Rib fractures in a motorcycle accident are a common injury. They are incredibly painful and, in some cases, can be a life threatening injury. Broken ribs are one of the most common injuries in motorcycle accidents.
A broken rib often happens when the midsection of the body impacts the pavement or other surface. It can result in either a small crack of one of the ribs or multiple broken ribs. One potential threat is that the cracked ribs can tear into the lungs or the heart and damage them. This can result in a punctured lung or a torn or punctured aorta.
Symptoms of a Rib Fracture in a Motorcycle Crash
Fractured or broken ribs are very painful. Symptoms can include chest pain, difficulty taking a deep breath, difficulty coughing or coughing up blood or blood-tinged mucus, dizziness, chest deformities, and shortness of breath. Since rib fractures can result in internal injuries and serious complications, anyone suspecting they might possibly have a broken rib should seek medical attention immediately.
Personal injury lawyers can attest to the fact that this serious injury is especially painful. In addition to the immediate pain that is experienced after the motorcycle accident, there can be pain for weeks or months afterwards as the bones heal. When you break a leg or an arm bone, your doctor can cast it, preventing movement and reducing pain. In the past, doctors had prescribed wraps to support the rib bones as they healed. Now, however, they have discovered that doing so could interfere with normal breathing. Since the rib cage cannot be immobilized like an arm or a leg bone, healing can be especially painful.
According to a study performed by the National Institutes of Health, approximately 21 percent of rib fractures result in intra-abdominal organ injury. 40 percent result in some form of injury to the liver. 23 percent result in damage to the spleen.
Serious injuries and internal organ injuries can require surgery to heal. These expensive surgeries result in hospital stays, the need for further treatment, and often extended recovery time. More minor cases in which a cracked rib occurs usually will not result in a hospital stay, but can still require several weeks or even months to recover. Either way, the financial implications can be damaging.
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What Should You Do Now?
If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident and have multiple rib fractures, you need an experienced motorcycle personal injury attorney to represent your case. At the Law Firm of Kass & Moses, we have represented injured motorcycle riders for over three decades. We take the time to understand your personal injury case and do everything we can to preserve your financial future.
For a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today at 1-800-MOTORCYCLE. Do not let someone else’s negligence damage your future.
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