Chest injuries can range from external harm to internal organ damage causing pain and discomfort. In severe injuries, your lung could be punctured, making it very difficult to breathe or your liver or spleen may also be susceptible to damage.  

Chest injuries come with challenges during the recovery period, such as chest infections due to shallow breathing as a result of pain levels. 

Common causes of chest injuries

Chest injury claims can be a result of many different personal injury accidents including:

• A road traffic accident
• Slips, trips and falls
• An accident at work
• Playing contact sports
• An assault

Recovery can be long and painful, particularly if you face added complications as a result of the chest injury. 

Impacts of chest injuries

• Haemothorax – A collection of blood between the lung and the chest wall, caused by a blunt injury.
• Pneumothorax – Changes in pressure within the chest can lead to a collapsed lung. People suffering from a pneumothorax can experience breathing difficulties, chest pain and can cough up blood. 
• Cardiac and associated blood vessel injury– Such as trauma to the coronary artery or a tear in the aorta artery.

Chest injuries can result in the following:

• Trouble breathing. 
• Bruising and swelling. 
• Pain in the chest that is exacerbated through laughing, coughing and sneezing. 
• Tenderness around the ribs. 
• Pain when twisting the body.

How long is a chest injury compensation claim?

The length of time it takes to settle your claim depends on three factors; whether the other party admits they were at fault, the severity of injuries, and the amount of your losses and expenses.

A straightforward chest injury claim can be settled within three months but in complex cases they may take more than a year.