Traumatic abdominal wall hernias are rare. We describe a case of a handlebar hernia which was initially misinterpreted as a rectus haematoma, and consequently the patient was discharged without any treatment. The patient was admitted two days after with severe pain and computed tomography showed a defect in the abdominal wall. The patient underwent laparoscopic hernial repair with a Goretex mesh after some weeks when the primary tissue damage had subsided.