What Are The Symptoms of Chest Injuries?

The trauma of a car accident causes a rush of adrenaline, the body’s way of giving a traumatized person the strength to help themselves and others through a serious situation. Adrenaline also temporarily masks pain, sometimes causing accident victims to avoid going to the hospital after an accident. But what happens when symptoms appear hours or even days after the accident? In some cases, adrenaline masks serious internal injuries that aren’t immediately obvious, including chest injuries. In addition, some types of chest injuries take time to develop symptoms from inflammation or internal bleeding. Recognizing the symptoms of a chest injury after an accident is critical.

What Causes Chest Injuries in a Car Accident?

The crash force of an accident causes serious trauma to the body, propelling the vehicle occupant forward at the speed the car was traveling before the seat belt suddenly snaps them back against the seat. A person weighing 100 pounds becomes a 3,000-pound force in an accident at only 30 miles per hour. Although seat belts inarguably save lives, the force of the body against the pressure of the seat belt can cause trauma to the chest. Additionally, airbags deploy with stunning force as they fully inflate in only milliseconds during a collision. Although an airbag may prevent fatal injuries by protecting the driver from impacting the steering wheel or dash, it can also cause significant injury to the chest.

Symptoms of Chest Injuries After a Car Accident

After an accident, injuries like lacerations and broken bones are immediately apparent. Other injuries may have masked or delayed symptoms that worsen during the hours and days following the accident. Symptoms of a chest injury after an accident include the following:

• Pain when inhaling or exhaling
• Pain when laughing or sneezing
• Bruising in the shape of a seatbelt
• Difficulty breathing
• A rattling or crackling sound when breathing
• Coughing up blood
• Contusions or swelling
• A grinding or crackling sound when moving
• Tenderness to touch
• Sharp pain when bending
• Fatigue, dizziness, or lightheadedness
• Paleness, nausea, or vomiting
• Abdominal swelling, vomiting blood, or blood in the urine or stool
• Erratic heartbeat

Experiencing any of the above symptoms indicates a possible chest injury requiring an immediate medical examination for a prompt diagnosis and treatment. Delaying treatment not only increases the risk of serious harm or death, but it can also negatively impact a compensation claim later for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What Types of Chest Injuries Happen From Car Accidents?

The crash force of an accident combined with the collapsing structure of a vehicle at the impact points, can cause injuries ranging from mild and completely recoverable to catastrophic or fatal. Chest injuries can fall anywhere within that range, depending on the type and severity of the injury. Common chest injuries from car accidents include the following:

• Contusions, or bruising and swelling
• Fractured ribs
• Muscle strains
• Fractured sternum
• Bruised diaphragm
• Bruised lungs
• Punctured lung
• Collapsed lung
• Internal organ damage to thoracic organs like the spleen, liver, or intestines
• Myocardial contusion (bruising of the heart)

The most deadly chest injury from a car accident is an aortic rupture which is typically fatal. If a loved one suffered an aortic rupture in an accident caused by someone else, family members could recover compensation and justice through a Connecticut wrongful death claim.

How Can a New Haven Car Accident Lawyer Help?

Chest injuries are painful and frightening, requiring immediate medical care. Medical bills quickly become costly when combined with lost wages, yet insurance companies often protect their profits at the injury victim’s expense. Call Weber & Rubano, the car accident attorneys in New Haven who are ready protect your best interests throughout the process of recovering your damages after a chest injury.