Victims with chest pain after a car crash should take it seriously and seek immediate medical attention. It may only be the result of bruising or muscle soreness due to the accident. However, it is impossible to know what is going on without undergoing diagnostic testing to rule out a serious injury or other medical condition.
At Roden Law, we discuss how the trauma of a collision could cause serious internal injuries, as well as some of the most common reasons for chest pain after a crash. We also talk about how you may be eligible to recover significant compensation for your medical costs and other losses.
Were you injured by a negligent driver? If so, we encourage you seek medical help right away. Once your injuries have been stabilized, you should consider calling our experienced car crash attorneys in Savannah to discuss your situation. We represent injured victims of negligence every day, something we have been doing successfully in Georgia since 2013. During that time, we have recovered millions in compensation for our clients.
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Why Some Crash Victims May Feel Chest Pain
A car crash victim may initially experience chest pain due to normal muscle soreness or mild to severe bruising sustained in the impact. However, a more serious medical condition or injury may be the cause.
Common car crash injuries that can cause chest pain include:
Fractured Sternum
Crash victims who sustained a sternum or breastbone injury in a crash often experience sudden onset of chest pain at the time of impact. You may notice swelling or bruising in the area, along with symptoms that may include sharp pain while sneezing, laughing, coughing or deep breathing. If you fractured your sternum, you may also notice some deformity in the area if the broken bones were displaced.
Broken Ribs
Intense pain, especially when you cough or inhale, could mean broken or cracked ribs.
Lung Damage
If you are unable to exercise or have trouble breathing, it could be one of several medical conditions, including:
- Lung injury as a result of breathing in corn starch or other chemicals from the airbag deployment
- Severe bruising or internal damage to the lungs due to striking the steering wheel or dashboard
- Pain and breathing difficulties if a broken rib punctured the lung
Cardiac Contusion
This is a bruise to the muscle that allows your heart to contract and pump blood through your body. If you suffered a cardiac contusion, you might feel lightheaded, like your heart is racing, or pain in your ribs or breastbone.
Seat Belt Syndrome
While seat belts save lives, they can also cause physical harm in severe collisions. Often this is because the individual was wearing the seat belt incorrectly. For instance, placing the seat belt behind the neck distributes the force of a crash differently. There is less protection for the victim in that situation, which could cause serious, even life-threatening, internal damage.
Heart Attack
Sometimes the trauma of a car crash can be enough to trigger a heart attack or stroke.
Why You Need Immediate Medical Care
Getting a prompt diagnosis helps you get the necessary medical treatment sooner. It also helps to rule out whether your pain could be due to a potentially life-threatening injury or medical condition.
For example, a broken rib could be sharp enough and in the right position to puncture a lung, kidney, spleen or liver. Your chest could collapse or you could experience organ failure if you do not receive immediate medical treatment.
In addition to protecting your health, seeking immediate medical attention ensures you have documentation in your medical records linking your injuries to the crash. Waiting to seek treatment after a crash makes it that much harder to get the compensation you need for your damages. Insurance companies have room to argue that you could have been injured elsewhere.
Can Damages Related To Chest Pain Be Included in My Claim?
If another party’s negligence led to a crash and caused you to suffer injuries, you may have a valid claim. Damages you may be eligible to recover in an injury claim include:
- Medical costs related to the accident that injured you
- Lost wages if you were unable to work while recovering
- Surgery, physical therapy and other follow-up appointments
- Pain management
- Pain and suffering damages, such as physical pain and emotional anxiety
- Property damages
- Loss of enjoyment
- And more
What Evidence Could Help To Prove My Claim?
Tracking expenses and documenting the progress of your physical recovery can help support your claim of a severe injury. Your medical records, which will include the date of your injury, diagnostic testing and any diagnosis or follow-up care you received, create hard-to-dispute evidence for the insurance company.
We strongly recommend speaking with an experienced attorney, especially one who has managed claims similar to yours before and has a proven history of results.
Suffering From Chest Pain After a Car Crash? Call Roden Law for Legal Help Today
At Roden Law, we are deeply committed to helping you navigate the challenges of a legal claim after a crash. We have a proven history of success, and we are prepared to work tirelessly to recover compensation for your injuries.
There is no risk in calling our law offices. Our firm accepts car crash cases on contingency. This means there are no upfront costs to pay. We only get paid if we are successful in winning your case.
Call now for a FREE case evaluation. 1-844-RESULTS