Car accidents in Lafayette, LA cause all types of injuries, from broken bones and whiplash to spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Chest injuries after a car accident are common; they can be caused by numerous factors involved in the collision. If you sustained a chest injury after a car accident, you could be entitled to compensation.
Common Chest Injuries Sustained in Lafayette Car Accidents
There are several types of chest injuries you may sustain if you are involved in a traffic accident. Common chest injuries caused by car accidents include, but are not limited to:
- Cracked and broken ribs
- Flail chest
- Internal organ damage, including lung and heart damage
- Internal bleeding
- Puncture wounds
- Soft tissue injuries
- Collapsed lungs
- Ruptured diaphragm
- Injuries to the esophagus and trachea
Chest injuries can result in life-threatening conditions. In some cases, a chest injury could result in permanent impairment or disability.
Immediate medical treatment is required to diagnose a chest injury. A car accident victim may not be immediately aware they sustained a chest injury. However, the chest injury could lead to a life-threatening situation. Prompt medical treatment helps reduce the risk of long-term conditions and death.
Common Complications and Conditions Caused by Chest Injuries
A chest injury can cause numerous complications and life-altering disabilities. Common consequences of a chest injury after a car crash include:
- Heart attack
- Secondary infections
- Long-term pulmonary problems
- Pleural sepsis
- Respiratory failure
- Nerve damage
- Heart damage
- Chronic pain
- Pneumonia
- Wrongful death
The outcome of a chest injury depends on many factors, including the type and severity of the chest injury. Your age and health conditions can also be factors. The sooner you seek medical treatment, the better for your future health and the outcome of a personal injury claim.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Chest Injury After a Car Accident?
The NHTSA estimates that roughly 80% of traffic accidents result in head and chest injuries. Because chest injuries are common after car accidents, it is important to know the signs and symptoms of chest injuries. Common signs to watch for include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pains, including dull and sharp pains
- Pain that becomes worse when you breathe or cough
- Discoloration and bruising
- Shortness of breath
It could take hours or days to experience the full symptoms of a chest injury. Furthermore, you may experience additional symptoms based on the specific type of chest injury. For example, symptoms of internal bleeding include, but are not limited to, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, clammy skin, nausea, confusion, and dizziness.
Chest injuries can be difficult to diagnose without X-rays and other imaging tests. It is always best to be safe and see a doctor after a car accident for a full examination.
How Do Car Accidents Cause Chest Injuries in Lafayette, LA?
Any traumatic event could result in chest injury. Blunt force trauma is often the cause of chest injuries. During a car accident, several scenarios can cause chest injuries, including:
- The impact of airbags
- Being crushed when thrown from the vehicle
- Cabin intrusion (the car crumpling inward)
- Hitting the steering wheel or dashboard
- Trauma from items striking you that were thrown around during the collision
- The force of seatbelts and child restraint systems
The type of collision and where a person sits in the vehicle can impact the risk of a chest injury sustained in a car accident. However, all car crashes have the risk of causing severe injuries, including chest injuries.
What Damages Are Available for a Chest Injury Claim After a Car Accident in Louisiana?
A chest injury can cause substantial damage to an accident victim. They suffer because of the physical injury, but they also may incur substantial financial losses. Accident victims can seek compensation for their injuries and losses under Louisiana’s personal injury laws.
Examples of economic and non-economic damages in a claim for chest injuries after a car accident include:
- Past and future medical costs
- Long-term nursing and/or personal care
- Property damage
- Current and future lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Rehabilitative therapy
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Impairments and disabilities
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Determining the value of your damages can be difficult. Future damages are challenging to value with the assistance of expert witnesses to estimate the cost of future medical care, lost wages, and other financial losses. Placing a value on pain and suffering damages can also be a problem.
A Lafayette personal injury lawyer works with expert witnesses to assess how much your case is worth. They understand how to value damages to maximize your compensation for a chest injury claim.
How Much Is a Chest Injury Claim Worth if It Occurred Because of a Car Accident?
How much you receive for a chest injury after a car accident depends on the factors involved in the car accident claim. Many factors impact the value of your claim, including:
- The types of injuries you sustain and the extent of each injury
- The amount of your lost wages, property damage, medical bills, and other monetary damages
- How long it takes you to recover from your injuries
- Whether you sustain any permanent impairments
- The parties involved in your accident
- Whether you can return to work after the doctor releases you from care
- The evidence you have proving the other driver caused the crash
- Whether you could potentially share fault for causing the car accident
- The insurance coverage and policy limits available for your claim
Your injuries and level of fault are significant factors in determining how much your chest injury claim is worth. Louisiana contributory fault laws could reduce the amount you receive for damages if your actions contributed to the cause of the car crash. Insurance companies often try to shift blame to the accident victim to avoid paying the total value of damages.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Chest Injury Claim After a Car Accident in Louisiana?
The Louisiana statute of limitations for most car accident claims is two years from the date of the accident. If you miss the deadline for filing a lawsuit, you lose the right to take the party to court for damages. Because you do not want to lose your legal rights, talking with a Lafayette car accident lawyer as soon as possible is in your best interest.
Do You Have Questions About Car Accidents and Chest Injuries?
Our Lafayette personal injury attorneys can help you with an accident claim for damages. Call us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with an attorney.
Reach out for a free initial consultation with our experienced lawyers at Kenny Habetz Injury Law to learn more about your legal rights and options. Give us a call at (337) 399-9000.
