St. Louis Rib Fracture Lawyer

Rib Fractures

Fractured ribs can be a very painful injury. It typically occurs because of a direct hit to the chest wall by a hard object causing the rib cage to compress and the bones to break. Common causes include:

• Tractor trailer accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Auto accidents
• Airbag deployment
• Falls
• Contact sport injuries, including football, soccer, boxing, karate, etc

Symptoms and Treatment Options

In most cases, the only symptom of a rib fracture is chest wall pain. This pain can be severe, making it difficult to move about and take deep breaths. Frequently, the person will be holding their side. Treatment will consist of pain medication, such as Percocet, Vicodin, or Motrin. Your doctor will encourage you to cough frequently and take deep breaths often to help keep your lower lungs cleared because one of the most common complications is pneumonia, or a lung infection.

In rare instances, if the force causing the injury was great enough, the ribs can be compressed enough to puncture the lung tissue as they break. In this situation, the person may develop a collapsed lung, or pneumothorax, and need further evaluation and treatment. They will present similarly and will be diagnosed by x-ray.

Recovery from Rib Fractures

People with rib fractures have a good chance of recovery.

Effective Legal Representation for
Injured Victims

Our St. Louis chest trauma lawyers have the legal experience and skills to help those injured in vehicle accidents throughout Missouri. If you or a loved one has suffered rib fractures or any other injuries in a collision, our attorneys can help. Call us at (314) 322-8515 today to learn more about how we can protect your legal rights.