Unexpected accidents can cause a huge range of injuries. Some of the worst injuries happen when an important internal organ is damaged. The lungs, the heart, stomach, kidney and liver are all vital organs which can be damaged in road traffic accidents or falling from a height on to something sharp.
These sorts of injuries almost always mean extensive surgery and long recovery times. Who is going to foot the bill if you were not to blame for the accident?
You may need to make a personal injury claim if you are going to cope with the financial consequences of a serious internal injury like a collapsed lung.
A personal injury attorney can help you decide whether a claim is feasible and how you should proceed if you decide to go ahead.
What is a Collapsed Lung?
One or other or both the lungs could collapse after the chest cavity has been pierced by something sharp. It is the air that accidentally gets into the cavity that prevents the lung or lungs from inflating properly, causing them to collapse.
The usual symptoms are:
- difficulty with breathing;
- shortness of breath;
- chest pain;
- a dry cough.
Sometimes, a serious accident can fracture the ribs and/or the sternum (or breastbone).
If the ends of these fractured bones penetrate the chest cavity, air will get in, possibly causing a collapsed lung or more serious damage to the lung tissue itself.
Why Treatment for a Collapsed Lung May Mean a PI Claim
If you have suffered a collapsed lung or lungs after a serious accident which has damaged your chest, you will almost certainly need hospital treatment and extensive surgery.
It may be that another driver was the cause of the crash if that was what caused your injury. Or it may be a defective seat belt or even the design of the seat belt itself.
The accident may have been caused by something colliding with you other than a vehicle, or you may have fallen from a height onto a sharp object on the ground.
Whatever the cause, do you think you have sufficient evidence to support a claim against whoever you think was to blame for the accident? If you do, then you may be able to make a personal injury claim.
With claims of this type it is essential to be able to link the person or persons at fault with your specific injuries and have sufficient evidence to support the amount you are claiming.
PI Claims are Easier With Professional Help
Personal injury claims are never easy to deal with. The state’s liability law can be hard to understand unless you already have legal knowledge.
Defendants and their insurers rarely admit fault or offer full and fair payments unless they have little other choice. In all serious injury situations, if you think you have grounds for a claim you are advised to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as your injuries allow you to do so.
