Compensation from a Collapsed Lung After a Car Accident
With an increase in vehicles on the road as well as more distractions coming into drivers’ lives every day, a greater number of car accidents with injuries is an unfortunate reality. In the Bay Area, car accident injuries and fatalities continue to rise.
Due to seatbelts and airbags, injuries to the torso are common. One type of injury that requires immediate attention is a collapsed lung. If you or a loved one have suffered a collapsed lung from a car accident, contact a car accident attorney like the experts at Sally Morin Law Firm for guidance in your case.
What Is a Collapsed Lung?
A collapsed lung, or pneumothorax, occurs when air gets inside the chest cavity and creates pressure against the lung. This pressure can cause the lung to partially or completely collapse. Serious complications can arise if left untreated, so medical intervention is necessary as soon as possible following an injury.
Main Causes of a Collapsed Lung Injury
Collapsed lung injuries can come from many sources, but here are the main factors that can result in a collapsed lung:
- Chest Trauma: Blunt force from a car accident, such as hitting the abdomen on the steering wheel or the body being punctured by a piece of debris can cause a lung to collapse.
- Lung Disease: Conditions like pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, COPD, lung cancer, and others damage the lung tissue. This damage can make the lung more susceptible to collapsing.
- Ventilation Devices: Mechanical ventilation can cause an improper balance of air pressure in the chest cavity which may cause the lungs to collapse.
Symptoms of a Collapsed Lung
Victims of a collapsed lung after a car accident are not always aware that they have suffered a serious injury. Many describe the feeling of a collapsed lung as similar to having the breath knocked out of you. This is why seeking medical attention after a car accident is so important to prevent any further damage. Common symptoms of a collapsed lung include:
- Shortness of breath
- Minor to severe chest pain
- A dull ache in the shoulder
- Shallow breathing
- Increased heart rate
- Chest tightness
- Fatigue
Symptoms and severity of a collapsed lung injury vary greatly. A medical diagnosis is crucial to protecting your health and to have as evidence in the event you pursue a personal injury case.
Compensation for a Collapsed Lung After a Car Accident
In many cases of collapsed lung injuries, extensive medical treatment is necessary. Treatment varies from rest to supplemental oxygen to possible surgery and a stay in the ICU. If you suffered a collapsed lung as the result of a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve full and fair compensation. California is a fault state which means that the person responsible for the accident that caused your injuries is liable for the damages. You may be awarded compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Emergency medical care (ride in an ambulance)
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of current and future income
- Permanent impairment
Determining Liability for a Collapsed Lung From a Car Accident
A collapsed lung injury means that you will likely leave the scene of a car accident in an ambulance. There is a great deal of necessary proof that must be obtained to show that another driver was negligent and therefore caused the accident and is responsible for your injuries.
You will be doing your best to fully recover from your injuries. At this point, hiring an experienced car accident attorney is your best choice. They will be able to obtain police reports, witness statements, and any other necessary proof to establish fault in your injury case and pursue a settlement for you.
Sally Morin: We Handle Your Accident Claim so You Can Focus on Your Life
The team at Sally Morin fully understands the severity of a collapsed lung injury and the extensive recovery necessary to get back to your life. Hospitals, doctors, and rehabilitation are all astronomically expensive. And being out of work, bills will go unpaid until you can recover.
Our team is here to help you build a case against the negligent party and get you the full and fair compensation you deserve for your collapsed lung from a car accident.
Call us at 877-380-8852 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.
