What if I Have Chest Pain After a Car Accident?

If you have chest pain after a car accident, you may require immediate medical attention and treatment for internal injuries. If someone else is responsible for causing your collision, you may have the right to take legal action against them by filing a claim with their insurance company or bringing forward a personal injury lawsuit. While you get the medical treatment you require, your dedicated Atlanta car accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates can begin investigating.

Your chest pain could be indicative of a more serious medical condition that requires ongoing care. We will need to take your medical expenses and future potential costs into account when calculating the value of your claim. Learn more about your legal options when you contact our office to schedule a free consultation.

Top Causes of Chest Pain After a Car Accident

Chest pain is common after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Chest pain can be caused by the seat belt holding you in place as your body absorbs the impact of the collision. However, it can also occur if you hit your chest on the dashboard or steering wheel or if you are ejected from the vehicle. 

Airbag Injuries 

One of the most common ways chest pain can occur in a car accident is due to airbag deployment. Airbags are designed to deploy when the sensor is triggered. When this happens, the airbag will inflate and deploy in 1/20 of a second, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

However, airbag deployment is often violent. Airbag deployment can cause chest pain and burn injuries when the chemical propellant combusts. Car accident victims have experienced pneumonia, bruising, rib fractures, aorta ruptures, sternum fractures, and even heart attacks when an airbag deploys, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Internal Injuries 

Chest pain can also be caused by internal injuries. This might occur when you hit your chest on the dashboard or steering wheel or are held in place by the seat belt. Some examples of internal injuries that could cause chest pain in a car accident include:

• Fractured ribs
• Kidney injury
• Punctured lung
• Spleen injury
• Sternum damage
• Trachea damage

Symptoms of a Chest Injury

The symptoms associated with chest injuries can vary widely depending on the type of injury you sustained. Immediately after the accident, you may not notice any symptoms at all. However, as your body begins to settle down after the trauma of the collision, try to remain aware of your symptoms, as you may experience one or more of the following:

Reduced Mobility

If you are experiencing chest pain, you may also notice that you feel weaker in your shoulders, trunk of your body, and arms. It may also be difficult for you to complete daily living tasks or sleep. These could be symptoms of more severe chest injuries. 

Trouble Breathing and Soreness

Chest injuries may cause soreness in the chest and ribs for days or weeks after the collision. You may find your symptoms worsen when you breathe, laugh, or cough. If you are diagnosed with a sternum injury, you may experience intense pain, swelling, and bruising at the sternum fracture.

Internal Damage

Chest pain can also be indicative of a more serious internal injury. For example, you may have injured your spleen, trachea, kidneys, or lungs in the collision. Some of the most common symptoms associated with internal bleeding and injuries, according to Healthline, include:

• Tenderness or pain in the upper left abdomen
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Shoulder pain
• Muscle guarding
• Abdominal bruising
• Lightheadedness
• Swelling
• Blood in the urine
• Pain in the lower back
• Difficulty breathing
• Excessive coughing
• Inability to complete daily living tasks
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Hoarseness
• Stridor

Treatment Options for Chest Injuries

Treatment options will vary widely depending on the type of injury you suffered. For example, if you suffered a fractured sternum, you may be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, ice pack applications, and rehabilitation. However, you might also require surgical intervention based on how severe the injuries are.

If you have been diagnosed with an internal injury, your healthcare provider may treat your condition with oxygen, bed rest, and pain medication. If you experience internal bleeding, your healthcare provider will need to stop the bleeding, potentially through the use of blood thinner medications.

You Have Legal Options After a Chest Injury

Your chest injuries could have a significant impact on your daily life. When you were involved in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you can demand they compensate you fairly for your losses. Not only can you be awarded compensation for your medical bills, but you should also be reimbursed for your pain and suffering, loss of income, and other economic and non-economic damages.

One of the top ways to get the financial support you need is by filing a claim with the liable party’s insurance company, as Georgia is a fault insurance state, according to the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire. However, keep in mind that insurance settlements are often not enough to fully cover your losses. The insurance company is only required to pay out on claims as high as the policy terms and only offer compensation for specific types of losses, including damages and medical expenses.

Remaining damages can be demanded via a personal injury lawsuit. There is no cap on how much you could be awarded. It is possible punitive damages may also apply under Georgia Code §51-12-5.1 if the defendant’s actions were egregious or grossly negligent.

Call in The Strong Arm

Chest injuries after a car accident are more common than you might have thought. Due to the sensitive nature of an injury like this, it is crucial to get medical attention as soon as possible after the collision. Otherwise, your condition could rapidly deteriorate and leave you with potentially lifelong consequences.

While you are recuperating from your injuries, your experienced Georgia car accident lawyer with John Foy & Associates will be investigating. Once we have copies of your medical records, we will have better insight into how much we should demand in compensation. Discuss your legal opportunities further during a free consultation when you call our office or fill out our quick contact form to schedule as soon as today.