Chest Injury After a Car Accident in Houston

Broken ribs and other chest injuries are quite common after car accidents. Your chest could hit the steering wheel, an inflating airbag, the seatbelt, or another surface with tremendous force, causing severe fractures, broken bones, abrasions, internal organ damage, and other chest impact injuries.

According to Medscape, rib fractures are the most common injuries caused by blunt force trauma to the chest. Ten percent of people admitted to hospitals after blunt force trauma have one or more fractured ribs.

Broken ribs could be an indicator of more severe injuries inside your chest and abdomen. That’s why it is vital to seek immediate medical attention after any crash. If you’ve suffered a severe chest injury in an accident in Houston, the next step should be to contact the experienced Houston car accident attorney at The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™ for help.

Why You Need a Lawyer from The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™ After Your Accident?

Our founding attorney, Hilda Sibrian, has a background in the human sciences, which gives her greater insight into the human body and how an injury can impact it. Since Hilda received her law degree, she has focused exclusively on personal injury law. For over 15 years, she has assisted clients throughout Houston and surrounding areas in Texas.

Hilda is dedicated to providing every client with personalized attention and achieving the best possible outcome in every case. She personally advises each client of all possible legal options and outcomes in their case so that clients can make informed decisions about their cases. She provides compassionate legal representation and requires the same of every member of her team. Before working with clients at The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™ team, every employee must pass a rigorous training program that focuses on customer service, hospitality, and personal injury law.

Hilda demands maximum settlements for her clients by providing diligent and aggressive representation, which has resulted in a $700,000 and a $500,000 award for individuals who suffered chest injuries in collisions with trucks.

Chest Injury Symptoms

In the aftermath of a crash, the initial shock and adrenaline can mask the symptoms of some serious injuries. It’s crucial to seek medical attention right away to get a thorough evaluation and treatment.

If you’ve suffered a chest injury in an accident, you may notice the following symptoms:

• Dull or sharp pain in the chest area
• Soreness and bruising
• Pain when pressure is applied to the chest
• Increased pain when inhaling, coughing, or laughing
• Spasms in the chest muscles
• Flail-chest, a condition that occurs when the chest wall “sucks in” when you inhale
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Headache

To diagnose a chest injury, your doctor will likely order an x-ray to determine if your ribs have been fractured or broken. A CT scan or other tests may also be necessary since not all fractures will show up on x-rays.

Other complications can arise from chest trauma, including internal organ damage, collapsed lungs, or pneumonia. Pneumonia is a significant concern for those who’ve suffered fractured or broken ribs. Because patients are often unable to breathe deeply due to their pain when inhaling, it is easier for pneumonia to develop.

Treatment for Traumatic Chest Injuries

The treatment of a chest injury will be managed differently depending on the severity and the symptoms you are experiencing. You may require surgery or compression bandages to immobilize and fix broken ribs in some instances.

If fluid or blood has started to collect in the chest, doctors may need to perform a chest drain. If too much pressure has built up within the chest, a tube may need to be inserted into the chest wall to allow air to escape.

To reduce the risk of infection, it is recommended that patients:

• Take deep breaths (even if it is a bit painful) to ensure proper airflow into the lungs. It is recommended that you take at least ten deep breaths every hour.
• Do not take cough suppressants or avoid coughing to prevent pain. It is important to clear phlegm from the lungs. You can support your lungs by hugging a pillow or rolled-up towel while coughing, which can ease the pain.
• Avoid laying down for prolonged periods. Continue light activity that can increase in intensity as you heal.

Who Is Responsible for Paying My Medical Bills for a Chest Injury Caused by a Car Accident?

If you’ve suffered severe chest injuries in an accident, you may be wondering how you’ll pay your medical bills and other expenses associated with the crash. If someone else’s negligence caused the accident, you have the right to expect that they will pay for the harm you’ve suffered.

Fortunately, the law allows you to hold the at-fault party responsible for the harm you’ve suffered.

You can pursue fair compensation by filing an insurance claim with the other person’s insurance. An experienced injury attorney will help by investigating the crash, determining who is at fault, and seeking the full and fair compensation you are entitled to.

What Kind of Compensation Can I Receive?

Depending on the nature and severity of the injuries you’ve suffered, you could be owed significant compensation from the at-fault party. The law allows you to recover money for economic and non-economic losses you’ve incurred due to the crash.

In general, you could be eligible to receive compensation for:

• Current and future medical bills and expenses associated with treatment
• Loss of wages due to time missed from work
• Loss of future earnings if you’ve become disabled due to the crash
• Vehicle repairs or replacement if your car was totaled
• Replacement of other personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the accident
• Pain and suffering due to your injuries
• Mental and emotional suffering caused by the crash

An experienced car accident attorney can evaluate your case and will let you know how much compensation you might expect to recover for your injury claim.

Contact a Chest injury and Rib Fracture Accident Lawyer

The Houston car accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™ know that car accidents are usually no “accident.” If you suffered chest injuries by a motor vehicle collision caused by a distracted, intoxicated, fatigued, or otherwise negligent driver, you have the right to seek fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistake.

We have the skills and experience you need on your side. Contact us on line or by phone today for a free consultation with a member of our team. When you hire us, we’ll represent you on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t owe us anything until we win your case. Don’t wait. Call now.