Broken Ribs After a Car Accident

Broken Ribs After a Car Accident

There are many injuries we commonly associate with car accidents, including concussions from hitting your head or lacerations from broken glass. However, some crash-related injuries are not as visible or commonly considered, such as broken ribs.

You might not realize you have broken ribs at first, but these painful injuries can have long-term consequences and may require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.

If you learn you have suffered broken ribs after a car accident, always ensure you have a proper medical treatment plan so your physical healing is on track.

Then, never wait to discuss a possible injury claim with an experienced Marietta car accident lawyer. If someone else was to blame for your accident, they can explore possible avenues for fair compensation for broken ribs in a car accident.

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Types of Rib Fractures from Auto Accidents

Rib fractures vary depending on the location and severity of the break. Common injuries include:

• Simple Fractures: With a simple rib fracture, there’s a clean break in the bone, without any fragments or displacement. You'll likely experience localized pain that worsens when you move, take a deep breath, or laugh, but the bone itself remains in proper alignment.
• Displaced Fractures: Displaced rib fractures occur when the broken bone segments move out of their normal position. This tends to happen if your chest or rib cage hits the steering wheel. You may need surgical intervention to realign the bone fragments, potentially resulting in a longer recovery time with more severe complications.
• Multiple Rib Fractures: Triggered by blunt force trauma, multiple rib fractures tend to occur in sequence along your chest wall. You might experience difficulty breathing, chest wall instability, and an increased risk of chest infections (like pneumonia) or lung complications.
• Flail Chest: Flail chest develops when three or more consecutive ribs break in multiple places, creating a floating segment of chest wall. You'll experience paradoxical chest movement, which means that the affected area moves inward when you breathe in and outward when you breathe out.
• Stress Fractures: Also known as hairline fractures, these injuries can develop after a traumatic impact during an accident. You might not notice symptoms immediately, but strong pain can develop gradually over several days or weeks after the crash.

The severity of your rib fracture depends on the force of impact and the location of the break. In extreme cases, you can also sustain painful injuries to your lungs, heart, or other internal organs. You should never assume a rib cage injury is minor, as life-threatening complications can develop quickly.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Rib Injuries

As stated earlier, rib injuries can be felt immediately or days after the motor vehicle accident. This is why it’s critical to report any changes in how you feel, especially when breathing or carrying out normal activities. Signs and symptoms of broken ribs include:

• Sharp Chest Pain: You may experience sharp pain in your chest that worsens with movement, coughing, sneezing, or deep breathing. The pain may be localized to the fracture site or radiate to your back, shoulder, or arm.
• Difficulty Breathing: You might notice shortness of breath, shallow breaths, or reluctance to breathe deeply due to persistent pain. This behavior can lead to decreased oxygen levels and fatigue as your body compensates for reduced lung capacity.
• Visible Bruising and Swelling: You may see dark bruising or discoloration around the fracture site, often appearing as a strap-like pattern (if caused by a seatbelt). Swelling and tenderness around the affected ribs are also common signs of fracture.
• Grinding or Popping Sensations: You might feel or hear a grinding, crackling, or popping sensation when you move, breathe deeply, or press on the affected area. It indicates that bone fragments are moving against each other or air is trapped under the skin.
• Deformity or Irregularity: You could notice an obvious deformity in your chest wall, especially with displaced fractures or flail chest. The affected area might appear sunken, raised, or move differently than the rest of your chest during breathing.
• Pain When Pressed: You'll likely experience intense pain when pressure is applied to the suspected fracture site. Even a light touch or the pressure of clothing against your chest can make the pain worse.
• Fatigue and Weakness: You may feel unusually tired or weak due to the pain and difficulty breathing properly. Your body uses extra energy to cope with the severe injury and compensate for reduced lung function.

Common Complications of Untreated Rib Fractures

Failing to treat broken ribs properly can lead to serious complications that include:

• Pneumonia: When pain prevents you from breathing deeply and coughing, it can lead to fluid and bacteria accumulation in your lungs. You might notice increased fever, chest tightness, persistent cough, or growing shortness of breath if the infection develops.
• Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung): Sharp bone fragments can puncture your lung, causing it to collapse partially or completely. You may experience sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as require immediate medical intervention to re-expand the lung.
• Hemothorax (Blood in Chest Cavity): Broken ribs can damage major blood vessels, causing bleeding into the space around your lungs. You might develop breathing difficulties, chest pain, and internal bleeding that requires emergency drainage and medical treatment.
• Organ Damage: Displaced rib fragments can puncture or damage vital organs like your heart, liver, spleen, or kidneys. You could face life-threatening internal damage or organ dysfunction that requires immediate surgical intervention.
• Chronic Pain and Disability: Improperly healed ribs can cause lasting pain, reduced lung capacity, and limited mobility. You may develop chronic breathing problems, ongoing chest discomfort, and decreased quality of life.
• Blood Clots: Extended bed rest due to untreated rib pain can increase your risk of developing blood clots in your legs or lungs. You might experience leg swelling, chest pain, or sudden shortness of breath if clots form and travel to your lungs.

You should never ignore persistent or worsening chest pain, as these complications require immediate medical intervention. Prompt treatment at the nearest hospital can prevent most of these serious complications and ensure proper healing of your ribs

Diagnosis and Treatment of Broken Ribs

Medical professionals use various diagnostic tools to confirm rib fractures and assess the extent of your chest injuries. Common diagnostic methods include:

• X-rays: X-rays provide the first-line imaging for suspected rib fractures. You might need multiple views to capture all angles of your ribs and identify fractures that aren't immediately obvious.
• CT Scans: CT scans offer more detailed images than X-rays and can detect complications like lung tissue damage or internal injuries. You may receive a CT scan if your doctor suspects multiple fractures or potential organ involvement.
• Physical Examination: Your doctor will perform a thorough physical exam, checking for point tenderness, deformity, and abnormal breathing patterns. You'll be asked about your pain levels and how symptoms change with movement or breathing.

Treatment options for broken ribs include physical pain management, breathing support, and preventing complications. You'll typically receive pain medication to help you breathe more comfortably and cough effectively. You might also need breathing exercises or respiratory therapy to prevent pneumonia and maintain lung function while you heal.

What Should You Do if You Feel Rib Pain?

You’ve been in a crash, and you feel rib pain - what do you do next?

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

This might seem like an obvious step, but too many people fail to get medical attention following injuries from a car accident.

This is especially true if they have invisible injuries. When victims feel internal pain, they might believe they can tough it out, and the pain will go away with time. They might put off medical treatment due to concerns over costs, inconvenience, or other factors.

Delaying medical treatment is always a mistake for many reasons. If you feel any pain or suspect anything might be wrong after a car accident, seek immediate medical attention.

Even if your symptoms are bearable and aren't life-threatening, you should still see a doctor within 24-48 hours of your motor vehicle crash for proper evaluation and treatment. You might need Imaging tests, X-rays, CT scans, or other tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out complications. You'll benefit from professional medical care to manage your pain and prevent problems from developing.

Without treatment, broken ribs can heal improperly, potentially causing chronic pain. They can also lead to complications such as punctured lungs or internal bleeding, which can require extensive medical care, including hospitalization or surgery.

Certain symptoms require immediate emergency care, while others warrant prompt evaluation by a healthcare provider. Emergency situations include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Severe pain that doesn't improve with rest 

By seeking medical care promptly, you protect your health and establish an important link between your injuries and the car accident. This link is necessary if you bring a legal claim against the at-fault party seeking compensation.

The insurance company will require you to prove you suffered your broken ribs in the crash - not in a subsequent event. The sooner after the accident you receive a diagnosis and have your injuries recorded, the easier it will be to prove your broken ribs were accident-related.

Consult a Car Accident Lawyer

You might hesitate to hire an attorney for your car accident. Broken ribs might not seem that serious compared to other car accident injuries.

You might think an insurance claim should require no effort. However, this is rarely the case. Too many people underestimate how difficult it can be to obtain full compensation for their losses from liable parties.

Hiring legal representation is the difference between financial stress and support moving forward.

A car accident attorney will begin by assessing your situation for free and advising whether you have a case. If you do, they will begin representing you at no upfront cost. You only pay fees if they obtain compensation for your losses.

Your attorney will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.

They will:

• Gather evidence & Investigating Your Accident: Your attorney will gather evidence from the crash scene, obtain and review police reports, and interview witnesses to establish fault. They'll work with accident reconstruction professionals (if needed) to prove how the other driver's negligence caused your rib injuries.
• Building Your Medical Case: Your attorney will work with medical professionals to document the full extent of your rib damage and its long-term implications. They'll ensure all your accident injuries are properly diagnosed and that your treatment plan accounts for potential complications and future care needs.
• Calculating Fair Compensation: A skilled attorney will assess all aspects of your damages, including current and future medical bills, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. They'll also evaluate your pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages that insurance companies often undervalue.
• Negotiating with Insurance Companies: As your legal representation, they will handle all communications with insurance adjusters and won't let them pressure you into accepting inadequate settlements for broken ribs. They'll fight for compensation that truly reflects the severity of your rib injuries and their impact on your life.
• Build a Strong Legal Strategy - Preparing for Trial if Necessary: If settlement negotiations fail to produce fair compensation, your attorney will prepare to take your case to trial. They'll present compelling evidence to a jury about how your rib fractures have affected your health, work, and quality of life.
• Managing Deadlines and Paperwork: Your lawyer will ensure all legal documents are filed correctly and on time, protecting your right to seek compensation. They'll handle the legal requirements while you recover from your chest injuries.

This includes establishing liability for the accident and demonstrating the extent of your injuries, including your broken ribs and anything else you suffered.

Insurance companies are notorious for trying to settle cases quickly and for as little money as possible. This is especially true for invisible injuries, which they regularly undervalue. Adjusters may pressure you into accepting a quick but low settlement offer that does not adequately cover your losses.

Your skilled car accident attorney will take your broken ribs seriously.

They will accurately calculate your losses, including:

• Medical bills
• Medication and medical equipment
• Lost income
• Other out-of-pocket expenses
• Pain and suffering

They will gather evidence of your losses to present a strong case to the insurer of what you deserve. Your attorney will negotiate on your behalf, ensuring that you receive fair and just compensation for your broken ribs. They will handle all communications with the insurance company, protecting you from the stress of dealing with them directly.

Take Control of Your Situation With Help From a Car Accident Attorney

Suffering broken ribs in a sudden car accident can be frustrating. Your life can be paused in many ways, and you can experience financial setbacks. However, you are not powerless in this situation. You can take control by scheduling a free case evaluation with an experienced car accident lawyer in your area.

Never underestimate the seriousness of broken ribs. Even if your injury does not seem as serious as others, you still deserve full compensation for your losses if someone else was to blame. The best thing you can do is seek medical and legal help.

Never try to tough out your injuries or the insurance process on your own. A personal injury attorney in your area is waiting to represent your interests. Get your free consultation as soon as possible.