You can be seriously hurt after being in a car accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and not know it. A good example is blunt-force chest trauma. You may experience pain and have trouble breathing, but hope this goes away on its own. That can be a serious mistake. This post will answer your questions about how serious a chest injury after a car accident can be, what can you do to treat it, and whether you can be compensated.
This post is part of a series about injuries commonly sustained after a car or truck crash including to the
What causes a chest injury after a car accident?
There are many ways you can be injured in a crash, including getting thrown into the steering wheel, dashboard, door, seat, roof or hit by the airbag, seat belt, or flying glass.
Most often, the driver is hurled into the steering wheel. Or they and their passengers get hurt when air bags explode at a speed of 200 mph and strike them in the chest. Or they are jerked by their shoulder harnesses and slammed into the door, window, and/or head rest and seat back.
What parts of your body are likely to be injured?
These parts of the body can be hurt:
- Chest – exterior
- Chest wall – interior
- Sternum
- Rib cage
- Trachea
- Kidney
- Spleen
- Liver
- Abdomen
- Back
- Spinal cord
While some of these injuries may be immediately noticeable, even if you do not immediately suffer pain or adverse symptoms after a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention ASAP.
What to do if you have suffered a chest injury after a car crash
The decisions you make immediately after a car accident will affect any future legal claims you pursue. Keeping the following suggestions in mind after an accident will help to keep you safe and strengthen your legal arguments.
First, do not ignore chest pain. If you can’t breathe without pain, have the ambulance or someone take you to an emergency room immediately. A doctor can examine you, perform tests, and diagnose the cause of your problems.
Get x-rays and/or computerized tomagraphy (CT) scans immediately and later, a magnetic resonance image (MRI).
Injuries to the thoracic area of the chest contribute to one-fourth of deaths after a traumatic injury. It is possible to fracture a rib or sternum, damage your heart, or puncture your lung and not know it.
Further, your injury attorney will use the medical reports and bills and gather evidence to establish the required connection between the crash and your injuries to get you better compensated.
If the insurance company adjuster calls or writes you to take a statement or just to “ask you a few questions,” you do not have to speak to them. Tell your attorney. Statements you give are recorded and can and will be used against you later.
There are things you can do to recover quicker. After coming home, rest. Ice your chest and other damaged parts of your body under a towel or cloth for 10 minutes throughout the day to reduce the inflammation.
In a few days, use a heating pad or take hot showers as well. Elevate your chest, including sleeping propped up in bed. Apply a gel like Penetrex, Biofreeze, or CBD. Take Advils, including Advil PMs to help you sleep. The next week, get a light massage to get the blood flow moving and reduce the swelling.
Hire a good personal injury lawyer. The other driver’s insurance company has many attorneys, even entire law firms, on retainer. They are already investigating the case and finding ways they can defeat your claim and minimize the payment owed to you.
The longer you take to file a claim or consider filing a lawsuit, the less money and benefits you will receive. This is not a DIY project or something you can put off.
Compensation for chest injury
An injury to your chest can take weeks or even months to go away. The process can be very painful and prevent you from moving easily or performing your usual activities. It may even keep you from working.
Especially if you also sustained injuries to your head, neck and back, your medical bills can be substantial.
You are entitled to be reimbursed for your damages for the ambulance, hospital, doctors, therapy, medications, pain, emotional trauma, lost wages, scarring, and disability.
The closer you follow these guidelines, the better compensated you will be.
An experienced Fort Worth car wreck lawyer can help you
If you have suffered a chest injury in a Fort Worth car accident, call Berenson Injury Law to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Mr. Berenson has nearly 40 years of experience representing people who have been injured in car and truck crashes and only handles these cases.
Please contact us for a free consultation.