If you experience chest pain after a car accident in Florida, you may be worried about whether your injuries are life-threatening and if you should seek medical attention. Car accidents can cause a whole range of injuries, varying from cuts and bruises all the way up to wrongful death.
Chest pain after a car accident should be taken very seriously, as it could result from serious injuries such as damage to internal organs, fractured ribs, or a punctured lung, amongst many other potential causing factors. Further, if chest pains aren’t seen by a doctor, it could lead to a heart attack or even death.
If you are experiencing chest pains after a car accident in Florida, you should get in contact with us at The Law Place today. Our law firm can help you recover compensation for any injuries you’ve sustained as a result of the car crash, and we have over 75 years of combined experience in dealing with this type of injury claim. Our injury lawyers are here to help you get justice and ensure you are taken care of following your motor vehicle accident. We offer a free consultation for you to receive legal advice on how to file an injury claim in Florida.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation at (941) 444-4444. Our phone lines are open 24/7.
If you’re experiencing chest pain after a car accident, we can help you
Common Causes of Chest Pain After a Car Accident
It is common for victims of car accidents to experience chest pain in the aftermath. It could be a minor injury that will go away after some time, but it is highly possible that this pain could be a sign of something much more serious. We recommend that you seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing chest pains, regardless of whether you think they are serious or not.
There are many reasons people experience chest pain after a car accident, including fractured ribs, damage to an internal organ, or broken ribs, amongst others. Some of the most common causes of chest pains are listed below.
Rib Injuries
One of the most common causes of chest pain after a car crash is damage to the ribs. Rib injuries could be caused by steering wheel impact, strain from a seat belt, or impact from a dashboard. This type of impact to the sternum can cause immediate severe pain, but it often leads to further chest pain, which could be an indication of something more serious.
Some common rib injuries from accidents include fractured ribs, broken ribs, bruised ribs, or a fractured sternum. If the fracture to the rib or sternum is really severe, it can cause internal organs to be seriously damaged. Additionally, it is possible that serious impact can cause a punctured lung which can be life-threatening. Common pain resulting from serious rib injury includes increased pain when breathing, tenderness and soreness to touch, and serious chest pain around the broken or fractured sternum or ribs.
Even if you have just have bruised ribs following the car accident, it can still cause you a lot of pain. Common pain resulting from bruised ribs includes difficulty breathing, pain that increases with deep breaths, and infrequent chest pain.
Internal Organ Damage
It is possible that your chest pain after a car accident is being caused by damage to your internal organs. In some cases, organ damage can be healed on its own over time. However, it is highly recommended that you seek medical assistance as if a serious injury goes unnoticed, it can have a life-lasting impact.
If you experience shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, or light-headedness following a car accident, it may be a sign that you have suffered damage to your organs. Further, if you have damaged your heart in a car accident and are experiencing chest pain as a result, this could lead to a heart attack. Heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death throughout the United States, and it is estimated that one happens every 40 seconds. You must contact a doctor immediately if you are experiencing this type of pain.
Lung Injuries
The impact from a steering wheel or a seat belt can cause serious damage to a victim’s lungs. In many cases, a punctured, bruised, or collapsed lung can cause serious chest pain. Common symptoms of lung injuries include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and shallow breathing.
Muscle Strain
If you experience muscle pain following a car accident, the pain may not be as intense as the injuries listed above. However, muscle strain could cause chest pain as you may have damaged the muscles and cartilage surrounding your lungs or ribs. Although muscle strain is not the most serious type of injury, it is recommended that you call a doctor who can give you recovery and treatment guidelines.
Should I Call a Doctor Right Away Following a Car Accident?
If you have suffered chest injuries in a car accident and are experiencing chest pain as a result, you must contact a doctor as soon as possible. Firstly, it is important to ensure that the injuries you have suffered are looked after and that you receive medical treatment to help you recover. A doctor can inform you as to whether your injuries are life-threatening, and if so, they will give you immediate medical treatment to ensure that the rest of your life isn’t severely impacted.
Secondly, if you want to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver or your insurance company, you must report your chest injuries to a doctor within 14 days. Insurance companies are often reluctant to pay victims compensation, and failure to report your injuries could result in you receiving no money to cover your medical expenses.
Once you report your chest injuries to a doctor, they will document all of your symptoms and keep a record of all of the treatment and procedures that you require.
When Should I Speak With an Injury Lawyer?
Once you have sought medical assistance and have spoken with a doctor regarding your car accident chest pain, we recommend that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Medical bills for chest pain can be extremely high, particularly if you have suffered a serious injury that requires continuous treatment.
It can be difficult to recover compensation for car accident chest pain on your own, as the personal injury legal system in Florida can be complex and difficult to navigate. This is why we recommend you contact our law firm as soon as possible to organize a free case evaluation. We can advise you on whether you are entitled to compensation, and if you decide to proceed with us as your legal representatives, we can file a personal injury claim on your behalf.
Once you have the backing of an experienced lawyer, they will take over the case on your behalf, meaning you won’t suffer any further stress from the car accident. Our law firm will investigate the case, gather evidence from the accident scene, speak with witnesses, and use your medical records to build a strong personal injury claim on your behalf. Following this, we will use the case we have built to ensure that you receive the compensation you are owed.
What Damages Can I Receive for Chest Pain Following a Car Accident?
Depending on the particular type of harm you have suffered, one of our attorneys can file a claim to recover the following damages:
- Medical costs – You can recover compensation to cover any medical expenses resulting from your chest pain. This can include bills for hospital appointments, any future treatment, and transport to and from these appointments.
- Lost wages – Serious injuries that cause chest pain can often leave you unable to work, which can have a huge impact on your current financial situation. Our firm can file a claim to help you recover any wages you have lost, including any potential future earnings.
- Pain and suffering – If your injury that causes chest pain is serious, it may have a severe impact on not only your physical health but also your mental well-being. It is possible to recover damages for any physical and emotional distress you’ve suffered as a result of the car accident in the form of pain and suffering damages.
Regardless of whether it was your own steering wheel, seat belts, or dashboard that caused your chest pain, our lawyers will ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries and that the at-fault driver is held accountable. Call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Contact The Law Place Today
Suffering chest pain from an auto accident can be extremely stressful, particularly if you are unsure of whether you have suffered severe injuries to your chest wall, ribs, lungs, sternum, or any vital organs. Your injuries may have been caused by seat belts, a steering wheel, a dashboard, or any other part of the car, but once it can be shown that the other driver was at fault, you may be entitled to compensation.
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Florida and have suffered chest pain as a result, you need to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Once you have done this, you should contact our law office to schedule a free case evaluation with a lawyer from our firm. We can help ensure that you receive compensation to cover the costs of your medical expenses and any other damages you are entitled to. Our office has built up a strong attorney-client relationship throughout our many years of practice, so you know you can trust us to get you the compensation you deserve.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation at (941) 444-4444. Our phone lines are always open.
