Car accidents leave a variety of injuries for everyone involved. A common problem with these cases, however, is that not all damages manifest immediately.
Some victims may experience chest pains a few days or weeks after the accident. Of course, the longer it takes the victim to file their legal claim, the harder it will be for them to earn compensation.
There are a few steps to follow when someone experiences car accident chest pain. With the help of legal experts, victims can cover medical expenses and other related bills.
Those experiencing delayed chest pain after car accident will find all the information they need below.
What's "Delayed Chest Pain"?
As the name implies, it's chest pain that manifests after an accident. Even if the chest doesn't seem to be bruised after an accident, the victim should seek medical attention immediately.
The person may have a severe chest injury depending on how harsh the accident was and how intense the pain is. Getting help from an expert ensures the victim receives an accurate diagnosis and records all necessary evidence to use later.
Usually, chest pain is normal after an accident. Even though most victims will experience different chest injury symptoms, they should not ignore them if they don't seem that dangerous at first.
Treating these injuries right away can make all the difference in the future, especially when making a legal claim. If a victim takes too long to get medical attention, for example, the defendant may argue that the injuries aren't too severe. This may affect the compensation the victim gets in the end.
What Causes Delayed Chest Pain After a Car Accident?
Unfortunately, victims can experience chest pain for many reasons since car accidents are unique most of the time.
Some common causes of delayed chest pain include:
Blunt Force Trauma
Blunt force trauma refers to any injury caused by forceful impacts, physical attacks with a dull object, or falls. In this case, the force comes from the person's body slamming against their vehicle.
This can cause a wide range of problems, including internal organ injuries, broken ribs, and more.
Bruising
Bruising is more visible compared to other symptoms. When this happens, a few small veins and/or blood vessels break, causing the body to get bruises.
Usually, bruising should get better after a while, as it's in the "soft tissue injuries" category. However, if the bruising doesn't get better (or gets worse), that could mean the presence of a hematoma, which requires medical care.
Muscle Strain
Muscle strains happen when the chest's muscle fibers are torn or overstretched. Considering that most car accidents cause bodies to be suddenly pulled, this can cause serious muscle strain, which leads to severe pain.
Of course, victims may prevent straining by putting on a seat belt, but some accidents are harsh enough to make the muscle strain anyway.
Seat Belt Injuries
Seat belts are meant to protect people from accidents, but that doesn't mean they're perfect. When a car gets into a crash, the seat belt tightens, causing the body to slam back into the seat instead of ejecting outside the vehicle.
Even though ricocheting back into a seat isn't as painful as getting thrown out of the car, such a rapid force can injure the chest.
Common injuries include:
Rib fractures
Bruises
Sternal fractures
Some severe cases may also cause damage to internal organs, so all victims must seek help immediately to address those problems.
Internal Injury
Internal injuries tend to be the most worrying ones for victims. Sometimes, these injuries don't manifest right away.
Most of the time, an injury to the chest wall can develop into rib fractures and or heart muscle problems. Rib fractures, specifically, could lead to punctured organs.
Common cases that lead to internal injuries include:
Heart injury
Punctured lung
Pulmonary contusion
Spleen injury
Liver injury
Cardiac contusion
Airbag Deployment
Airbags can save a person's life after an accident, but they could also cause a few injuries. It all depends on how close the victim was to the steering wheel and how severe the crash was.
Common injuries include:
Internal bleeding
Internal injuries
Contusions
Abrasions
Lacerations
How Serious Are Chest Pains for the Victim?
Even though not all chest pains are severe, others may warrant immediate medical attention. Otherwise, these injuries could be fatal.
Experiencing severe pain after an accident is already a sign the victim should go to the doctor to address the issue. Even if the person doesn't feel anything at first, they should get checked.
A visit to the doctor could prove effective in saving the person's life later. It also helps with gathering evidence for a personal injury claim. If the victim can prove they visited the doctor right after an accident, they could have the upper hand when negotiating.
Common Symptoms After a Car Accident
Chest injuries vary depending on the type of accident, how fast the drivers were going, and other factors.
Victims who feel any of the following symptoms must seek help as soon as possible:
Dizziness
Low energy
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Irregular heartbeat
Low blood pressure
Wheezing
Crackling sound when breathing (or breathing problems in general)
Sharp pain when twisting the upper body
Minor injuries like bruises may not take more than a month to heal, whereas severe ones could take up to two months. Addressing these injuries in time may make the recovery process shorter and smoother.
What Can People Do If They're Experiencing Chest Pain After an Accident?
The first thing to do is to seek help for themselves and anyone else who got injured. Emergency responders will determine whether the injuries need further investigation or treatment.
Once everyone is safe, the victim should start gathering evidence for their claim. This includes taking pictures and videos of the accident scene, talking to witnesses, gathering information from the at-fault driver, and calling the police.
All these actions will make it easier for the victim and their attorney to build a solid case. The better the case, the more likely it is for the victim to get justice for what happened.
Can Victims Get Compensated Because of a Severe Chest Injury?
Yes, victims are encouraged to seek legal help after an accident to get compensated. The settlement money helps to pay for medical expenses, treatments, lost wages, property damage, and more.
Recovery processes are already overwhelming for everyone, and adding financial strain on top of that will make things worse. Winning the case means the victim can recover without worrying about not having enough money to pay for everything.
The best way to know if a victim has a case is to talk with car accident lawyers in Nashville TN. They will give the person an estimate of how much they could win based on the circumstances.
About Tennessee's "At Fault" Principle
Tennessee is considered a "fault state." This means that at-fault drivers are responsible for paying for the victim's recovery expenses, either through a civil lawsuit or their insurance company.
Something to keep in mind is that, in Tennessee, victims can recover compensation as long as they're less than 49% at fault for the accident. Likewise, the state uses a "comparative negligence" principle, which states that both people involved in the accident share the blame depending on what they did and how these actions contributed to the crash.
If the victim is proven to be over 50% at fault, they may not be able to recover anything.
All drivers are required to have liability insurance, which may put some weight off the defendant's shoulders. However, if the damages exceed the maximum liability coverage, the victim may have to consider other options.
Should Car Accident Victims Seek Help from an Attorney?
No matter how minor an injury may seem, a car accident victim should seek medical treatment as soon as they notice it. A serious injury may not manifest until long after the car accident, which can become a problem for those wanting to sue the at-fault party.
A personal injury lawyer can take care of all details surrounding the case, which involves gathering evidence, preparing the victim for negotiation, and representing them in court if necessary. They can also help answer questions such as amazon truck hit my car who do I call?
Legal proceedings are stressful, especially if the at-fault party or their insurance provider isn't cooperative. Leaving the process to a lawyer ensures the victim can focus on their recovery while they take care of the rest.
Getting help from a lawyer also helps the victim get as much compensation as possible. They're familiar with the tricks insurance companies use to offer less money in a settlement, so they can use that information against them to get the plaintiff justice. They can also assist with situations like car accident other driver has no insurance.
Bottom Line
Dealing with chest injuries and compensation can be confusing, so why not leave the legal part to professionals? At Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, experts are willing to help anyone who experienced a car accident and is dealing with delayed chest pain.
Victims can contact the law firm for a free consultation to get started. From that point on, they can expect solid and professional legal services.