All About Chest Contusions

All About Chest Contusions

Chest contusions are also fairly common. The symptoms of a chest contusion may be confused with general muscle pain, anxiety, and panic attacks brought on by accidents. However, some chest contusions do require medical treatment, so it’s important to seek care for possible injuries as soon as possible.

If you’re interested in receiving fair compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligence, our personal injury lawyers are here to support you. Call Peake & Fowler at 803-788-4370 to schedule a consultation now.

How Chest Contusions Happen

Chest contusions are often a result of blunt force trauma. A contusion is essentially a bruise, but due to the amount of pressure and force involved in a car accident, it is sometimes very serious.

Several different things can lead to chest contusions. If the force of a crash sends you flying forward and your seatbelt stops you, the pressure of the seatbelt can easily leave you with a contusion. The same is true if you lurch forward and smack into the dashboard or steering wheel.

One of the most common causes of chest contusions is actually a safety feature. When airbags deploy in a crash, the explosion can cause significant trauma to your chest. However, in these cases, a chest contusion is often the best result. Since airbags only go off in accidents with substantial force, an airbag injury likely saves you from more serious injuries.

Symptoms You May Experience

This type of injury causes a variety of symptoms, so it’s worth getting checked out if you experience any of these:

  • Pain or soreness
  • Swelling of the chest area
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Bruising in the area
  • Coughing up blood
  • Crunching sounds coming from the chest region
  • Pale or clammy skin
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Intense thirst

Related Injuries

Unfortunately, severe chest contusions can actually cause even more serious injuries. Getting checked out right away after an accident can help you catch more serious diagnoses, including:

  • Bruised lungs. Bruised lungs suffer vessel damage and often lead to fluid buildup in the area, putting you at risk of respiratory illnesses and lung infections.
  • Fractured ribs. Broken ribs are fairly common in car accidents. These injuries often heal without intervention, but in some cases, a broken rib can actually puncture the lungs and cause a pneumothorax.
  • Pneumothorax or lung tear. Tears in the lung can cause the lung to collapse. Patients report difficulty breathing, fast and shallow breathing, pain, and symptoms associated with a loss of oxygen. This type of injury requires immediate care to prevent death or long-term health concerns.
  • This is another serious outcome of a chest contusion. As blood builds up in the chest cavity, victims may experience pain, fatigue, clammy skin, and deep purple bruising. Prompt treatment is necessary to avoid permanent health concerns.

Treatment Options

The severity of your chest contusion determines which course of treatment is best for you. Minor contusions typically heal on their own without medical intervention. Patients may simply need to rest and take some time off of work. If your chest contusion is serious enough to impact your breathing, you may need oxygen or ventilation. Serious injuries caused by contusions are often treated surgically.

Getting Full and Fair Compensation for a Chest Contusion

A chest contusion can seriously impact your health and your financial wellbeing. If your injuries occurred because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. You may receive money for medical bills, time spent away from work, property damage, and other losses. However, it is important to discuss your options with an attorney. The other party’s insurance provider may not be willing to offer a fair settlement without a fight.

Start Your Personal Injury Claim with Peake & Fowler

The team at Peake & Fowler is here to help you fight for the money you are owed. If you are ready to take the first step, let’s sit down and talk. Contact us online or call us at 803-788-4370.