A chest injury after a car accident can turn an already difficult situation into something even more stressful. The force from a crash might not show immediate injury, but pain and serious problems often appear soon after. Because your chest protects so many important organs, it’s essential not to ignore any discomfort that develops after an accident, even if you can still walk or talk.
Contact our St. Louis car accident attorney if you have sustained a serious chest injury. Schedule your free consultation today to seek compensation.
How Chest Injuries Happen in Car Accidents
Chest injuries usually occur from direct hits, sudden stopping, or strong pressure against your body during a collision. Ways these injuries can happen include:
- Impact with the steering wheel or dash
- Seatbelt pulling forcefully across the abdomen and chest during sudden stops
- Deployment of airbags
- Blunt force from flying debris
- Pressure from the car collapsing in severe crashes
Always get medical attention promptly after any collision, especially if your chest hurts or it feels difficult to breathe.
Common Types of Chest Injuries From Car Accidents
As a result of these causes, there’s a wide range of injuries that can occur. Some of the most common ones are:
Chest Contusions (Bruising)
Bruises along the chest are common and frequently caused by seatbelt pressure or airbag impact. They often result in pain, tenderness to the touch, and swelling in the chest area.
Rib Fractures
Broken ribs happen especially often in serious accidents. It usually becomes painful to breathe deeply, cough, or twist your body, and sometimes sharp pain can list for weeks after the crash.
Sternum (Breastbone) Fractures
The breastbone can crack when the chest smashes into unpadded steering wheels. Such injuries bring serious pain at the front of the chest and, in some cases, could affect your heart or lungs underneath.
Internal Organ Injuries
Hard hits to the chest might cause lung injuries or even heart bruises. These conditions sometimes make it hard to breathe, create coughs, or require emergency care. Air trapped outside the lung (called a pneumothorax) can collapse part of it, which is dangerous.
Pay attention to any discomfort, swelling, pain, or trouble breathing after a car accident. Chest injuries are serious, and you don’t want to delay getting medical care
Proving a Chest Injury Claim in St. Louis, MO
After a car accident, proving that you suffered a chest injury and that the injury is connected to the crash can be difficult. Insurance companies want concrete evidence, which often includes:
Medical Records
You need to gather and present medical records of your injuries. This likely includes emergency room visits, imaging results, doctor’s notes, treatment plans, and anything else you can use to show that you were injured on a particular day and time and that you sought treatment immediately.
Diagnostic Imaging
X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs provide physical proof of broken bones, internal injuries, or bruising inside the chest. These images show injuries the eye can’t see and can connect your condition to the accident.
Doctor Testimony
Your physician’s statements can connect your symptoms to the accident as opposed to a past medical issue. A doctor report explaining how your injury reflects trauma from the crash can make it harder for the insurance company to dispute your claim.
Accident Reports
Police reports should be generated when law enforcement arrives at the scene of the crash. These explain what happened, who was involved, who the officer thinks might be at fault, and whether anyone involved received a traffic citation. This can help substantiate your claim.
Witness Testimony
If anyone saw how the accident occurred, it’s helpful for your lawyer to speak with them. Always get names and contact information from all witnesses to the accident if possible.
Building a strong chest injury claim in St. Louis takes effort, but with a St. Louis catastrophic injury lawyer, you can obtain the records you need and move forward with your claim. If you’d like professional support handling your case, contact us to schedule a free consultation.