Feeling chest pain following a car accident is not uncommon. The sheer force of deceleration upon impact is often enough to cause light pain or minor bruising. In many cases, these are not a cause for concern. However, when symptoms and pain become more severe, taking action and seeking medical treatment is essential.
If you have suffered severe chest pain following a car accident in Mississippi, the car accident attorneys of Giddens Law Firm, P.A. may be able to help. Attorney John Giddens has dedicated his practice to injury victims across Mississippi for nearly three decades. Today, he and his firm maintain a successful track record of receiving fair compensation for those injured in auto accidents, including those who suffer severe injuries that cause chest pain. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
The Causes of Chest Pain After a Car Accident
The following are common causes of chest pain from car accidents:
- Whiplash—While whiplash-associated disorder is usually associated with the neck, it can also cause pain in the chest. Whiplash involves a person’s head, neck, and upper body being violently jerked back and forth, causing muscle and ligament strains. Chest pain from whiplash may also emerge from damage to blood vessels.
- Airbags—Airbag deployment during an accident prevents serious injuries. Airbag deployment systems do this by putting immense pressure on a driver’s head and chest. This pressure can make injuries less severe and save lives, but it can still result in some internal injuries and external damage.
- Seat Belts—Like airbags, seat belts often save the lives of those involved in car accidents. However, a tight seat belt can also cause a chest injury. Sudden deceleration causes a seat belt to tighten. During an accident, this happens quickly and forcefully, and the seat belts force too much pressure into a passenger’s body, causing injuries such as abrasions, bruises, and even broken bones. Impact with seat belt buckles can also cause injuries.
- Blunt Force Trauma—Blunt force trauma is the most common cause of pain in the chest following an accident. It is simply the forceful impact the body experiences with another object at high velocity, such as a car’s steering wheel or dashboard.
- Mental Illness or Disability – The aftermath of a car crash causes both mental and physical problems. An accident is a traumatic event and often has negative consequences for a person’s mental health. An accident can cause a person to experience post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, panic attacks, and more. Some physical symptoms of these mental disorders may include shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and even minor-to-severe chest pain.
- Specific Physical Injuries – Many accident injuries, such as bruises or lacerations, are easy for a person to recognize. Understanding some other common injuries that may not be visible is essential. Muscle strains, sternum fractures, rib fractures, or internal organ damage may cause chest pain. These injuries are often severe and require proper medical professional diagnosis.
The Signs of a Serious Chest Injury
Severe pain is a sign that a chest injury may be severe. A main measure of just how severe an injury may be is how that pain affects your daily activities. The inability to take deep breaths, move or rest, apply pressure to the chest muscles, or even move without pain or discomfort are all common symptoms of severe chest injuries. These issues can extend to pain when coughing, laughing, or sneezing and may signal soft tissue or internal organ injuries.
Ignoring the symptoms of chest injuries can have severe consequences. For instance, seeking treatment for intense pain and high blood pressure following a crash may prevent a heart attack in the future. You cannot do this yourself, though. If you are dealing with the signs of an injury, it is essential to seek medical intervention for accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.
What Are the Treatment Options For Chest Pain After a Car Crash?
Treatment for chest pain may vary greatly depending on the type of injury sustained. Treatment plans for a minor chest injury may be as simple as bedrest and ice packs. For others, the recovery process may involve medications. An array of injuries and severe conditions may require surgery followed by physical therapy when serious. Your approach to recovery should be determined by a doctor rather than yourself.
For those dealing with the mental effects of an accident as well as the physical, such as PTSD and anxiety, psychological counseling and any additional therapies are available.
What to Do If You Experience Chest Pain After a Car Accident in Mississippi
The first thing to do after experiencing chest pain is to seek immediate medical attention. That is the best way to avoid health complications following an accident.
The next action is to consider your legal options and contact a car accident law firm that can handle your case. They can assist you in the process of filing a personal injury claim with your insurance company. Speaking with an attorney about compensation will ensure that you receive what you are owed for your injuries and damages.
What Compensation Do You Qualify For?
If you or a loved one has suffered a chest injury from an automobile accident, you may be able to qualify for compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages have a monetary amount placed on them. These may include compensation for medical bills brought about by a car accident or wages lost due to injuries. Additional compensation may be reserved for future medical expenses or property damage to your car.
Non-economic damages may not be measured with monetary value and may include subjective pain and suffering caused by an accident, such as emotional distress or loss of consortium.
Mississippi is considered an at-fault state, meaning that the injury victim is entitled to compensation from the person responsible for the accident. If you are a victim, you may seek compensation from the driver who caused your accident or their insurance company.
How a Mississippi Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Giddens Law Firm, P.A. has built an exceptional reputation throughout Mississippi for its relentless representation of those who suffered an injury caused by reckless drivers and its negotiation with insurance companies. Our personal injury lawyer has won millions in settlements and verdicts for our clients and will not rest until injury victims throughout Mississippi receive the compensation they deserve.
We are available every day of the week, 24 hours a day. We will evaluate the evidence and outline your legal options, no matter how complex or simple your case may be.
If someone else’s negligence in Mississippi injured you, Giddens Law Firm is prepared to fight for you. Contact our personal injury law firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation. There is no fee until we win your case.
