Chest Injuries After a Car Accident
If you suffered chest injuries in a car accident in New York City, you might be able to recover financial compensation. Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. will fight to get the most compensation available if you were hurt in an accident. Our experienced NYC personal injury lawyers have over 40 years of experience and are ready to go to work for you.
We offer a free case review for every potential client. Give us a call today to schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced NYC car accident lawyer. We fight to get fair compensation so that you can focus on what’s important: your physical wellbeing.
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Top Reasons to Hire Our Lawyers to Help Recover Fair Compensation for Chest Injuries After a Car Accident
Most NYC drivers are aware that New York is a no-fault state when it comes to insurance. It’s also common for people to think that their only option is filing a claim with their own insurance company after a crash. That’s not always the case.
At Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., we work to identify all potentially liable parties after a car accident. An experienced car accident lawyer can also:
- Investigate to find out what caused your car accident
- Work with medical and financial experts to discover the true value of your case–taking into account past, current and anticipated future costs
- Handle all of the negotiations with the insurance companies
- Make sure you understand all of your options as your case progresses–so that you can make an informed decision about whether to settle
Insurance companies aren’t on your side. Even your own insurance company is out to reduce the amount they have to pay. They might also pressure you into taking a settlement offer that doesn’t cover the full cost of your chest injuries.
Our lawyers fight back against tactics that insurance companies use to delay–or even deny–your claim. If you were hurt in an NYC car accident, you don’t have to navigate the system alone. Call an experienced personal injury lawyer with a proven track record of success at Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. today.
How Serious are Chest Injuries After a Car Accident?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, head and chest injuries account for about 80% of all serious car accident injuries. As with any other injury, there are a range of possible outcomes if you sustain chest injuries in a car accident. The outcome depends upon a number of factors, including:
- Your age
- Your medical history
- Where you were sitting in the vehicle
- The type of car accident
Statistically, however, chest injuries account for about 35% of all trauma-related deaths in the U.S. This data shows that chest injuries are not to be taken lightly after a car accident.
Your likelihood of suffering a chest injury also depends upon the type of car accident involved. Generally, rollover accidents, front-end collisions and side-impact collisions are the types of accidents that most commonly cause chest injury.
How do Chest Injuries Happen in a Car Accident?
A car accident can cause any number of serious injuries. Ironically, chest injuries are often caused by the very safety devices designed to provide protection in a crash. While the benefits outweigh the risks, of course, airbags and seatbelts can cause injuries of their own.
Seat Belt Injuries
Seat Belts are designed to keep passengers in place during a car accident. They are critical in keeping people from hitting the windshield in a crash, but also place substantial pressure on the body during an accident.
Seatbelts often cause significant bruising to the chest. The force of the seatbelt can also cause broken ribs–especially if the person is wearing the belt incorrectly.
Airbag Injuries
Airbags are designed to prevent accident victims from hitting the steering wheel and dashboard. They can, however, cause chest injuries. Defective airbags can be especially dangerous.
Airbag injuries might result in:
- Bruising
- Internal bleeding
- Broken ribs
- Lacerations
- Fractures
These injuries can be painful. Broken ribs might splinter and puncture the internal organs. It’s always important to get medical attention after an accident–even if your injuries initially seem minor.
Types of Chest Injuries Car Accidents Cause
Not every chest injury is the same. Any type of trauma to the chest muscles and thoracic region can be classified as a chest injury. Damages to the bones, such as the ribs and sternum, can also be serious.
Examples of chest injuries include:
- Damage to the heart and lungs
- Fractured ribs
- Bruised ribs
- Sternum fractures
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to the diaphragm
- Puncture wounds
- Heart attack
- Muscle strain
Some chest injuries are immediately obvious. Others might be more subtle. That’s why it’s always important to see a doctor immediately if you experience any chest pain, even if you think you’re okay. Paying attention to the symptoms of a chest injury is key to proper and swift treatment, which increases the odds of a successful recovery.
Signs You Have Suffered a Chest Injury After a Car Accident
Some potential warning signs that you have sustained a chest injury and should seek medical attention include:
- Shortness of breath
- Any type of chest pain
- Tightness in the chest
- Bruising
- Difficulty breathing
Chest injuries can be serious, and sometimes fatal, if not treated quickly. Never wait to see a medical professional if you experience pain after a car accident–even a seemingly minor bruise can be a sign of something much more serious.
New York Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits
In New York, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is three years. The three-year clock begins to run on the date of the accident.
You might think that three years is a long time. In reality, insurance companies can impose shorter time frames on your ability to file a claim. Other cases might take longer to investigate–especially if the accident cause is unclear.
Who Might be Responsible for My Chest Injuries?
Determining liability after a car accident can be complicated. An experienced lawyer can investigate to find out what happened. Potentially responsible parties might include:
- The at-fault driver
- The maker of a defective airbag, seat belt or vehicle component
- The other driver’s employer, if the person was working at the time of the accident
- The NYC transit authorities or entities responsible for road repair
Establishing cause is the first step to finding out who might have to pay for your injuries. In New York, multiple parties might be held financially responsible. Our skilled accident attorneys at Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. have the resources needed to conduct a full investigation into the crash.
NYC Comparative Fault Rules
People who cause auto accidents often try to shift the blame to the accident victim. This is a common tactic designed to reduce your compensation award. At Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., our personal injury lawyers know the law inside and out–and we know how to fight back against these tactics.
New York law allows blame to be apportioned between parties to an accident. That means you might be entitled to compensation even if you share responsibility for the accident. Your compensation award might be reduced by a percentage of fault attributed to you, but you can still get compensation to hold other negligent parties accountable.
We Fight to Get Full Compensation for Car Accident Victims
Chest injuries can result in long-term medical needs. You might be unable to work while receiving treatment, and surgeries and rehabilitation are expensive.
At Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., we fight to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. We put in the hard work needed to make sure you get the compensation you need from an at-fault driver or even the manufacturer of a defective seat belt or airbag.
We fight to get full compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of ability to earn a living
- Physical therapy costs
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Damages for wrongful death
No two accident cases are exactly alike. When you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident, you need a lawyer with experience and resources. Your lawyer’s experience and abilities can be key to making sure you get money for all of your expenses–not just those you have already incurred.
Our personal injury attorneys at Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. have been helping NYC accident victims for over four decades. We know the right questions to ask and have what it takes to build a strong case. To learn more about how a lawyer with a proven track record of success can help in your specific case, give us a call today.
Call An Experienced New York City Car Crash Lawyer if You Suffered Chest Injuries After a Car Accident
Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. is an NYC personal injury law firm dedicated to fighting to protect the rights of accident victims. Most accident victims are facing significant challenges. Our car accident lawyers are here to make the recovery process easier.
If you suffered chest injuries after a car accident, call our team for a free case review today. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency basis. That means you don’t have to pay our attorneys’ fees up front–we only collect if we win for you.
Other Car Accident Cases We Cover
- Lane change crashes
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Passenger negligence
- Red and yellow light accidents
