When you hire Bruce Schonberg, you get Bruce Schonberg, and that’s a sure thing…
Blog Layout
Chest Pains After an Auto Accident? Learn What Caused Them and What to Do
Oct 13, 2021
The chest is one of the critical parts of the body. That is why you should not dismiss chest pains after an auto accident. Below are some of the potential causes of such chest pains, plus tips on what you should do.
What Are the Possible Causes?
Any injury to the chest area can cause chest pains. Below are examples of such injuries.
Muscle Injuries
The chest has considerable muscle layers to protect the sensitive internal organs in the chest cavity. The muscles can suffer different damages in an auto accident. For example, you might suffer:
Note that you might feel muscle pain even without significant signs of external injuries.
Bone Injuries
The ribs and sternum are the major bones of the chest region. These bones can suffer fractures or bruises, which can trigger chest pains.
Internal Organ Injuries
The chest cavity houses several internal organs, such as the lungs and heart. A serious blow to the chest can injure these internal organs. You can even suffer internal organ injuries without direct, blunt force trauma. For example, sudden acceleration or deceleration can jostle the internal organs and trigger chest injuries.
Blood Vessel Injuries
You might also suffer chest pains if something compresses or ruptures blood vessels in your chest. For example, a sharp object might pierce your chest and puncture a blood vessel.
What Should You Do?
You can recover from your chest pains if you get the right medical treatment. You can limit the effect of the chest injury on your life if you get compensation for the injuries. Below are some tips that can help you with both issues.
Get Immediate Medical Care
As previously mentioned, the chest cavity contains two vital organs: the lungs and the chest. Get immediate medical care to prevent such organs from suffering permanent damage. In fact, you should ride in an ambulance if you develop chest pains after an accident.
The ambulance will:
Describe your chest pains as accurately as possible to your doctor to help them make the correct diagnosis.
Follow Your Doctor's Advice
The doctor will diagnose and prescribe treatment for your injuries. Your role is to follow the doctor's orders to the letter. For example, the doctor may advise you to:
Follow the doctor's instructions both for your recovery and auto accident claim. That way, you can prove to the defendant that you mitigated your injuries by following your doctor's advice to the letter.
File an Auto Accident Claim
A serious chest injury can affect your life in multiple ways. For example, you might:
Monetary compensation by the defendant might not make you whole, but it might ease some of your suffering. Discover a few tips to maximize your possible compensation:
Hopefully, your auto accident attorney will help you recover maximum damages.
Contact Schonberg Law Offices for consultation on your auto accident case. We will review your case and help you pursue your settlement.
What Are the Possible Causes?
Any injury to the chest area can cause chest pains. Below are examples of such injuries.
Muscle Injuries
The chest has considerable muscle layers to protect the sensitive internal organs in the chest cavity. The muscles can suffer different damages in an auto accident. For example, you might suffer:
- Muscle strain if the seatbelt pressed into your chest in an auto accident impact
- Muscle bruises if the airbag or steering wheel hits your chest
- Lacerations if sharp objects cut or pierce your chest muscles
Note that you might feel muscle pain even without significant signs of external injuries.
Bone Injuries
The ribs and sternum are the major bones of the chest region. These bones can suffer fractures or bruises, which can trigger chest pains.
Internal Organ Injuries
The chest cavity houses several internal organs, such as the lungs and heart. A serious blow to the chest can injure these internal organs. You can even suffer internal organ injuries without direct, blunt force trauma. For example, sudden acceleration or deceleration can jostle the internal organs and trigger chest injuries.
Blood Vessel Injuries
You might also suffer chest pains if something compresses or ruptures blood vessels in your chest. For example, a sharp object might pierce your chest and puncture a blood vessel.
What Should You Do?
You can recover from your chest pains if you get the right medical treatment. You can limit the effect of the chest injury on your life if you get compensation for the injuries. Below are some tips that can help you with both issues.
Get Immediate Medical Care
As previously mentioned, the chest cavity contains two vital organs: the lungs and the chest. Get immediate medical care to prevent such organs from suffering permanent damage. In fact, you should ride in an ambulance if you develop chest pains after an accident.
The ambulance will:
- Get you to the ER (emergency room) fast
- Protect you during the ride to the ER
- Help you prove the seriousness of your injury during your auto accident claim
Describe your chest pains as accurately as possible to your doctor to help them make the correct diagnosis.
Follow Your Doctor's Advice
The doctor will diagnose and prescribe treatment for your injuries. Your role is to follow the doctor's orders to the letter. For example, the doctor may advise you to:
- Avoid strenuous activities
- Get certain hours of bed rest
- Avoid some things, such as cigarettes or alcohol, during recuperation
Follow the doctor's instructions both for your recovery and auto accident claim. That way, you can prove to the defendant that you mitigated your injuries by following your doctor's advice to the letter.
File an Auto Accident Claim
A serious chest injury can affect your life in multiple ways. For example, you might:
- Struggle to help or play with your kids
- Struggle to enjoy physically demanding hobbies
- Spend a long time in a hospital
- Miss work and its related wages
- Require ongoing or long-term treatment
Monetary compensation by the defendant might not make you whole, but it might ease some of your suffering. Discover a few tips to maximize your possible compensation:
- Gather and preserve as much evidence as possible.
- Don't settle your case until you reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI).
- File your claim against all the potentially liable parties.
- Include every possible damage in your claim.
Hopefully, your auto accident attorney will help you recover maximum damages.
Contact Schonberg Law Offices for consultation on your auto accident case. We will review your case and help you pursue your settlement.
Understanding your rights when you or a loved one are faced with nursing home abuse or neglect is critical. Read on to learn more about available options.
In personal injury cases, expert witnesses can play a crucial role in helping plaintiffs prove their cases. Explore the various types of expert witnesses.
What are signs that you may need to hire a product liability lawyer? Learn about some signs that indicate you may benefit from their services.
The pain and suffering you go through with a slip and fall injury can add to the trauma. Learn how the emotional harm in the situation is vital to the case.
The elderly are particularly vulnerable to abuse in nursing homes. Below are steps to protect your loved ones from such abuse when they move to one.
Premises liability law can get you compensation. Read on to discover four things you must prove to use premises liability for your mall attack case.
Determining who is liable after a truck accident can be complex. Read this blog on how a trucking company's actions can lead to accidents.
Beyond physical injuries, a car accident can leave you with debilitating PTSD. Learn about this condition and its relation to your personal injury claim.
The personal injury claims process can seem overwhelming and confusing. Learn more of the steps in a typical personal injury claim.
Want to understand premises liability? What is it? What are its limits? And how can you prove it in court? Explore answers to your important questions.
CONTACT INFORMATION
LOCATIONS
Central Valley Office:
209 State Route 32
Central Valley, NY 10917
Newburgh Office:
2717 Broadway
Newburgh, NY 12550
Poughkeepsie Office:
13 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
CERTIFICATIONS
