Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto helps victims of traumatic injuries in car accidents. Any bone break or fracture is a serious injury, regardless of where on your body it happens. But a fracture or broken bones in your chest area is even more troubling. Still, you have legal options to recover, and we can help. Contact us today to set up a free consultation to talk about your options.
Do You Need a Lawyer After A Chest Fracture?
Obviously, your chest is a very vulnerable part of your body. This makes any injury, whether it be a fracture or any other type of injury to that area, very serious. But you aren’t required to have a lawyer to go through the claims process. However, whether you need a lawyer or not is a different matter. Most cases involving a chest fracture or injury mean a difficult physical recovery, which makes everything harder. So, having a lawyer can make things a bit easier for you.
Our team can make things much easier. If you decide you want to work with us, we’ll:
- Look into the details to see exactly what happened.
- Make sure you understand your legal choices and what to do next.
- Help you with collecting all the necessary evidence for your claim.
- Make sure the claims process goes smoothly for you.
Our overall goal is to provide everything you need for a strong claim and make the process as simple as possible.
What Are Chest Fracture Injuries That Can Happen to You in a Modesto Car Accident?
There’s a lot that can happen to you in a typical car accident, especially one that involves trauma to the front of your body. Because it houses vital organs, your chest has a bone structure that’s designed to protect these organs and their functions.
This is the main reason that chest fractures in car accidents are so serious. According to the Cleveland Clinic, among the most common chest fracture injuries include:
- Flail chest – This happens when there’s blunt force trauma that causes the bone structure of your chest to basically collapse. Specifically, it involves multiple fractures of your ribs in multiple places that are next to each other. It’s extremely painful and leads to your chest wall being unstable.
- Sternum fractures – Another common fracture of the bones located in the chest involves your sternum. A fracture can either be direct and involve a break further back in your chest, or indirect where the break happens in the front part of your chest.
- Broken ribs – The upper part of your ribcage protects your heart and lungs, and not surprisingly, these bones are in the upper part of your chest. When these bones are broken or fractured, it can damage your heart, puncture your organs, and make it very difficult or even impossible to breathe and move.
Obviously, these injuries can lead to long-term health issues and sometimes even death. Whether or not you heal depends on the treatment you need and the severity of your injuries. But another important part of the healing process is what you can do legally.
What Legal Options Do You Have After Getting Hurt in a Car Accident?
Even though it legally doesn’t matter what type of injuries you have in a car accident, a chest fracture is going to cause you some type of loss. At minimum, this usually means medical bills and repair costs for your vehicle from the actual crash. But when there’s a chest fracture, you likely have to face surgery costs and more long-term losses.
This can all be addressed through the legal system, namely through filing an injury claim for “damages.” Typically, you do this by filing an insurance claim outside of court or a personal injury lawsuit inside the court system. The stronger you present your claim, the more damages you can get. Generally, though, you can recover the following with a claim:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Current and future lost income
- Repairs or replacement costs for your damaged vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death expenses, if the injuries end up being fatal
Remember, you have two years from the accident date to file your claim in California, so act quickly to avoid losing your chance at these damages. Also, though, it’s important to look at the specifics of a case–most importantly, who has to pay for your damages.
Who’s Legally Responsible for Chest Fracture Injuries in a Car Accident?
Whenever there’s an injury from a car accident, there’s a specific way in which the law decides who has to pay for your damages. It hinges on “negligence,” which means that drivers must act responsibly to keep others safe, such as avoiding speeding, distractions, or reckless driving.
To prove negligence, you need to show that the driver had a responsibility to drive safely, they failed to do that, and this failure caused the accident and your injuries.
Once these points are proven, you have the person or party that should cover your damages. While every accident is unique, it can fall on any (or multiple) of the following:
- Other drivers, if they were involved in the accident.
- Owner of the vehicle, if it’s not the driver.
- Employers when the driver was working or using a company vehicle.
- Car manufacturers or parts makers when a defect in the car was a factor.
- Government agencies, if poor road conditions or broken signage played a role in the accident.
Figuring out legal responsibility is a huge step for your case. It not only identifies who you will file your claim against and who is responsible for covering your damages, which can be significant if you have serious injuries like chest fractures.
How Can You Protect Your Injury Claim After One of These Accidents?
The aftermath of a car accident is stressful, especially with serious injuries like chest fractures. Even if you’re in pain, you need to take specific steps to protect yourself and your claim. Here’s what to do:
- Call 911 – If you have a chest fracture, call 911 right away for medical help. If it’s safe, move your car to the side to avoid more accidents.
- Exchange important details – Get contact and insurance details from everyone involved in the accident.
- Take pictures of the scene – Use your phone to snap pictures of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and your chest injury.
- Contact the local police – When you have the 911 dispatcher on the phone, also ask for the local police and get a copy of the police report.
- Get more care – Get further medical care for your chest fracture and any other injuries at a hospital.
- Keep records – Save all documents related to the accident, including medical records, hospital bills, tax returns, paychecks, and repair bills.
Even with serious injuries like chest fractures, Insurance companies will try to do anything they can to reduce their liability. This can be frustrating, but by taking these steps and working with our team, you can be sure that you’ll have a strong claim and your rights are protected.
Contact Our Modesto Car Accident Lawyers After a Chest Fracture Injury
Being in a car accident is bad enough on its own, but it takes on new meaning when you suffer an injury involving a chest fracture. At Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Modesto, we’ll be there to stand up for your rights and will guide you through the claims process so you get the financial support you need to make a recovery. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Modesto, contact us today for a free consultation.