Rib injuries can range from cracked ribs to damage to internal organs. Broken or cracked ribs can be extremely painful and often take up to six weeks to repair themselves.

Rib injury treatment is limited as they cannot easily be reached.  However, a broken rib can cause a lung puncture, which makes it very hard to breathe. Your liver and spleen could also be at risk of damage from a broken rib. Recovery from a rib injury can be painful, especially in cases with complications.

Common causes of rib injuries

Rib injuries may be as a result of one of the following personal injuries:

• A car accident. 
• A slip, trip or fall. 
• An accident at work. 
• Playing sports. 
• An assault.

Types of rib injuries

The most common rib injuries are as follows:

• Rib fractures – A break or multiple breaks in the rib cage, which can then lead to bruising of the muscles and ligaments surrounding the site of injury. The lungs and other organs underneath the ribs can also be injured. 
• Flail chest – This is when a piece of the rib cage is separated from the rest of the rib cage structure- typically at least two ribs. 
• Splenic rupture – Injuries to the ribs may result in a splenic rupture, which involves the outer capsule being split and the spleen then bleeding into the abdominal cavity.

Damage to your ribs could cause breathing trouble, bruising and swelling, pain which is excavated by coughing, sneezing.

How long is a rib injury 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 rib or chest injury claim can be settled within three months but in complex cases they may take more than a year.