapy or a specialist referral, and imaging such as MRI through referral partners when it is medically necessary.
Stomach pain symptoms after a car accident
Adrenaline hides pain. These often show up hours or days after a crash. Any of them is a reason to get checked.
- 0-24 HA seat belt bruise across your lower belly
- 0-24 HBelly pain, tenderness or cramping
- 0-72 HPain that gets worse instead of better
- 0-72 HNausea, vomiting or not wanting to eat
- 0-72 HBlood in your urine or stool
- DAYSSoreness when you sit up, bend or twist
- DAYSLower rib or side pain
- WEEKSBelly or side pain that is not going away
Stomach pain after a crash can mean bleeding inside the body. Severe or worsening belly pain, a swollen or hard belly, vomiting, blood in your vomit, stool or urine, dizziness or fainting are emergencies. Call 911 or go to an emergency room now.
Common questions
Is stomach pain after a car accident serious?
It can be. Belly pain after a crash can mean an internal injury, even when it starts mild. If it is severe, getting worse or comes with vomiting, dizziness or blood, call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Can stomach pain show up days after a car accident?
Yes. Some internal injuries cause symptoms hours or days later. Any new or worsening belly pain after a crash should be checked right away at an emergency room.
I went to the ER and nothing was found. Can I come to NovaMed?
Yes. If you still have pain after emergencies were ruled out, we provide follow-up exams and care.
Do I need a referral or a lawyer to be seen?
No. You can call or walk in. No referral is needed.
Is treatment covered in Michigan?
Medically necessary care for crash injuries is generally billed to your PIP benefits, up to your policy’s limits. We verify your coverage first.
Care for every part of a crash injury
Car accident whiplash and neck injuries
The most common car accident injury. We check how your neck moves and treat the strain before it settles in.
Learn moreCar accident medical exams
A head-to-toe evaluation of the areas that hurt, done the same day, with findings recorded.
Learn moreCar accident medical records
Clear documentation of diagnoses, findings and treatment, ready when your insurer or attorney asks for records.
Learn moreMichigan No-Fault (PIP) patients
We work with your auto insurer’s PIP medical benefits and help you get the paperwork right.
Learn moreSouthfield, on Lahser Road
- Address
- 27211 Lahser Rd, Suite 200
Southfield, MI 48034 - Phone
- (313) 319-4284
- Visits
- Same-day appointments and walk-ins. Call ahead and we'll have your paperwork ready.
- Serving
- Southfield, Detroit, Oak Park, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Dearborn, Livonia, Novi, Troy, Warren and the rest of Metro Detroit.