Think broken ribs are not serious injuries? Think again
Think broken ribs are not serious injuries? Think again
Suffering serious injuries often means that a person will need to learn to live differently, even if just for a short while. After a car accident, it is not uncommon for life-altering injuries to occur, and some of those injuries can cause complications or have lasting effects. Even a broken bone could cause more severe outcomes than first anticipated.
When another vehicle struck your vehicle, you may not have known what was happening. You may have felt your car spinning, felt your body jerking in various directions and may even have felt shocked when your vehicle finally came to a stop. Then, you felt immense pain.
Broken ribs are serious injuries
Unfortunately, the car accident resulted in you suffering broken ribs. After the accident, you likely went to the emergency room so doctors could assess your symptoms and diagnose the exact injuries you suffered in the incident. Staff members may have conducted bone scans, chest X-rays and chest CT scans in order to properly look at the area.
In many cases, broken ribs can heal on their own with rest and pain medication acting as the main courses of treatment. However, your injuries may have proven more severe. If the breaks were more than just cracks, you may have needed surgery in order for doctors to put plates and screws in place to stabilize the bones as they heal.
Additional complications
In addition to possibly needing surgery to address the breaks, the broken bones themselves may have caused additional damage, such as:
Damage to the aorta
Punctures to a lung
Cuts or puncture of the liver, spleen or kidney
Of course, any damage to an organ can cause substantial complications and present the need for more treatments and longer recovery time. Even without additional issues, it can still take up to six weeks for broken ribs to heal, which can cause major setbacks in your personal and work life.
Compensation for damages
Because another driver caused the accident that led to your injuries, you may have reason to seek compensation for resulting damages. Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other hardships could be compensable under Louisiana law, and discussing your legal options with an experienced attorney may help you determine whether following this course of action could suit your circumstances.
