When someone is injured in an accident, they could suffer from a collapsed lung. This makes it difficult or even impossible to breathe. The air that was inside the lung fills the chest cavity instead, forcing the lung to stay closed, even when the person attempts to take a breath.
This can happen in many different ways. There doesn’t necessarily have to be an external puncture wound. For instance, someone who breaks a rib could also suffer a collapsed lung because it gets punctured by their own rib. No matter how it happens, prompt medical treatment is necessary, so what signs should that person look for?
Common symptoms
To start with, most people will feel a sharp pain. When they try to take a deep breath, this pain will intensify. They may also cough, and it will hurt each time that they do.
On top of that, they’ll have trouble breathing and may suffer from shortness of breath. This could also lead to nasal flaring, which is a symptom that others may recognize when doing a medical evaluation.
In some cases, a collapsed lung becomes incredibly severe. This is when it leads to symptoms like chest tightness, excessive fatigue, lightheadedness, a bluish tint to the skin, abnormal breathing patterns and a rapid heart rate. People may also feel like they are about to pass out or faint, and they could collapse.
Seeking compensation
A severe collapsed lung could prove to be fatal. But even those who survive could be facing excessive debt from the medical treatment necessary to save their life. They need to know how to seek financial compensation from the driver who caused the accident and the injury.
