Rib and Torso Injuries

Every year, over two million car accidents across America involve some kind of blunt chest trauma that results in a rib or torso injury. In fact, one of the most common types of auto accident injuries experienced by Alabama crash victims is a rib and torso injury.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident in Mobile or Baldwin County that was caused by the actions of another driver and you sustained a rib or torso injury, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit to receive compensation for damages from the crash. You may be able to recover losses from medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, among other damages.

To begin exploring your legal options, contact our auto accident lawyers today by completing the Free Case Review form to the right.

Types of Rib and Torso Injuries

The function of the rib cage is to protect the body’s vital organs from internal injury. The human body consists of 24 ribs in total, or 12 sets of ribs. Ribs are designed to move with every breath, so an injury to the torso is often extremely painful. The simple task of breathing can leave an injury victim in excruciating pain.

There are many types of rib and torso injuries, ranging in severity, including broken or fractured ribs, soft-tissue rib injuries and serious Flail Chest injuries.

Broken or Fractured Ribs

Any of the 24 ribs bones of the capability of breaking. A fractured rib is much more common than a complete break. About 10 percent of victims that experience blunt force trauma to the chest experience, at minimum, one fractured rib.

Soft-Tissue Rib Injuries

When a victim suffers a rib fracture, they will typically suffer from a soft-tissue injury as well. This type of injury can be characterized by the damage of the soft-tissue surrounding the rib bone. Unfortunately, however, these types of rib and torso injuries are the least likely to completely recover from blunt force trauma and often result in permanent pain.

Flail Chest

When a cluster of consecutive ribs are fractured, a Flail Chest injury will result. This type of injury can be fatal, so it is crucial that victims seek immediate medical attention.

When several consecutive ribs are fractured, part of the chest wall becomes separated from the rest of the chest wall, causing it to float freely in the body. This can result in bruises on the lung known as Pulmonary Contusions, which are often fatal. The fatality rate of rib and torso injury victims who experience Flail Chest is 50 percent.

Treatment Options for Rib and Torso Injuries

Treatment of rib and torso injuries depends on the location of the injury and the severity of the injury experienced. Less severe rib fractures can heal in six to 12 weeks with minimal medical treatment. More severe injuries can cause internal organ damage, damage to the brachial plexus and life-threatening Flail Chest injuries, which may require more extensive and costly medical treatment.

The treatment of Alabama rib and torso injuries can include:

• Physical Therapy
• Ultrasound
• Use of Pain Medications and Muscle Relaxers
• Massage Therapy
• Immobilization
• Surgery

Contact an Experienced Rib and Torso Injury Lawyer Today

Rib and torso injury victims may not realize how seriously they were injured or the full extent of their emotional and financial losses until it is too late to file a claim. Alabama has a strict statute of limitation for filing an injury claim, so we urge you to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to begin the legal process if you have sustained a rib or torso injury due to no fault of your own.

At the Citrin Law Firm, our rib and torso injury lawyers have the skills and resources necessary to successfully litigate an injury claim. With an office in Mobile, we are available to help Alabama personal injury victims fight for the rights they may deserve.

We believe that when someone has suffered harm through the actions of another, whether through negligence or malicious intent, they deserve both compassion and compensation for their condition as well as access to legal counsel, regardless of their financial status. To ensure this, our firm operates on a contingency fee basis. This means that if you choose to hire our firm, there is never any cost to you until we obtain a favorable outcome for your claim.

If you are unsure if you have cause to file an Alabama rib and torso injury lawsuit, do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a free, initial consultation. During a consultation, one of our attorneys will assess the merits of your claim and offer guidance on how to best pursue financial and legal recourse for your condition.

For more information on the legal rights which may be available to Mobile rib and torso injury victims and their families or to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a member of our legal team, please complete the Free Case Review form on this page.