The human chest contains several of the body’s most vital organs, including the heart and lungs. These critical structures are vulnerable to severe injuries in car accidents, including injuries caused by the seatbelt, even as the seatbelt saves the motorist from expulsion from the vehicle or other deadly trauma.
Internal organ damage in severe chest injuries after a car accident is serious or even deadly but sometimes receives delayed treatment due to the slow onset of symptoms. Delaying medical care for chest injuries can result in a worsened outcome and difficulty recovering compensation for damages like medical expenses in a car accident claim.
What Causes Chest Injuries?
The crash force in a car accident can cause severe trauma. The motorist’s body continues moving forward at the speed the car was traveling until it’s halted by the seatbelt and thrown back against the seat. In addition to this crash force trauma, an airbag explodes outward with tremendous force, and the structures of the vehicle collapse inward at points of impact. In some cases, the injury victim may also make direct contact with the steering wheel and dashboard if the seatbelt and airbag don’t function correctly.
The upper body is at great risk of trauma in a car accident, including severe chest injuries.
What Common Types of Chest Injuries Can Occur?
When multiple injuries occur to the chest, abdomen, and hips, doctors commonly diagnose the car accident victim with “seatbelt syndrome.” Common chest injuries from car accidents include the following:
- Fractured ribs
- Fracture clavicle (collarbone)
- Bruised ribs
- Muscle strains
- Contusions to the heart and lungs
- Ribcage misalignment
- Bruised sternum
- Trachea injury
- Punctured lung
- Ruptured diaphragm
- Internal bleeding
- Ruptured aorta or aortic dissection
In the worst cases, severe chest injuries such as a ruptured aorta or a punctured lung may cause fatality.
Signs of Chest Injuries After a Car Accident
It’s common to feel sore after a car accident, including pain in the shoulder, sore ribs, and achy muscles. However, signs of a more severe chest injury or internal organ damage include the following:
- Painful breathing or pain when laughing or coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- A crunching or grinding noise when moving or breathing
- Swelling or bruising on the chest or abdomen
- Pain in the chest or upper back
- Blood in the urine
- Coughing up blood
- Dizziness, fatigue, or nausea
- Crackling sound while breathing or when pressing the skin of the chest
- Heartbeat irregularities
- A drop in blood pressure
- Shallow or rapid breathing
Noticing any change in heartbeat, breathing, or a restricted feeling when trying to draw a deep breath is a sign of serious injury requiring immediate medical attention.
Seeking Medical Attention After a Car Accident
Some car accident victims walk away from the accident and refuse medical treatment because they prefer to go home, but as the adrenaline rush dissipates, they may begin to notice symptoms that were previously masked by the rush of endorphins. It’s critical to seek medical treatment as soon as symptoms develop, especially if you didn’t have a full medical evaluation after the accident.
It’s always best to undergo a thorough examination after an accident in addition to the treatment of obvious emergency injuries. A full examination can reveal injuries that have delayed symptom onset so treatment can occur as soon as possible. Immediate treatment also provides critical evidence for an insurance claim for compensation later.
How Can an Injury Attorney Help?
Treating severe chest injuries after a car accident is expensive and often requires a lengthy recovery period with time away from work. A skilled injury attorney in Cherry Hill can help you recover financially so you can focus on recovering physically. If severe chest injuries cause the wrongful death of a loved one, close family members can recover compensation through a Cherry Hill wrongful death claim. Call the car accident lawyers at Cuneo & Leonetti for the experienced representation that gets results.