If you were recently in an accident and believe you may have suffered a chest injury, the legal team at Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. We can discuss your legal rights and options following an accident that was not your fault and your ability to recover compensation for the medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages you have suffered. Contact us today for a free and confidential case review.
Overview of Chest Injuries
Chest injuries can be extremely painful injuries. They can affect your ability to breathe and work. Chest injuries include any type of trauma to the chest. They are also known as “thoracic injuries” or “thoracic trauma.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that approximately 80% of all motor vehicle accident injuries impact the chest or head.
What Are Common Causes of Chest Injuries?
Chest injuries can be caused by blunt force or penetrating trauma to the chest. Blunt force trauma refers to external force applied to the chest while penetrating injuries are those that break through the chest wall, such as from a bullet or knife.
Common causes of chest injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bike accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Defective products
If you were injured in any of these types of accidents and suffered a chest injury, an experienced lawyer can help you evaluate your legal options.
Types of Chest Injuries
There are various types of chest injuries. Many of the most common include:
- Fractured ribs
- Bruised ribs
- Flail chest
- Clavicle fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Ruptured diaphragm
- Lung contusions
- Lung lacerations
- Esophageal injuries
- Trachea injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Puncture wounds
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers handles all types of chest injury claims. If you suffered any of the injuries described above, reach out to us so that we can tell you how we can help you with your claim.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Chest Injuries?
If you were recently involved in an accident, look out for the following signs and symptoms of chest injuries:
- Pain, which worsens with breathing
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Tenderness to the chest or ribs
- Respiratory distress
- Hypotension
- Shock
- Difficulty breathing
- Decreased breath sounds
- Neck vein distention
- Coughing up blood
- A crunchy or crackling feeling under the skin
It can sometimes take hours or days for some of these chest injury symptoms to arise. Seek medical attention promptly following an accident to get your injuries diagnosed, treated, and made part of your official medical records.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Chest Injuries?
Chest injuries can be life-threatening if they are not treated in a prompt fashion. Thoracic injuries can cause long-term consequences or complications, such as:
- Chronic pain
- Respiratory failure
- Internal organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Sepsis
- Infection
- Pneumonia
- Heart damage
Research also indicates that chest injuries can often result in deadly consequences. Approximately 35% of all trauma-related deaths in the United States are caused by injuries to the chest.
What Compensation Could I Recover for My Chest Injury in Clearwater, Florida?
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party through a personal injury claim. You may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages for:
- Medical expenses, including expenses you anticipate incurring in the future
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Reduced earning capacity if the injury leaves you permanently disabled or causes you to switch jobs
- Pain and suffering
A knowledgeable lawyer can evaluate your situation and determine the types of compensation you may be eligible to receive.
What Is My Chest Injury Claim Worth?
Every case is different, so there is not a set dollar amount you can expect for a claim. Also, individual factors such as your age, health, and employment history can also impact the potential value of your claim.
Other factors that may influence the potential value of your claim include:
- The defendant’s conduct
- Whether you contributed to the accident
- Applicable insurance limits
- Whether or not you are represented by an experienced personal injury lawyer in Clearwater
- How the injury has impacted you in the short- and long-term
- Whether you suffered a permanent disability because of the accident
- The impact the injury has had on your relationship with others
- The extent of your physical and mental pain and suffering
Generally, the more severe your chest injury, the more valuable your case will be. An experienced lawyer who has worked on cases similar to yours can give you a better idea about what you may be able to receive for your claim.
Is There a Time Limit to File a Chest Injury Claim in Florida?
Yes. Florida’s statute of limitations generally gives you two years to file a lawsuit for any case based on negligence. Personal injury victims used to have four years to bring a claim. However, the law was updated on March 24, 2023 - meaning chest injuries occurring after that time are subject to the two-year limit.
Two years may seem like a lot of time, but you do not want to delay in reaching out to a lawyer.
Your personal injury lawyer will need to take time to:
- Investigate your case
- Identify all parties potentially responsible for your injury
- Gather evidence
- Preserve evidence that may otherwise be lost or stolen
- Calculate the full extent of your damages
- Handle communication with insurance companies and other parties
- Negotiate for fair compensation on your behalf
- Resolve medical liens with your healthcare providers
If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount of compensation for the injuries you have suffered, your lawyer may recommend taking your case to trial to try to recover fair compensation. In this case, your lawsuit must usually be filed before the two-year deadline. However, it is usually preferable to take action long before this deadline while evidence and witnesses’ memories are fresh. If you suffered a serious chest injury, do not delay in reaching out to an experienced lawyer for help.
Contact Our Seasoned Lawyers for Help with Your Case
If you suffered a serious chest injury because of someone else’s negligent, reckless, or intentional action, you could be entitled to compensation for the harm you have suffered. Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help guide you through the claims process. We have been recognized among Tampa Bay’s Top Trial Lawyers and have a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating, a testament to how satisfied our clients have been with our services.
Contact us today at (727) 787-2500 to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer.
