How Do I Know If I Have a Punctured Lung From a Car Accident?

A car accident can cause many serious personal injuries to vehicle occupants. Two of the most common types of injuries are broken bones and internal organ damage. A punctured lung combines these two types of injuries; it is a fractured rib that punctures the vital organ of the lung. It is a serious car accident injury that can be fatal in extreme circumstances. It is critical to go to a hospital immediately if you believe you have a punctured lung from a car accident.

A punctured lung is a type of lung injury in which the force of a car accident fractures a rib and causes the sharp piece of bone to tear the lung. If it tears the lung deeply enough, it can puncture it, meaning the lung will seep air into the chest cavity. A collection of trapped air in the chest cavity can put pressure on other organs within the victim’s body. A punctured lung can have several noticeable symptoms in the immediate aftermath of a car accident.

Depending on the injury, the symptoms of a punctured lung can be mild or intense. A punctured lung can ultimately result in pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung. A collapsed lung occurs when the buildup of air in the chest cavity puts so much pressure on the lung that it cannot expand. A collapsed lung can cause suffocation if not treated immediately. You may have a collapsed lung if you notice pain or tightness in the chest.

Emergency treatment is critical for a punctured lung. If you notice any possible symptoms of this injury in the aftermath of a car accident or pedestrian collision in Houston, call 911 to request an ambulance. A doctor will diagnose a punctured lung by evaluating your symptoms and using a chest x-ray to search for black pockets of air within the chest cavity.

A punctured lung can quickly escalate into a collapsed lung, making it difficult to breathe. Emergency medical intervention can help prevent the collapse of your lung by inserting a syringe into your ribcage to relieve trapped air. This is a temporary procedure performed in an emergency as a placeholder for more permanent treatments, typically in the form of a chest tube.

If the punctured lung only leads to a small portion of the lung collapsed or no collapsed lung at all, you may not need professional treatment to recover. Your body may reabsorb the extra air on its own and re-expand your lungs. Even without treatment, a doctor will monitor your lungs with chest x-rays during recovery to make sure they fully re-expand. Most patients do not experience long-term symptoms from punctured lungs after car accidents. Treatment and intensive care, however, can cost thousands of dollars in medical bills.

If a doctor diagnoses you with a punctured lung after a car accident in Texas, discuss your rights with an injury attorney. You may be eligible to bring a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. An injury claim could lead to compensation for the past and future medical bills associated with the punctured lung, as well as reimbursement for any missed wages while you stayed home from work to rest. An injury claim against the at-fault driver could result in greater compensation than an insurance company offers. Speak to a Houston personal injury attorney if you wish to bring a claim for a punctured lung after a car accident in Houston.

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