Symptoms of a Chest Injury After a Car Accident
Posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on November 4, 2022
Vehicle accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries. This can include injuries to the chest area. Often, car accident chest injuries are not immediately visible, and there may not be any signs or symptoms right away. However, there are some signs and symptoms that you and your loved ones need to be aware of that could indicate a chest injury after an accident occurs.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact our Seattle car accident lawyers today.
How Chest Injuries Occur in a Car Accident
Chest injuries can occur in a wide variety of ways as a result of a vehicle accident, and they can happen in minor incidents or serious accidents.
Anytime a collision between two vehicles or a vehicle and a fixed object occurs, this puts tremendous force on the body. If a person is wearing a seat belt, the seat belt itself can lead to internal injuries. Even though the seat belt is there to save a life, this does not mean it is going to prevent every injury. Some of the most common seat belt injuries include bruised or fractured ribs or bruised or fractured sternum.
The force of a collision could also lead to blunt force trauma on the torso of the body. This can cause various types of internal bleeding or internal organ damage. Some of the most common injuries in these situations include:
- Punctured lung or lung damage
- Bruising of the heart
- Bruising of the lungs
- Kidney, spleen, or liver damage
Symptoms of a Car Accident Chest Injury
There are various ways that individuals may know that they have sustained a chest injury after a vehicle accident occurs. First, if there is any pain in the torso area after a collision, this is a sign that a person needs to seek medical treatment right away. However, there are times when individuals experience no pain in the initial aftermath of an accident. The signs and symptoms of chest injuries could be masked by the adrenaline that runs through a person’s body when the collision occurs.
Some of these signs and symptoms that could indicate a chest injury either right after the incident or in the hours following include pain or discomfort:
- When taking a deep breath
- Even when not moving
- In the chest, even when slight pressure is applied
- When laughing, coughing, or sneezing
- When making any type of movement
Individuals who have been involved in a vehicle accident need to seek immediate medical care, regardless of whether or not they feel pain right away. A doctor can conduct the necessary tests to help determine whether or not there may be any hidden injuries. Just injuries cannot go untreated after a vehicle accident occurs, particularly if any internal organs have been damaged.
Medical professionals can complete their scans and get an individual started on a treatment plan right away. For severe injuries, surgery may need to occur right away. Doctors can help individuals recover from these injuries over time.
Any person who has sustained a vehicle accident chest injury caused by the actions of another driver should be able to recover compensation for their losses. This includes coverage of their medical expenses, lost wages if they are unable to work, and pain and suffering damages. Contact our Seattle personal injury lawyers today for a free case evaluation.