Introduction
Chest pain is one of the most common injuries and symptoms that people suffer from after being in a motor vehicle collision. Learning more about it will help you better understand your injury, the need for urgent medical care, and your legal rights to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
What causes chest pain?
Chest pain after a crash may be caused by any of the following events: (1) striking the steering wheel with your chest; (2) striking your chest against the dashboard or any other immovable object inside the car; (3) the force of your seatbelt once it’s activated; and/or (4) the force of impact of the airbags.
Can chest pain be a symptom of a more serious injury?
If you’re suffering from pain in your chest after you were in a collision, this may be a sign that you’re suffering from a serious injury such as fractured ribs; and/or damage to your internal organs including your heart and lungs.
Do I need to see a doctor for my chest pain?
If you are experiencing chest pain after a motor vehicle crash, it is important to see a doctor. You should be examined by a doctor immediately if you are experiencing any pain.
Are there any medical tests that can help diagnose my injuries?
Your doctor may recommend:
- Chest x-ray. A radiologist will take pictures of your chest and heart to see if there’s any damage to these organs, such as broken ribs or blood clots in the lungs.
- Blood tests. Your doctor may order blood tests to check for signs of internal bleeding, infection or other conditions that could cause chest pain after a crash.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG). This relatively simple test uses electrodes placed on different parts of your body to measure electrical activity within it–which gives doctors important information about how well your heart is functioning overall (or whether there are potential problems).
Get a lawyer’s advice.
Talking to an experienced car crash lawyer will help you not only understand your legal rights, but help you protect and enforce your right to recover compensation for your suffering and pain as well as a monetary award that will help you and your family pay for your medical care and replace income you’ve lost because your injuries have kept you from going back to work.
Conclusion
If you have experienced chest pain after an automobile crash, you may have been injured. You might have questions about the best way to care for yourself and what your rights are as an injured victim. If so, talk with a lawyer who specializes in these types of cases right away.
