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Since drivers and passengers sit close to the steering wheel and dashboard, experiencing chest pain after an accident is common because of seat belts and airbags. Accident victims may experience this pain in the front upper body. When airbags deploy or victims strike the steering wheel or dashboard, they may be injured. However, other issues cause chest pain and even a possible heart attack.

WebMD says accident victims may feel like they are having a heart attack with symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, a racing heart, numbness in the hands or feet, or dizziness, but the chest pain could be a panic attack from a stressful situation, bruising of sternum and/or ribs, internal organ injuries, or actual heart injuries. Symptoms can get worse if accident victims do not get immediate assistance from a doctor.

Using seat belts can save a victim’s life. They can also cause chest pain because of the force exerted by the seat belt causing abrasions, bruising, and fractures. Some of the symptoms an injured car accident victim may experience include pain or discomfort in the chest even when the victim is not moving, with a small amount of applied pressure, when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or when making any movement, according to WebMD.

Accident victims may also experience lung damage that causes fluid and blood to build up in the lungs. WebMD reports that when this happens, oxygen is reduced causing a pulmonary contusion with symptoms similar to a heart attack. A bruised, punctured, or collapsed lung (a pneumothorax) is dangerous and may feel like a heart attack. Myocardial contusion is the bruising of the heart muscle and can lead to severe complications.

Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney Randall Spivey urges accident victims to take the following 3 important steps after an accident:

1. Go directly to a doctor who can order the right diagnostic tests and medical treatment.
2. Get medical documentation as soon as possible following an accident to make it easier to achieve a fair legal settlement.
3. Contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. 24/7. A personal injury attorney at the firm can advise victims on how to get the necessary and appropriate medical assistance and assist them throughout the filing and settlement of a personal injury lawsuit.

Florida is a “no-fault” state and allows vehicle accident victims to recover at least a portion of medical bills and lost wages under their personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.  Accident victims can also seek full financial compensation from a negligent driver’s insurance company when they are responsible for the victim’s injuries. Compensation can be for physical, financial, and emotional injuries from life-changing events. Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. has the expertise to assist accident victims in calculating losses including the cost of diagnosis, treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and other medical expenses including prescriptions.

The legal team at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. investigates every client’s accident by gathering evidence to prove the other driver was negligent and by building a case. Once the evidence is gathered and reviewed, we will evaluate the damages and negotiate with those responsible. In some cases, a personal injury claim cannot settle with the at-fault drivers. These cases are resolved with a lawsuit.

Florida has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Accident victims need to contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. immediately after seeking medical attention so the evidence isn’t lost or forgotten.

Should you or a loved one be injured in a vehicle accident contact our firm immediately so we can begin assisting you. You may reach us at 239.337.7483, toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or online at SpiveyLaw.com.