You should never take a car crash injury lightly, especially one that causes chest pain. Chest pain could be a sign of a dangerous injury, such as a punctured lung, broken ribs or even a heart attack.
In this blog, we explain why some crash victims experience chest pain, the other symptoms that often accompany this type of pain, what to do about these symptoms and filing a claim for compensation.
Wisconsin crash victims who suffered chest pain after the accident may be able to claim compensation for the cost of medical care, including ongoing care. Compensation may also be available for other damages caused by the collision and their resulting injuries.
Sigman Janssen’s Green Bay auto accident lawyers have many years of experience helping those injured in car crashes. We have secured millions for our clients, and we represent the injured at no upfront cost.
Call (877) 888-5201 today to find out if we may be able to assist you.
What Causes Crash Victims to Experience Chest Pain?
There are many reasons why some crash victims may experience chest pain. Some crash victims get hit directly in the chest during impact, such as by the steering wheel, airbag or dashboard. Even the seat belt can injure your chest when it stops your forward momentum.
You could even suffer an injury without getting hit in the chest, as sudden, forceful deceleration can strain your muscles. This could lead to bruising or even damage to your internal organs.
Types of Injuries That May Cause Pain in Your Chest
Post-crash chest pain is often a symptom of one of the following injuries:
- Bruised or broken ribs: Blunt force trauma to your chest could bruise or fracture your ribs. This can be an incredibly painful injury, as it can be painful to breathe or move your torso. Fractured ribs could puncture your lungs, which is just one reason to seek immediate treatment.
- Bruised or broken sternum: A sharp blow to the center of your chest could bruise or even break your sternum.
- Heart attack: A sharp blow to the chest could trigger an arrythmia that could result in a heart attack. This could happen to anyone, even if they do not have a history of heart trouble.
- Soft-tissue Injuries: Car crashes can stretch or tear muscles and ligaments in the chest. This can result in swelling and severe discomfort. Sometimes soft-tissue injuries are just a side effect of another more severe injury, like broken or bruised ribs.
- Internal injuries: This could include a punctured lung, cardiac contusion or damage to organs like the liver, kidneys or spleen. You could also experience internal bleeding. You need to meet with a qualified medical professional to properly diagnose your injuries, such as by doing a chest X-ray or MRI. These are the only ways to see inside your chest to determine what is going on.
- Whiplash: You may think it makes no sense that you could be experiencing chest pain because of a neck injury like whiplash. However, getting jostled around during the collision can affect your chest muscles as well as the soft tissues in your neck.
- Damage to your trachea: The trachea sends air to and from your lungs as you breathe.
If you have pain in your chest after a collision, you need to seek medical attention right away. You may have a serious injury and if you wait to seek medical help, your condition could get much worse. You may also be putting yourself at higher risk for complications that could be difficult to treat.
Other Symptoms That May Accompany Chest Pain
It is important to specify the kind of chest pain that may occur after a crash. For example, you may have pain even when you are sitting still. The pain may worsen if any amount of pressure is applied to your chest, or if you laugh, cough or sneeze. Movement is likely to make the pain even worse.
Chest pain on its own is concerning enough, but you should be even more concerned if you experience other symptoms, such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Rapid heartbeat
- Heart palpitations
- Swelling or bruising around your chest
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling sick to your stomach or vomiting
- Elevated heartbeat
- Blood in your urine
- Grinding noise when you breathe
What Should I do if I Feel Pain in My Chest After a Collision?
You should never downplay chest pain, especially if you were just involved in a crash. You need to see a doctor immediately, especially if you experience the other symptoms listed above.
You may think the pain will simply go away, and that is possible, such as if you have surface-level bruising. However, there is no way to know what injury you have unless you are diagnosed by a medical professional. You may have a minor injury, but you need to see a doctor to rule out a major injury.
You cannot see internal injuries, and it may take a little time for symptoms to present themselves. It is best to err on the side of caution and go to the hospital.
Not waiting to seek treatment also helps to connect your injury to the crash. If you go right to the hospital, it is harder to dispute the cause of your injuries/symptoms.
Make sure to continue your treatment as directed by your doctor and inform him or her about changes in your condition or symptoms. Continuing your treatment helps to show the seriousness of your injuries and how committed you are to getting better.
Including Chest Pain in an Auto Accident Claim
If you were injured by the negligence of another driver, you can seek compensation for all the resulting damages, including medical costs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering and more.
Recovering full compensation without the help of a lawyer can be a challenge, as insurance companies like to downplay the severity of an injury. A lawyer can help document all the damages you suffered, including non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
At Sigman Janssen, we recognize that an injury can affect more than just your physical health. We want you to be fully compensated so you can move forward with your life.
Contact Sigman Janssen Today to Discuss an Auto Accident Claim
Chest pain can be a frightening symptom. Victims may wonder if they are having a heart attack or dealing with serious internal organ damage.
If you are experiencing chest pain after an auto accident, you need immediate medical attention. If you think the crash was caused by the other driver, his or her insurance company may be liable for your damages. That is why it can be highly beneficial to call an experienced lawyer to discuss your next steps.
Free legal consultation. No upfront costs for crash victims. Call Sigman Janssen: (877) 888-5201.