Being involved in a car accident can leave you with all manner of physical and psychological injuries. One of the areas of the body that is often impacted is the chest. You can strike it against the airbags and other structures, causing everything from contusions to catastrophic injuries.
If you hit your chest in a car accident, you may experience various types of injuries. Whether you’re a tourist or long-time resident, it’s important to know the basics about chest injuries in Fort Lauderdale.
Chest Contusions
Chest contusions are bruises that occur in the chest area. The seat belt or airbag could bruise your muscles, bones, and even your organs. Although many people don’t consider contusions to be serious, they can be if they involve an organ. Swelling and internal bleeding can occur, resulting in the organ not functioning as it should.
Cardiac contusions are particularly dangerous, since they can trigger irregular rhythms. In some instances, they could even lead to cardiac arrest.
Broken Ribs
Rib fractures are very common, especially when dealing with speeding accidents. The airbag’s force when it deploys or the pressure from the seat belt can snap your ribs. These are particularly tricky fractures to address because it’s often impossible to immobilize the affected bone. You would not be able to breathe or move if that were the case.
Some fractures are minor and can heal in a few weeks, while others may take months. In addition to causing pain, they can also put your life at risk if a piece of the bone punctures a lung or any other organ in the area.
Flail Chest
Flail chest is a medical emergency that involves three or more adjacent ribs breaking in two or more places. This can cause the affected chest area to not move in concert with the unharmed section. It can be almost impossible to breathe, leading to unconsciousness.
Pneumothorax
When air leaks between the chest wall and the lung, it can be very difficult for the organ to manage the oxygen exchange necessary to breathe. This type of injury is called a pneumothorax. A collapsed lung is a medical emergency because the excess air has to be removed before the lung can inflate correctly.
Hemothorax
A hemothorax happens when blood pools in the area between the lungs and the chest wall. This accumulation can lead the lung on the affected side to collapse. The pressure can prevent it from functioning as it should. This injury may require the drainage of the blood so that the lung can inflate again.
Beginning a Claim After a Chest Injury in Fort Lauderdale
Can you pursue a personal injury claim if you suffered a chest injury in a car accident? The answer will depend on how severe the injury is. Keep in mind that Florida has no-fault laws that require you to first file a claim with your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to receive help with medical expenses and lost wages in most cases.
If you sustained an injury that resulted in more significant losses than your PIP insurance can address, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. Florida allows you to do so if your injuries are considered “serious.”
You will also have to demonstrate that the other party was responsible for the collision. This involves showing that they owed you a duty of care that they breached, directly resulting in your injuries and causing you to suffer damages. If you were partly responsible, you can still obtain compensation as long as your percentage of fault is below 51%. However, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault.
Because of all of these challenges, it’s vital to seek assistance from an attorney. They can guide you through every step of the process, beginning with understanding whether your injury meets the necessary threshold to file a personal injury claim.
Contact the Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers at Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Getting injured in a car accident can leave you struggling with pain and worrying about how you’ll pay for all of the losses you suffered. If another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct resulted in a chest injury that is serious enough to step outside of no-fault laws, you’ll want to reach out to a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
At Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we can provide the full support you deserve. We have decades of experience assisting injured people throughout Florida and have recovered over $40 million for our clients. Our skilled team knows how to aggressively negotiate with insurers and how to protect your claim from their tactics.
If you have sustained an injury in a car crash, there’s no time to lose. Contact us at (954) 361-3997 to schedule a free consultation today with a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer.
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Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Fort Lauderdale
2312 S Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 361-3997
Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Clermont
1655 E Hwy 50 ste 316, Clermont, FL 34711
(352) 773-3866