When a car accident happens, violent forces can affect every part of the human body—especially the chest. These devastating impacts often result in life-threatening injuries that require emergency care, specialized trauma treatment, and months of healing. If you suffered chest injuries in a McAllen car accident, you are not alone and you have legal options available to aid in your recovery journey.
Types of Chest Injuries That Can Happen in a Car Accident
During a collision, the chest can absorb tremendous pressure from seat belts or deployed airbags. The steering wheel may crush against the ribcage, and the sheer momentum can slam internal organs against the chest wall.
Some of the most common chest injuries in car accidents include:
- Broken Ribs and Sternum: The intense force of a collision can fracture multiple ribs or crack the sternum (breastbone) when the chest hits the steering wheel, dashboard, or even from the pressure of the seatbelt. These fractures cause severe pain, make breathing difficult, and can take months to heal properly.
- Bruised or Collapsed Lung: The trauma may cause the lungs to be damaged or collapse entirely. This can make it extremely difficult to breathe, which can be life-threatening without treatment.
- Heart Contusion (Myocardial Contusion): This condition occurs when the heart suffers bruising due to the impact of the collision. As a result, the heart may be unable to work properly, requiring careful monitoring during recovery.
- Internal Bleeding: High-impact crashes can tear blood vessels in the chest cavity, leading to dangerous internal bleeding that may not be immediately visible. Without emergency treatment, this hidden injury can cause organ failure or death.
- Soft Tissue Damage: The violent motion of a crash can strain or tear the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the chest area. The seat belt can also cause severe bruising and tissue damage across the chest wall.
Seeking Compensation for Chest Injuries After a Crash in McAllen
If you suffered chest injuries in a McAllen car accident, the challenges can be manifold. You can face extended hospital stays, multiple surgeries, and months of rehabilitation, depending on the severity of the damage. This financial burden can multiply through medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing therapy costs. Combine these impacts with chronic pain, limited mobility, and psychological trauma, and the aftermath can seem impossible to overcome.
However, you have options for seeking justice. Texas operates under a fault-based system for car accidents, empowering injured victims to pursue fair compensation through insurance claims or lawsuits. When another driver’s negligence causes chest injuries, you can recover damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses by filing one of these claims.
Speak with a McAllen Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you want to file a chest injury claim after a car accident, you need an attorney on your side. Many victims find themselves overwhelmed by paperwork and legal procedures while still dealing with the physical pain and emotional trauma of the accident. Complex insurance negotiations and evidence gathering can add to this stress. In these situations, trust De La Garza Law Firm to fight for you.
Our McAllen car accident lawyers can guide you through every step of the process while protecting your rights and best interests. Contact us today at (956) 533-1426 to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can fight for you.
