Car accidents can cause a vast number of injuries to both drivers and passengers. In some cases, the symptoms, or pains from these injuries are not felt for days, weeks, or even months after the day of the crash. In some instances, the pains felt after an accident are the telltale signs of a truly damaging and even life-threatening injury. One of the severe pains that individuals feel is chest pain after an auto accident. The injuries related to this chest pain can be devastating, which is why it is always important that you seek the consultation of a trained medical professional immediately after your car accident to diagnose the issue. In this article, we will cover the causes of chest injuries after an accident, the injuries themselves, how to treat these injuries, and what you can do to earn adequate recovery for the damages that you have had to sustain. If you have more questions, consult with an expert attorney who has experience in car accident cases. One of our experienced lawyers from the top-rated Normandie Law Firm will be able to assist you.
Car Accidents & The Causes of Chest Pain
Auto collisions whether involving a motorcycle or a truck or any other kind of motor vehicle can put the drivers and passengers through a tremendous amount of kinetic trauma. The force that comes with cars and other automobiles colliding with one another can cause significant damage to the body, and no spot is more exposed to this trauma than the chest. In most cases, chest injuries that occur after a car accident, are caused by the deployment of an airbag. The airbag is meant to absorb some of this kinetic force but can also output some of this force into an individual’s chest cavity. The steering wheel also poses a hazard to drivers, especially if an airbag doesn’t properly deploy. Passengers are at a heightened risk as well, as the dashboard in front of them can often serve as a point of causing traumatic damage. Those experience chest discomfort or severe chest pain after a car accident should seek medical attention as soon as possible. The chest cavity contains some vital organs, from the heart to the lungs, and severe damage to any of these crucial components of the body could lead to life-threatening conditions. When trying to diagnose your chest pain, it is important that you understand the common chest injuries that can occur as a result of a car accident. If you need more help, reach out to a skilled attorney with expertise in car accident injury lawsuits.
Common Chest Injuries Caused By Car Accidents
You may already be aware of the fact that even minor blows to the chest can knock the breath out of someone; high impact blows can do that much more damage. Things like lightheadedness, severe chest pain, trouble breathing, or dizziness are all telltale signs of some car accident caused chest injury. When you experience chest pain after an accident it is in your best interest that you seek consultation with a trained medical professional as they may be better able to diagnose your condition, however, for your reference, we’ve included a list of some of the common chest injuries caused by car accidents:
- Fractured Ribs: The breaking of ribs can cause a sharp, shooting pain, which in turn causes incredibly discomfort. This is a common injury for drivers to experience, as the ribs can break on impact with the steering wheel during a car collision. Treatment for these injuries can be somewhat challenging, as the ribs protect some vital organs.
- Bruised Sternum: Impacts to the ribcage don’t always result in a break. The rib bones are strong, however, if they don’t break the area is still subject to bruising. A bruised sternum often results in a dull aching pain when breathing and can vary depending on the movements of the individual. This pain can rise and fade depending on the condition and severity of the injury.
- Muscle Strain: A muscle strain can also occur as a result of a high impact. This can arise in the form of a dull or aching pain. The pain isn’t as severe as a broken rib. However, they should not be disregarded as a trivial wound. If not properly treated or diagnosed by a medical professional, this injury could be the sign of a more severe condition.
- Internal Organ Damage: As mentioned prior, some vital organs are contained in the chest, and due to the force of a car accident could all experience trauma and damage. Internal organ damage can be life-threatening as a result, and pains in the chest could be signs of damage to the lungs or heart.
If you or a loved one have experienced chest pain after a car accident, medical attention should be administered right away as there is no telling what is exactly causing the chest pain. Without proper treatment, victims of chest pain could be left with a fatal condition. If you need a recommendation for a qualified doctor, contact an accomplished attorney with experience handling car accident claims.
Treatment For Chest Pain After A Car Accident
Treatment for car accident chest pains can vary depending on the severity of your injury and the injury itself. For instance a muscle strain or bruised sternum a doctor may recommend some over-the-counter pain-killer medication like Advil, Tylenol, or Ibuprofen. Things like broken ribcages are a little more sensitive. Unfortunately, there is no medical procedure to help an individual heal from a broken rib cage. Broken ribs must be healed on their own, and a medical professional will often issue the following treatments to mitigate pain while the area heals:
- Frequently apply ice to the injured area
- Make sure to get extra rest
- Take pain-killing medicine like aspirin or ibuprofen. If the pain is particularly severe a medical professional may recommend more potent pain medicines.
Treating organ damage is another thing entirely. The treatments for organ damage can vary depending on what organ is damaged, and how severe the damages are. In some cases, intrusive, and risky surgery may be necessary to restore the damaged organs to their previous state. This treatment can require frequent visits to the doctor, pre-op, the surgery itself, post-op, and physical therapy after the body has made a suitable recovery. Even then, some patients can never return to their previous state of health. This is precisely why it is important to seek medical attention the moment you experience chest pain or chest discomfort after an automobile accident. The sooner you seek treatment, the more likely you are to receive adequate care and mitigate the long-term damages that can arise if an injury is left untreated.
Unfortunately, things like hospital visits, surgery, and physical therapy can be incredibly expensive. Even with suitable insurance coverage, car accident victims can be left to tackle a mountain of medical debt that can be incredibly challenging to overcome. Those who are uninsured are left in an even deeper hole, as they lack assistance from adequate health insurance programs. Fortunately, there are other ways to seek compensation for the damages caused by your car accident. If you or a loved one has experienced chest pain as a result of the negligence or misconduct of a person behind the wheel you could file a lawsuit against them for the damages they caused. A successful lawsuit can help you earn compensation for the damages caused by medical expenses, a loss of wages, pain, and suffering, and even the potential loss of future wages. However, when filing any lawsuit, it is in your best interest that you seek legal representation from an attorney with expertise in dealing with cases of this nature. A top lawyer experienced in car accident cases can guide you through the process of filing your claim and can help represent you and your case in court.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
Fractured ribs, internal organ damage, and other kinds of chest injuries caused by auto accidents can be incredibly traumatic for anyone who has to experience it. These injuries can adversely impact the quality of life of a victim can make every day a struggle. Fortunately, if you or a loved one have experienced a chest injury as a result of a car accident, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation for your damages. At Normandie Law Firm, our skilled team can place you with a lawyer with experience in handling car accident cases and representing car accident victims. Clients who file a claim with our Los Angeles law firm could find some if not all of the following damages compensable to them:
- Past and Future Medical Expenses
- Loss of Wages
- Potential Loss of Future Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc…)
- Punitive Damages (which only attorneys with experience in car accident cases will be able to win, as the damages are extremely hard to argue for)
Victims of chest injuries from car accidents or any other motor accident can contact our law offices to receive more information on how to receive adequate compensation for their damages. While our law firm is based in Los Angeles, our attorneys also practice in San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, and throughout the state of California.
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Other attorneys will sign you up to their firm but will disappear once your name is on the paper as they are busy signing up more cases. In these instances, their business is based more on volume and will attempt to sign up as many cases as possible. In turn, they will spend less time on cases resulting in severely reduced settlements. Our firm will not treat you like a number. We will be in communication with you throughout our lawsuit and will treat you like family. So if you already have an attorney don’t worry, we’ll give you a second review of your case 100% free of charge.
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If you contact our law offices today, we can walk you through the complicated process of filing your claim completely free of charge. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until their case is won. If you feel in need of a second opinion, second opinion case reviews are also free under this policy. Please, feel free to give us a call, and an experienced attorney can guide you down the path of receiving proper compensation for your damages.
