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What if I Experience Chest Pain After an Accident? 3 Important Steps to Consider

02/28/2022
Car Accidents
BY

Shock…disorientation…panic…concern. If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you may have experienced these or other feelings in the moments following a collision. With adrenaline pulsing through your body and so much to process around you, your body may or may not have the capacity to be aware of every symptom it’s experiencing. Some pain, including chest pain, can flare up over time. 

It’s not all that uncommon for a vehicle’s occupants to experience chest pain after a motor vehicle accident. Seatbelts – and airbags, if they deploy – are critical safety features that typically help protect you from many types of serious injuries. At the same time, a collision could thrust your body forward against a seatbelt and airbag with such force that an injury can occur to your upper body. An airbag’s failure to deploy could also lead to injuries from striking your car’s steering wheel or dashboard or, for passengers in a second or third row, seats or other objects in front of them could cause harm. Any of these outcomes could lead to an occupant experiencing chest pain and other symptoms.

If you’ve been in an accident and are experiencing symptoms – especially chest pain – it’s important to seek immediate medical attention. After you’ve been evaluated, contact the Florida personal injury lawyers at Searcy Denney if you have questions about what to do next. Our attorneys have extensive experience working with people hurt in motor vehicle crashes, and they can help explain the legal remedies available to you for the injuries you sustained. Below are three important steps to take after an auto accident.

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention As Soon As Possible

If you’re experiencing any type of pain or discomfort in your chest after a collision, you should seek immediate medical attention. Taking some pain medicine and hoping it will subside may not be in your best interest. That’s because the pain you’re experiencing could be a sign of a more serious – and even life-threatening issue. If it is, the faster you can receive treatment, the better. Even if you do not think you are hurt, it’s still good to have a qualified medical professional examine you, run the appropriate diagnostic tests, and rule out a more serious injury.

After you receive treatment, make sure you complete any aftercare tasks prescribed by your doctor. If your doctor asks you to go to additional appointments, fill a prescription, or take other steps to address your condition, it’s a good idea to follow through with those steps. Failure to follow your doctor’s advice could diminish your position when seeking compensation after an accident.

Step 2: Save Your Medical Documents

The last thing you want is an insurance company to allege that your symptoms are unrelated to the accident you were in. Therefore, when you visit an emergency room, receive diagnostic tests or follow-up with a doctor, and make sure you keep your paperwork. This documentation provides evidence for you to prove to an insurance company that the pain you suffered was a result of your car accident. In many cases, if you seek treatment early, you can better establish a connection between your accident and your injury.

Do you have questions about the type of documentation to save? If so, the Florida personal injury lawyers at Searcy Denney can help you determine what kind of documents will be most effective for your case. 

Step 3: Consider Contacting a Florida Personal Injury Attorney About Recovering Damages

Florida’s “no-fault” insurance law allows accident victims to recover at least a portion of their medical bills and lost wages under their own personal injury protection (PIP) policies. In addition, if you’ve suffered serious and permanent injuries, you can seek full financial compensation from the negligent drivers who are responsible for the harm they have endured.

What’s more, accident victims can also seek full compensation for all of the physical, emotional, and financial effects of their injuries under Florida law. Serious car accidents can be traumatizing, debilitating, and life-changing. Calculating your total losses from such an incident is a tall task – and it requires a thorough knowledge of the many ways that an injury has impacted your life. Along with coverage for the costs of diagnosis, treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, prescriptions and other medical expenses, you may also be entitled to compensation for additional losses.

At Searcy Denney, our Florida personal injury lawyers can help you recover damages for:

  • Current and future medical bills and prescription costs
  • Other current and future out-of-pocket expenses
  • Loss of income and wages
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of consortium and enjoyment of life
  • Other financial and non-financial losses

Injured After a Car Accident? Our Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help

If you experienced chest pain or other symptoms after a motor vehicle accident, the Florida personal injury lawyers at Searcy Denney are here to help you get the results you deserve. Their experienced attorneys can listen to what happened and help determine if you are entitled to damages. Call us toll-free at 800-780-8607 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys. We have offices conveniently located in TampaWest Palm Beach, and Tallahassee.

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