Designed to protect some of your most important organs, including the heart and lungs, the chest region of the body is also extremely prone to car crash injuries. While some chest injuries heal with a little bit of rest and pain medication, others require intubation, surgery, and ongoing rehabilitative care. Until you know the prognosis of your injury, it’s impossible to know how much it may cost you.
If an accident caused by someone else’s action or inaction has left you injured, you may be able to seek compensation. We’ll be with you every step of the way. Call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. at (312) 236-2900 or get in touch online.
Common Chest Injuries
Generally, chest injuries are defined as blunt or penetrating. A blunt injury is one that is not caused by the tearing of skin by a penetrating object. A penetrating injury is typically caused by bullet wounds, stabbing, broken glass, or sharp pieces of metal.
Common injuries include:
- Collapsed lung/s. Collapsed lungs can leave victims unable to breathe, as inhaled air enters the cavity of the chest wall instead of the lungs. Outcomes depend largely on whether victims experience a completely collapsed lung or partially collapsed lung.
- Broken ribs. Blunt trauma can often leave victims with broken ribs. This injury often causes pain while breathing and lying down. Depending on how many ribs are broken and their location, patients may heal with rest or may require surgical intervention.
- Flail chest. When part of the rib cage separates from the chest wall, damage to the lungs often occurs as well. This is a serious injury, and those who sustain flail chest often need mechanical assistance with breathing.
- Organ damage. The heart, lungs, and diaphragm are all susceptible to organ damage after blunt or penetrating trauma. Surgical intervention is often necessary to prevent death or permanent damage.
- Sternum fracture. Damage to the sternum prevents the ribs from functioning as they should. Sternum fractures often lead to organ damage, and furthermore, they generally require months of rest and treatment before victims recover.
- Internal bleeding. This injury may not always be immediately detectable but can be extremely dangerous, demonstrating the importance of a full medical check after an accident.
Causes of Chest Injuries
Most chest injuries occur in accidents that involve a high amount of force. For example, a car crash in which you slam against the airbag or seatbelt is likely to leave you with chest trauma. The same is true for a vehicle accident in which you are flung from the vehicle and hit the pavement. Other causes of chest injuries include falls from significant heights, assault, and pedestrian accidents.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney
Since the chest houses so many important organs, it should be obvious that damage to this area could cause serious injuries or even death. Because of this, many people believe they can trust the insurance company to do the right thing, pay a fair settlement, and protect their health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, this simply isn’t true. It’s true that insurance companies understand the risks of chest injuries and the likelihood of victims needing substantial medical treatment and recovery time. However, paying settlements that match that conflicts with their end goal, which is saving money and boosting their profits.
In order to spend less money on settlements, insurance companies use a wide variety of tricks. They may downplay the severity of your accident, try to twist evidence to make it seem like you caused the crash, look for social media evidence that you are not as injured as you seem, and even use your own words against you. As a result, you could end up with a ridiculously low settlement that doesn’t cover your medical bills or time away from work. But by the time you realize that the settlement you accepted was too low, it’s already too late for you to fight for more.
To protect yourself from this injustice, you need a Chicago personal injury attorney. The team at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. knows everything that insurance companies do to take advantage of victims, and we are ready to fight on your behalf. Backed by evidence and a thorough investigation of your injuries, we will demand a fair settlement from the insurance company and negotiate. If necessary, we are ready to take your case to court and hold the other party accountable for their negligence. Rather than spending your time arguing with insurance adjusters, tracking down medical records, and trying to prove that you deserve a fair settlement, you can rest and focus on recuperating.
Getting the Compensation You Deserve
The amount of money you may be able to get depends on the circumstances and severity of your accident. During your initial consultation, we will look at the facts of your case and help you understand your options. You may get money for:
Find Out How We Can Help With Your Chicago Personal Injury Case
Don’t wait to discuss your chest injury with a personal injury attorney in Chicago. The sooner you retain a lawyer, the more time they have to investigate your accident and start building a solid claim for you. To set up a consultation with Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., fill out our form here or call us at (312) 236-2900.
