Car accidents are a harsh reality of modern life, often causing victims a range of physical and emotional injuries. Chest injuries are particularly concerning due to their severity and impact. These injuries typically result from the powerful forces involved in a collision, such as impact with the steering wheel, dashboard, seatbelt, or airbag. When a negligent driver is the cause of these injuries, it’s essential to hold that driver accountable and recover costs for medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Common Types of Chest Injuries from Car Accidents
If you are experiencing chest pain after an automobile collision, it is vital to visit a medical professional immediately. There are a number of life-threatening injuries that will worsen if treatment is delayed. The following are some common chest injuries from car accidents:
Pulmonary Contusions
Pulmonary or chest contusions are a painful consequence of car accidents. Seatbelts, airbags, and steering wheels can hit a person’s chest with such force that the lungs are bruised. The bruising leads to bleeding, swelling, and ultimately a low oxygen level in the bloodstream.
Fractured Ribs
Many severe chest injuries start with fractured ribs. When ribs are broken, doctors can usually only provide pain relief, leaving you to endure significant pain. The difficulty in breathing and moving worsens with multiple rib fractures.
Flail Chest
Flail chest is a life-threatening condition resulting from three or more broken ribs interfering with the ability to breathe. Broken ribs can even puncture the lung with this condition. After the lung has been punctured, gas is released into the cavity that surrounds the lung. This gas can place pressure on the lung, which can cause it to collapse. The National Institute of Health estimates that motor vehicle collisions account for approximately 75% of flail chest cases.
Pneumothorax
A pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall. When this air accumulates, it exerts pressure on the lung, causing it to collapse, significantly impairing oxygen exchange and leading to breathing difficulties. The blunt force trauma of a car accident is a common cause of pulmonary injuries, including pneumothorax, as the impact can damage the lung tissue or rib cage, creating a pathway for air to escape into the pleural space. Such injuries can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention to stabilize the patient, remove the excess air, and prevent further complications.
Hemothorax
A hemothorax is a medical condition characterized by the accumulation of blood in the space between the lungs and chest wall (the pleural cavity). When blood collects in this area, it can cause the lung on the affected side to collapse, leading to symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, and reduced blood oxygen levels. Treatment often requires drainage of the blood through a procedure known as a thoracentesis or the insertion of a chest tube. In some cases, surgery might be necessary to prevent further complications.
Cardiac Arrest
Most often, body trauma causes broken bones and internal injuries. Less widely recognized is the fact that any level of crash can also trigger heart attacks and cardiac arrest. These injuries can harm the body and disrupt normal blood flow, and accident victims should receive fair compensation for such injuries, even if they were preexisting.
The Cost of Chest Injuries
While chest injuries can be life-threatening, many car accident victims recover fully with prompt medical treatment. You may, however, be saddled with a massive medical bill. A week’s hospitalization and associated diagnostic testing can sometimes cost nearly $100,000. If you have sustained such an injury, you are entitled to recover your medical expenses and compensation for lost wages and physical and emotional pain and suffering. Other damages may also be available, depending upon the particular facts of your case.
Experienced Car Accident Attorneys
The law firm of Maginnis Howard represents personal injury claimants in various severe accident cases. We offer free consultations and accept traumatic chest injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you owe no attorneys’ fees unless we win or settle your case. If you cannot travel due to your injury, a chest injury attorney will travel to meet with you.
To speak with a North Carolina personal injury attorney regarding your case, please call (919) 526-0450. You can also submit an online inquiry to our contact page. Our firm handles cases involving fractured ribs, lung injuries, and other chest conditions across the Carolinas from our Raleigh, Charlotte ad Fayetteville offices.
