Torso Injuries from Car Accidents
Every year, thousands of people end up in car accidents. Sometimes, the injuries sustained from the crash are minor – just some bruising and scrapes. But unfortunately, a large number of accidents end up with the drivers severely injured, perhaps suffering an injury that will affect them the rest of their lives. Such injuries can involve damage to the torso region of the body; chest, abdomen, pelvis, and back.
This region contains the vast majority of your vital organs, so it’s no wonder that injuries to the region are often as severe and dangerous as they are.
How dangerous are torso injuries?
In any sort of severe crash such as a head-to-head collision, a T-bone crash, a multi-car wreck, or any accident involving a pedestrian, there is always the chance of thoracic trauma. Torso injuries are the most common injury sustained worldwide: thoracic trauma accounts for 20-25% of all traumas sustained in the world, and it’s the third most common reason for fatalities, after head and abdomen trauma.
There are different types of injuries that come from damage to the torso. Blunt thoracic injuries occur most often, and the majority of those injuries are caused by car accidents, with falls and crushing accidents coming in second and third. And while seatbelts have proven time and again that they save lives, occasionally they may cause blunt damage to the torso in severe, high speed accidents, per Thoracic Trauma. The steering wheel crashing into the chest can also cause injury.
Penetrative thoracic injuries occur less than blunt injuries, but these are more likely to be fatal to those who sustain them. This is when an object, usually sharp such as a glass shard or weapon, penetrates the thoracic cavity. People who suffer these injuries will need surgical intervention to treat them.
But why are these numbers so high? Why is thoracic trauma so deadly? According to Thoracic Trauma, “Morbidity and mortality associated with thoracic trauma are due to the disruption of respiration, circulation, or both.” That is because inside of the torso is the heart and the lungs, the centers of their respective responsibilities. Damage to the bones and muscles around the heart and lungs can seriously injure you and may lead to worse injuries and complications.
Dangerous conditions affecting the torso Car accidents can cause three different types of life-threatening conditions:
- Pneumothorax, or collapsed lung: When trauma occurs (such as sudden force or sustained strong pressure) that causes air to become trapped around or outside the lung, it can lead to a collapsed lung. Symptoms include chest tightness, rapid heart rate, bluish color to the skin, sudden chest pain, and shortness of breath. If you are experiencing these symptoms after a car accident, you should get yourself to a hospital as soon as possible.
- Hemothorax: A hemothorax happens when blood becomes trapped between the chest wall and the lung. Also caused by trauma to the chest, the symptoms include many of the same as with a pneumothorax, only now include clammy hands/skin, blood pressure drop, and anxiety. If you are experiencing these symptoms after a car accident, you should get yourself to a hospital as soon as possible.
- Chest wall injuries: These include rib fractures, sternum fractures, and any bruising of the lungs. Many chest well injuries are able to heal on their own in their own time; they usually take 3-6 weeks to heal. However, these injuries may lead to others that pose even greater risks. A fractured rib could cause bone shards to cut into the muscle, veins, or arteries nearby.
Who is liable for my injuries after a car accident in Nashville?
If you’ve suffered an injury to your torso due to someone else’s negligence, you can seek compensation for your losses. Whether it was someone driving under the influence of an illegal substance, a driver who is distracted with their phone while crossing an intersection, or someone who wasn’t paying attention when you while you were simply trying to cross the road, if someone else caused you to come to harm, you should seek out a Nashville car accident attorney as soon as you can. A car accident can change your entire life and leave you with physical and emotional scars that last a lifetime. It can also make it impossible for you to work, which means you may struggle to pay your day-to-day bills, let alone your medical costs. If your family’s insurance comes through your job, you could lose everything because of someone else’s bad behavior.
Don’t suffer any more than you need to. Let Rocky McElhaney Law Firm help. We’ve spent years fighting for car crash victims throughout Tennessee, going up against the big insurance companies who don’t want to pay. We have secured millions for our clients all over the Nashville area.
If you have suffered thoracic trauma after being in a car accident, make sure that you get the compensation you deserve if your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence.. Don’t wait any longer. Call Rocky McElhaney Law Firm today at 615-425-2500 or you can fill out our contact form, if that’s easier for you. We’d love to set up a free consultation with you at one of our offices in Nashville, Hendersonville, or Clarksville.
Nashville personal injury attorney Rocky McElhaney is a well-known and respected lawyer as well as published author, helping Tennesseans through difficult times since the turn of the century. Rocky builds friendships with his clients, not just professional relationships. Rocky McElhaney is a Super Lawyer, AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell, has been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association and has been awarded Best Lawyer in Nashville by the Nashville Scene Readers’ Poll
The Rocky McElhaney Law Firm represents people who have been injured by car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, negligent premises owners, defective products and many other forms of negligence throughout the state of Tennessee. The firm also represents clients in the areas of workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability claims.