Collapsed Lungs Are a Potential Car Accident Injury
Some of the most serious car accident injuries don’t actually show up physically, at least initially. Internal injuries, for instance, which can occur when the organs in the chest and abdomen suffer a blunt force impact aren’t always readily apparent and may not result in symptoms until hours or days after the crash. This does not mean, however, that such injuries should be taken lightly. In fact, internal injuries, like collapsed lungs, can prove deadly if left undiagnosed and untreated after a car crash.
How Lungs Collapse
A collapsed lung, or pneumothorax, occurs when, as the name suggests, a person’s lung either partially or fully collapses. In most car accident cases, this is the result of puncturing or because air in the chest cavity is pressed against the lung itself as a result of:
- The chest coming into contact with the dashboard or steering wheel upon impact;
- Blunt force impact causing the ribs to break and then puncture one or both lungs; or
- A sharp object penetrating the chest and puncturing the lung upon impact.
Whatever the exact cause, punctured lungs can cause internal bleeding, which can be deadly. To ensure that they obtain a prompt diagnosis and treatment of such an injury following a car accident, injured parties should be sure to keep an eye out for certain symptoms.
Symptoms of a Collapsed Lung
Vehicle occupants who suffer trauma to their chest or abdominal area during an accident should remain vigilant for signs that they suffered a collapsed lung, such as:
- Shortness of breath;
- Sudden pain on one side of the chest;
- Rapid or difficulty breathing;
- A tinge of blue at the fingertips or lips;
- Coughing; or
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness.
Accident victims who experience these symptoms should seek medical care right away, so that doctors can diagnose a collapsed lung using an x-ray or CT scan.
Treating a Collapsed Lung
Once a person has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung, his or her treatment will begin right away and could include:
- Thoracentesis, which involves the use of a needle to remove air from the patient’s chest cavity;
- Chest tube drainage, in which a tube is interested into the chest to remove excess air;
- Chemical pleurodesis, which is a therapeutic procedure requiring the use of a chest tube and the administration of chemicals to strengthen the linings of the lungs and chest wall;
- Oxygen therapy; and
- Surgical intervention to repair punctures and allow the lungs to inflate.
All of these procedures are time-consuming and come with complications of their own, like blood clots and inflammation. They are also expensive, which can be especially burdensome because those suffering from collapsed lungs are not usually able to work during their physical recovery. Fortunately, car accident victims who can prove that someone else’s negligence was the cause of their accident could be entitled to reimbursement for these expenses.
Reach Out to Our Office by Phone or Online Message
If you or a loved one suffered a collapsed lung or other serious injury in a car crash, you may not be on the hook for your medical bills. Please call the experienced Florida car accident lawyers at Boone & Davis for an explanation of your legal options.
Sources:
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15304-collapsed-lung-pneumothorax
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441885/
