Chest pain is a common feeling after a car accident. What makes these chest injuries scary is that it's sometimes hard to know where the root of the problem is. Not identifying the source of the chest pain in time can lead to many complications.
In any case, those who experienced chest injuries must seek medical attention right away. The longer they wait to get medical treatment, the worse the problem will get over time.
Most car accidents lead to similar injuries, so it's easy to theorize which issue the victim is dealing with. Still, these people should leave their condition to medical professionals.
What should victims do if they experience delayed chest pain after car accident events? All the necessary information is below.
Are Delayed Chest Pains Dangerous?
Usually, severe injuries are noticeable right away after an accident. What about those that appear later?
Other problems like broken ribs, soft tissue injuries, and damage to internal organs aren't discovered until the person goes to their doctor.
Even though these injuries aren't as easy to discover, they start showing symptoms sooner than later. Most people will start feeling off-and-on chest pain. This is a warning sign, and nobody should ignore it
Not treating chest injuries right away will lead to life-threatening complications, so it's better to be safe than sorry.
What Can Cause Delayed Chest Pain After a Car Accident?
Many injuries can lead to delayed chest pain. This is why it's important to seek immediate medical attention. The sooner the victim does it, the more likely they'll be to address the damage before it's too late.
Here's a list of common causes of delayed chest pain everyone should be aware of:
Muscle Strain
It happens when muscle fibers get overstretched or torn. Due to the nature of car accidents, it's not uncommon for the chest muscles to be pulled harshly, which can lead to strain.
Drivers can prevent muscle strain by putting on a seat belt, but they will still be exposed to other problems.
Bruising
Bruising happens when veins or blood vessels break after an impact, which causes bruises to appear on the body. Of course, bruises are painful for a while, although they should get better later.
If the bruising doesn't get better, that could be a sign of an underlying problem.
Blunt Force Trauma
It refers to forceful impacts that cause an injury, as well as injuries caused by falls or attacks with a dull object.
When someone gets into a car accident, their body likely slams against the vehicle, which causes a wide range of issues (including chest injuries).
Internal Chest Injuries
Internal organ injuries are the hardest to notice. Even if the person isn't experiencing too much pain, they should seek medical attention immediately to discard any potential issues.
Usually, internal chest injury complications include:
Liver injuries
Punctured lungs
Heart injuries
Cardiac and pulmonary contusions
Seat Belt Injuries
Seat belts are meant to protect people from crashes. However, if the crash is too harsh, the tightness of the seat belt will cause the person's body to slam back into the seat. In some cases, it can cause serious injury to the chest, including rib fractures, sternal fractures, or bruises.
Airbag Injuries
Airbags are also designed to protect people from fatal injuries, but that doesn't mean they will prevent all of them. Even if the airbag saved the person's life, they can still experience problems like:
Contusions
Abrasions
Internal bleeding
Lacerations
The severity of these issues may vary depending on how close the driver was to the steering wheel.
What Symptoms Can Car Accident Victims Experience?
Since chest injuries can develop into many complications, there's a considerable symptoms list to be aware of. The severity of the symptoms will vary based on the accident, how fast the driver was going, whether the victim got immediate medical attention, etc.
Victims of a car accident in Ohio can experience the following symptoms:
- Low blood pressure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Low energy
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Breathing problems
- Wheezing
- Sharp pain when moving
- Abdominal pain
Some of these symptoms are more critical than others, but all of them can worsen over time. Regardless of the circumstances of the accident, everyone should get help as soon as possible. Once the victim is safe, they can start thinking of getting legal help.
What to Do After Getting into a Car Accident in Ohio
All car accidents have different circumstances surrounding them, so it may be tricky to know what to do after one.
A victim's priority should always be to find safety. If they can't move, they should wait for help. Otherwise, they must help others who were involved and call emergency responders and the police.
Once the victim is done ensuring the safety of everyone (including theirs), they can move on and document the accident through photos and videos. It's crucial to get proof of all damages, whether they were personal or to their property.
Getting a police report in these cases is one of the best ways to determine who was at fault later. Law enforcement uses different techniques to discuss who was responsible for the crash. A copy of the report can be of great help when building a personal injury case.
Finally, the victim should get the contact information of the other driver, as well as the potential witnesses. They can then move on to calling their insurance company and lawyer to start their legal process.
Can Victims Sue the At-Fault Driver in Ohio?
Yes, all victims are encouraged to sue the other driver if they believe they were at fault for the accident.
Ohio works with an "at-fault" premise. It means that the at-fault driver is responsible for paying for the other person's treatment.
All drivers are required to get minimum liability insurance, specifically:
25k bodily injury coverage per person/accident
50k bodily injury coverage total per accident
25k property damage coverage
If the damages exceed the other person's insurance coverage, it's time to sue. Either the at-fault driver or their insurance company will argue they weren't responsible for the accident, which is why it's crucial to get help from a lawyer as soon as possible. They can also help with the average broken finger car accident settlement Ohio.
Victims must demonstrate the four following elements to prove the defendant is at fault:
The driver had a duty to drive safely and follow traffic laws.
The driver breached that duty.
The driver's breach of duty caused the accident.
The accident caused the victim to suffer injuries.
How Much Compensation Can People Get from Their Personal Injury Claim?
It depends on several factors. Usually, personal injury settlements range from $5,000 to $300,000 or more.
These key factors that affect compensation include:
Severity of the injury
Liability
Legal representation
Evidence
The best way to know how much a victim can earn from their claim is to talk to a lawyer. These experts can get an accurate estimate based on the circumstances of the case.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Makes Things Easier
Going through a personal injury case without legal help can make everything overwhelming for the victim, especially if they don't know how Ohio law works.
Insurance companies will use that weakness to make counterarguments and get the victim the lowest compensation possible. It's crucial to understand that insurance companies will always try to save as much money as possible, so they won't do anything that results in more money for the victim.
Here's where a lawyer comes in. These legal experts can navigate the victim's case thoroughly and build a plan around it. This plan will ensure the victim gets as much compensation as possible for what happened, regardless of what the other party or their insurance company may try.
Skilled auto accident attorneys helps victims make sense of what happened and the documentation they need to prove the other person's guilt. If the case goes to court, the lawyer could represent the victim and get them justice.
Those experiencing chest pain after a car accident will likely deal with emotional distress too. Adding the stress that comes from legal proceedings makes everything worse. With the help of a lawyer, however, they can ease the burden of their case and focus on their recovery. They also have insight on an average settlement for a car accident while pregnant Ohio.
Bottom Line
When it comes to getting into a car accident, chest pain is one of the most worrying things to experience. It's common for the victim to not know what to do, especially if they're in shock because of what happened.
As soon as they get back on their feet, though, they should seek medical attention to prevent further complications. Experiencing chest pain after a car accident can be a sign of a serious injury, and it's better to treat it right away than to leave it for later.
The team at Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is committed to helping people with a chest injury, especially if it was caused because of someone else's negligence. Getting compensated for the accident can help the victim pay for their medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
Those with a minor or severe chest injury can seek a free consultation with this legal team today and get justice for what happened.