Common Types of Car Accident Chest Injuries
Car accidents are capable of inflicting a whole host of injuries, ranging from whiplash to paralysis. According to data collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly six million car accidents take place each year in the United States. In 2016 37,461 lives were ended in fatal vehicle accidents. Crash related injuries result in Americans spending over one million days in the hospital.
For those who survive, a car accident chest injury is one of the most common forms of injury resulting from a vehicle collision. Brought into contact with seat belts, airbags, and steering wheels, the chest of a passenger or driver is highly susceptible to various injuries. Some of these car accident injuries take hours or even days to make themselves known. Due to this delay, it is vital that you seek medical attention as well as a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a California car accident.
Types of Chest Injuries
Fractured Ribs
Within a day after your accident, noticing sharp, shooting pains in your side and chest could very well indicate a broken or fractured rib. This is a common injury for drivers due to the impact made with the steering wheel during the car crash. A fractured rib can quickly turn into a punctured lung or even worse if you have broken several on the same side and can take up to two months to heal.
Bruised Sternum
The sternum is the medical term for your breastbone, which is the long, flat bone located in the center of your chest. It forms the front of your rib cage and helps to protect vital organs from injury. The sudden impact against the steering wheel that occurs in a car accident can cause heavy internal bruising around this bone. This often results in dull, aching pains that intensify when you breathe in. If you are experiencing similar pain after a car crash, do not assume it is merely a bruised sternum, and seek medical assistance immediately.
Internal Organ Damage
The most critical of all chest injuries is the damage to any internal organ, especially the heart. Damage to any internal organ has the potential to be life-threatening. High impact car accidents can also result in internal bleeding. Some symptoms of internal bleeding or organ damage are fatigue, lightheadedness, pale complexion, abdominal pain, feeling cold or feverish.
Medical Attention After a California Car Crash
If you are seeking any sort of chest pain or discomfort following a car accident, you must seek medical attention immediately. A pain or twitch that seems insignificant at the time can turn into something major before you are even aware of it. Never take even minor symptoms such as shortness of breath or bruising lightly. Only a doctor can determine what is wrong and how it should be treated.
California Auto Accident Attorney
If you did suffer a chest injury following a collision, it is in your best interest to contact a personal injury attorney so that you can begin building a claim. Here at the Los Angeles Injury Group, we have the knowledge and the experience to seek the maximum amount of compensation that you can receive in accordance with the law. We will help you build your legal claim from the ground up and stand by you from beginning to end. For a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys, call us at (310) 954-7248 today.