One of the most common types of injury experienced in Phoenix auto accidents are classified as a rib or torso injury. Each year, more than two million car crashes across the country involve some form of blunt chest trauma that typically results in a rib or torso injury.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an Arizona collision that was caused by the action of another and you suffered a rib or torso injury as a result, you may be eligible to pursue legal recourse for your condition.
To begin exploring your legal options, contact our auto accident attorneys today by completing the Free Case Review form to the right.
Types of Rib Injuries
The human body consists of 24 ribs in total (or 12 sets of ribs). The rib cage is intended to protect the bodys vital organs from injury. A rib or torso injury can be extremely painful, as ribs are designed to move with every breath. Simply breathing can leave a rib or torso injury victim to suffer excruciating pain.
There are a variety of types of rib and torso injuries an auto accident victim can suffer from, including Flail Chest, soft-tissue rib injuries and broken or fractured ribs.
Flail Chest
A Flail Chest injury happens when a cluster of consecutive ribs are fractured. This type of injury can become fatal, so it requires immediate medical attention. When several consecutive ribs are fractured, part of the chest wall becomes separated from the rest of the chest wall, causing it to float freely in the body. This can result in bruises on the lung known as Pulmonary Contusions, which are often fatal. The fatality rate of rib and torso injury victims who experience Flail Chest is 50 percent.
Soft-Tissue Rib Injuries
Soft-tissue rib injuries usually accompany rib fractures. This type of injury is characterized by the damage of the soft-tissue surrounding the rib bone. Unfortunately, these types of rib and torso injuries are less likely to completely recover from blunt force trauma caused by an auto accident and often can result in permanent pain.
Broken or Fractured Ribs
A broken or fractured rib can refer to the break of any of the 24 rib bones. A fracture is more common than a complete break. About 10 percent of victims of blunt force trauma to the chest experience, at the very least, one fractured rib.
Treatment of Rib and Torso Injuries
Treatment of these types of injuries depends on which rib the injury occurred and the severity of the injury experienced. Some less severe fractures can heal in up to six to 12 weeks with minimal medical treatment.
More severe injuries can result in internal organ damage, damage to the brachial plexus and life-threatening Flail Chest injuries, for example, which require more extensive and costly medical treatment.
Arizona rib and torso injury victims may have to undergo the following treatments for serious injuries:
- Surgery
- Immobilization
- Massage Therapy
- Use of Pain Medications and Muscle Relaxers
- Ultrasound
- Physical Therapy
Contact an Experienced Rib and Torso Injury Attorney Today
If you believe that you have suffered a rib or torso injury after being involved in an auto accident, it is important that you seek medical attention right away. The longer you wait to see a physician, the greater the probability that your injuries will worsen.
We urge you to consult with an attorney who is well-versed in Arizona law as soon as possible if you or a loved one has suffered a rib or torso injury as a result of another persons actions, whether through negligence or malicious intent.
At Phillips Law Group, our rib and torso injury attorneys have the skills and the resources necessary to successfully litigate your injury claim. Our staff can recreate the scene of the wreck in order to pinpoint the exact cause of the crash and hold the responsible parties liable for any damages incurred.
With an office located in Phoenix, we are available to fight for the rights of Arizona residents who have suffered harm at the hands of another.
Our personal injury law firm operates on a contingency fee basis. This means that if you choose to hire our firm to pursue justice for your claim, you do not owe us any fees until we obtain a favorable outcome for your lawsuit, whether through a settlement or a jury verdict.
If you are unsure if you have cause to file a Phoenix rib and torso injury claim, contact our injury attorneys that are basd in Phoenix, AZ today to schedule a free initial case evaluation. During a case evaluation, we will assess the merits of your claim and offer guidance on how to best pursue legal recourse for your losses.
For more information on the legal rights which may be available to Arizona rib and torso injury victims and their families or to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a member of our legal team, please complete the Free Case Review form on this page.
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