Your sternum (also called a breastbone) is the long, flat bone that connects your ribs in the center of your chest. What a fractured sternum feels like can include sudden pain when the injury occurs. Pain can increase with breathing and other chest movements, including coughing, sneezing, or laughing. The injury site can also feel achy and, in severe cases, can lead to bone protrusions that create a deformity.
Twisting, bending, stretching, or arching your body or back can also increase pain and make daily and self-care activities difficult or impossible. Are you or someone you love living with the pain of a broken sternum caused by someone else’s negligence? A personal injury lawyer in your area can help you prove the cause of your accident and injuries. They can also help you pursue the at-fault driver for financial compensation.
How Can I Tell if My Sternum is Fractured?
A fractured sternum is essentially the same as a broken one. Both are painful, limiting, and can require extensive recovery. Symptoms of a fractured sternum include:
- Sudden pain in the chest
- Intense and localized pain
- Tenderness at the injury site
- Gradually appearing bruising
- Difficulty breathing for some patients
You should not attempt to self-diagnose or self-treat a fractured sternum. Appropriate medical care can ensure you experience optimal recovery. In addition, a car accident lawyer near you can help you prove the cause of your injury and document its ongoing costs. They can also ensure you receive the legal guidance and support you need and deserve.
What Can I Expect When I Seek Medical Care?
If your injury occurred because of a car or other motor vehicle accident, you might receive emergency medical care. To accurately diagnose your fractured sternum, your doctor may conduct the following tests:
- A thorough physical exam
- A specialized X-ray
- CT scans
- Ultrasound
Any of these fractured sternum symptoms should be evaluated and diagnosed immediately. Your treatment protocol can include prolonged periods of rest and immobility but can vary according to the severity of your fracture. You might also require more pain control prescribed by your doctor. Very rarely, will a fractured sternum require surgical repair.
Will a Broken Sternum Keep Me from Working?
It can take ten or more weeks to recover from a fractured or broken sternum. Since the injury and recovery make ordinary movement painful, it can prevent you from working. You do not have to bear the financial burden of this loss of income. You can recover your lost wages by pursuing the at-fault party for financial recovery.
Recovering compensation on your own can be challenging. However, a car accident attorney can help you identify the at-fault driver and prove the cause and costs of the accident. They can also handle the insurance company on your behalf, leaving you free to concentrate on improving.
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How Can I Prove the Cause of My Sternum Injury?
If a negligent driver caused the car accident that led to your broken sternum, a local law firm would pursue the at-fault driver and their insurer for financial compensation. To bolster and support your right to recovery, your lawyer will prove the legal elements of negligence which include:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Cause of accident
- Financial damages
Your lawyer will prove these damages by conducting an independent investigation. The investigation will lead to evidence that can steer your case toward an out-of-court settlement. This can include your official police report, medical records, and witness statements.
What Other Expenses and Losses Can I Recover?
The medical bills that result from your accident are only one form of recoverable economic damages. You could also be entitled to the following:
- Current and future lost wages
- Treatment-related travel expenses
- Property damage or total loss
- Diminished property value
The at-fault driver is also responsible for your non-economic damages. These are intangible and can be more difficult to substantiate on your own. They include the following:
- Lasting disability or disfigurement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
If a car accident attorney represents you, they will carefully assess your recoverable damages and ensure nothing is overlooked or omitted. They will deal with the insurance company while you focus on your physical recovery. They will also file a car accident lawsuit on your behalf if an acceptable settlement offer is not forthcoming.
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Contact Our Office for a Free Review of Your Car Accident Claim Today
Did you experience the signs of a broken sternum after a car accident? First, your doctor can tell you what a fractured sternum feels like. Then, after your diagnosis, our car accident lawyer can help you build a strong case for financial recovery.
Get a free case evaluation of your car accident claim today. Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to find out how hard we will fight for your financial recovery.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULATION
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