Chest pain after a car accident

On Behalf of Holmes & Wiseley, P.C.

If you get into an auto accident in Michigan you might be injured. While people may be looking for more obvious injuries, such as cuts or bruises, its important to pay attention to chest pain, as it may indicate a serious medical condition.

Bruising or fracturing your sternum

Chest pain may indicate a fractured sternum. This can lead to shortness of breath, tenderness, deformity, swelling, pain when the individual coughs or takes a deep breath.

Bruising or fracturing your ribs

When you are in an auto accident, it can cause broken or bruised ribs. Broken ribs might be life-threatening without prompt treatment. You will likely have pain when you take a deep breath, sneeze, cough, or touch the affected area.

Bruising of your muscles

You might only have some bruised muscles if you’re in a relatively minor accident. They also might develop a strain. With these issues, you could have pain when breathing, dull to sharp pain in general, spasms, and swelling.

Damage to your lungs

Car accidents also might cause you to have a bruised, punctured, or collapsed lung. The collapse might occur after blunt trauma or if you have fractured ribs and develop complications. Some of the symptoms you might see include bluish skin, difficulty with breathing, chest pain at the location of the affected lung, increased heart rate, and lightheadedness.

Blunt force cardiac injury

If you’ve had blunt force to your chest that injures your heart, this is typically called a myocardial contusion or blunt cardiac injury. Your doctor will want to check immediately to find out if you’ve had an impact with the steering wheel and what your risk is for serious heart issues. You may experience palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Every minute counts after an automobile accident. You’ll want to take quick action if you or a loved one has a potentially serious injury. Even if something seems minor, looking into this and seeking any necessary compensation for your injuries and care is worthwhile.

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