Every year, thousands of motor vehicle accidents occur in Tennessee. One of the most common types of injuries that vehicle occupants suffer in a crash are rib and torso injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Knoxville, Tennessee auto accident, you may have grounds for legal action.
For additional information about filing an auto accident claim, fill out the Free Case Evaluation form on this page.
Types of Rib Injuries
Humans have a total of 24 ribs in their body. The purpose of the rib cage is to protect the body's vital organs from harm. Rib and torso injuries can be extremely painful for the sufferer. These types of injuries can make it difficult for the patient to breathe.
Accident victims can suffer from a number of rib and torso injuries such as Flail Chest, soft-tissue rib injuries and fractured ribs.
Flail Chest
A flail chest injury occurs when a cluster of ribs of consecutive ribs are fractured. Individuals that sustain a flail chest should seek medical attention immediately; left untreated the injury can be fatal. When several successive ribs are fractured, part of the chest wall becomes detached from the rest of the chest wall, allowing it to flow freely in the body. This can cause pulmonary contusions, which are bruises on the lung. Oftentimes, pulmonary contusions are fatal. Sadly, the fatality rate for flail chest injuries is 50 percent.
Soft-Tissue Rib Injuries
Typically, soft-tissue rib injuries go hand and hand with rib fractures. A soft-tissue rib injury is defined as damage to the soft tissue surrounding the rib injury. When a soft-tissue rib injury occurs from blunt force trauma, the injury might not completely heal which can lead to permanent pain.
Broken or Fractured Ribs
When a person breaks or fractures any of their 24 ribs this is referred to as a rib fracture. Rib fractures are more likely to happen then a complete break. Approximately 10 percent of injury victims that suffer from blunt force trauma to the chest will sustain at rib fracture.
Treatment of Rib and Torso Injuries
The treatment for rib and torso injuries depends on the severity of the injury and which rib was injured. In less severe cases, fractures can heal in six to 12 weeks.
Severe rib and torso injuries can cause damage to the internal organs, including the brachial plexus and life-threatening Flail Chest injuries. These injuries require more extensive and costly medical treatments.
Individuals that suffer rib and torso injuries may need the following treatments to make a full recovery:
- Immobilization
- Surgery
- Massage therapy
- Ultrasound
- Painkillers and muscle relaxers
- Physical therapy
If you sustained a rib and torso injury due to the negligence of another, contact Greg Coleman Law today.
Contact a Tennessee Lawyer Today
If you or a family member sustained a rib and torso injury in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Accident victims may be eligible to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages and property damage. Contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Greg Coleman Law today.
Our personal injury attorneys have the knowledge and resources to successfully handle auto accident claims. Over the years, we have helped our clients obtain favorable outcomes for numerous clients.
Our law firm is available to assist injured individuals in Knoxville and the surrounding communities with their legal claims.
To schedule a free and confidential legal consultation, complete the contact form on the right.
