A Guide To Chest Injury Compensation Claims

Chest injury compensation claims

This guide is set to provide all the information you may need if you have experienced a chest injury due to the fault of another. An accident of any nature is never an expected turn of events, much less those that are caused by negligence. Within this guide, it shall explore the various ways a chest injury could be caused by the negligence of a third party, and how our panel of solicitors could potentially be of assistance to those that are seeking compensation. Some common questions you may have about the claims process and chest injuries could include:

What happens when you get hit in the chest?
What are the two types of chest injuries?
What are personal injury claims, and how do they work?
What is a No Win No Fee agreement, and how do they work?
How could Legal Helpline assist me throughout the claims process?

Please read on through this guide to discover more information regarding personal injury claims and how our panel of solicitors could potentially help you. If you have further questions, our experienced advisers are always happy to take your call and speak with you in greater length.

What Is A Chest Injury

A chest injury also referred to as chest trauma, is any form of damage to the chest region that causes pain and suffering. Depending on the severity of the incident, a chest injury could affect the heart, lungs, ribs, collarbone, and shoulders. In some cases, a chest injury could have a minor outcome, leaving very minimal damages that will heal over time.

However, there are some situations where a chest injury could cause severe damage, inflicting life-altering consequences and health problems. Within the sections below, this guide shall explore the numerous causes and symptoms of a chest injury and discuss how a negligent third party could be at fault.

To discuss chest injury compensation claims further, give our expert team a call today.

Causes Of A Chest Injury

A chest injury is often caused by blunt force or penetrative apparatus, causing the chest to experience pain and suffering. There are situations where a chest related injury could be caused in a blameless event where nobody is at fault. However, if somebody that owes you a duty of care were to breach their moral and legal obligation to health and safety, it could make them liable for incidents that cause injury or harm.

Whilst the cause of the incident doesn’t directly affect the amount of compensation you could be awarded, being able to identify the negligent party at fault is a crucial step in the claims process. It is essential that you can provide evidence displaying the negligent party at fault, as this will strengthen your ability to claim.

Causes Of Chest Injuries In The Workplace

According to the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those who occupy land (such as businesses and shop owners) are required to uphold a duty of care. A failure to perform the necessary safety measures could be considered a breach of their legal obligation. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) claim the most effective way to prevent accidents in the workplace from occurring is through:

If an employer has neglected their duty of care, it could make them liable for any incidents that occur. So if you have been injured at your place of work due to negligence, Citizens Advice has provided some steps that could be extremely beneficial. They suggest that you should:

Seek medical attention
Report the incident to your employer
Ensure the incident has been logged in the accident work-book (and you get a copy of the entry)
Collect the contact information of those who witnessed the incident

If you’d like to discuss chest injury compensation claims further, get in contact with our team today.

Types Of Chest Injuries

There are two different categories that best define chest injury, which is exposure to hazardous substances and blunt force trauma. A chest injury claim for compensation could take into consideration injuries such as:

Fractured or broken bones
Lung damage
Soft tissue damage
Heart damage
Collapsed lung
Bronchitis
Asbestosis
Mesothelioma

When making a claim for compensation, you will be asked to undergo a medical examination. The examination will produce a report that outlines the type of injury you’ve endured and the effects it has had on your health and well-being. Legal Helpline could help organise an assessment. For more information, please speak to an adviser.

Broken And Fractured Rib Injury Claims

The ribs are a critical part of the body, as they protect the various organs that are located within the chest. If you experience a fractured or broken rib, it can be a harrowing experience, and in serious situations, a broken or fractured rib could become a severe health concern. The NHS state that the symptoms of a broken or fractured rib include:

Feeling or hearing a crack
Bruising on the skin.
Swelling and tenderness around the affected area.
Strong pain in the chest when breathing in.

An injury of this nature could be caused during a car crash, falling from a high place, or physical assault. If you have suffered a broken or fractured rib that was no fault of your own, you could potentially chest injury compensation claims.

If that is the case, why not speak to a member of our team? Our knowledgeable advisers can offer free legal advice of no obligation and discuss your potential claim in greater length.

Traumatic Chest Injuries

Traumatic chest injuries often refer to incidents of a severe nature, and unlike a broken or fractured rib, traumatic chest injuries often require immediate medical attention. A vast majority of chest injuries can be treated without surgery, but in extreme cases, a surgical operation might be a requirement. Those that experience severe chest trauma should always seek the advice of a medical professional.

Lung Damage

The lungs are a crucial and complex part of the respiratory system, and any damage they sustain could cause prolonged health-related issues. Lung damage is often defined as any issue concerning the health and well-being of the lungs, and in severe circumstances, could cause a lung to collapse or fail.

Injuries of this nature could be caused by negligent road users that have caused a roadside collision, or a negligent third party that has exposed you to harmful materials (such as asbestosis). Lung damage could create additional health problems later in life, such as asthma, bronchitis, cancer, and according to the British Lung Foundation, one in five people within the UK have been diagnosed with lung disease (such as asthma).

If you’d like to discuss anything regarding chest injury compensation claims further, give our team a call today.

Blunt Force Cardiac Injuries

A blunt force cardiac injury is rupture of a cardiac chamber or disruption of a heart valve or rupture of a cardiac or contusion of myocardial muscle. There are various symptoms of blunt force trauma, Myocardial Contusion being the most common. Myocardial Contusion is a term that is used to describe a bruised heart.

Myocardial Contusion is generally a by-product of a greater injury to the chest. In the event you endure a blunt force injury, an electrocardiogram (ECG) will be required to help determine if there are any irregularities with your cardiac function.

Chest Injury Symptoms

The severity of your injury and the type of injury you endure will influence the symptoms you experience. In most cases, those that endure a chest injury could experience symptoms such as:

Extreme pain when breathing
Shortness of breaths
Tenderness
Swelling
Bruising

If you’d like to receive expert free legal advice, or discuss chest injury compensation claims further, get in touch with us today.

Chest Injury Treatment

In the event you’ve suffered from a chest injury or fractured rib, you might be questioning what steps you could take to aid the pain. The NHS suggests that those who’ve suffered from a chest injury should always seek the advice of a medical professional, and if your injuries are minor (fractured rib – bruised chest), you could:

Take pain relief.
Keep mobile and active.
Cough if needed.
Keep your shoulders moving with light everyday activities.
Keep an eye on your symptoms for signs of complications.

In severe cases, a chest injury can cause a condition called pneumothorax which is a collapsed lung. This is generally caused by the lung being punctured. The air becomes trapped in the chest, causing one or both lungs to collapse.

Chest Injury Compensation Claims Calculator

When pursuing a claim for compensation, there are two categories of damages that are taken into consideration. These are referred to as General Damages and Special Damages. In this section, we shall explore general damages in greater length. General damages awarded for physical injury and psychological trauma after an accident. A medical assessment will be required to determine the severity of your injuries, and upon completion, the report will be used later in the claims process as evidence.

Those pursuing a claim against a negligent party might question how much compensation they could be entitled to. Located below, we have provided a personal injury claims calculator that offers compensation amounts. The figures within the table are based on the Judicial College Guidelines. It is always important to remember that the compensation you could be entitled to may differ from the figures that are listed within the calculator. If you have any questions regarding the claims calculator, please speak to a member of our team.

Injury	The Severity of the Injury	Compensation Awarded	Injury Description
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder	Less Severe	£3,710 to £7,680	Those that experience a minor degree of PTSD are often expected to make a well-rounded recovery within one top two years. However, the affected individual may display minor symptoms.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder	Moderately	£7,680 to £21,730	The effects are likely to cause significant disability for the foreseeable future. Those that experience moderate PTSD would experience anxiety, depression, sleepless nights, and could have issues maintaining a regular day-to-day lifestyle.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder	Severe	£56,180 to £94,470	Those that endure severe PTSD will never return to a pre-trauma state. In most cases, severe PTSD will hinder the affected individual’s ability to work, cause extreme mental distress, insomnia, anxiety, and spells of depression.
Chest Injury	Fractures of ribs	Up to £3,710	A minor chest injury is often in connection to fractured ribs and soft tissue injuries. In many cases, injuries of this nature will only cause pain and suffering for a period of weeks.
Chest Injury	Damage to chest	£29,380 to £51,460	An injury of this calibre would cause damage to the chest and lungs, leaving the affected individual continually disabled.
Chest Injury	Lung and/or serious heart damage	£94,470 to £140,870	An injury of this nature is expected to be extremely severe, and would require the total removal of one lung. An injury of this nature may also cause heart damage, prolonged pain, and permanent scarring.
Shoulder Injury	Minor	£4,080 to £7,410	A shoulder injury of this nature would be expected to recovery within less than two years. However, a degree of pain could cause discomfort.
Shoulder Injury	Severe	£18,020 to £45,070	A severe injury of this nature is often associated with damage to the bronchial plexus. In most scenarios, a severe shoulder injury would cause disability, pain, limited mobility, and suffering.

Special Damages Awarded In Chest Injury Claims

Special damages differ from general damages, as they could be awarded to those that experience financial loss due to their injury. Within this section, we will discuss Special Damages in greater length and outline how those that have been affected by a negligent third party could be awarded special damages. To illustrate how an injury could cause a financial loss, we have created a list.

Lowered Earning Potential – If your career prospects have been permanently affected after an accident, special damages could be awarded.
Loss of Earnings – After an accident, you may require time off from work to heal and recover. During this period, you could potentially lose out, which could be taken into consideration.
Medical Treatment – If you have personally funded medical treatment that wasn’t covered by the NHS, this could be factored into your claim for compensation.
The Cost of Care – If an accident renders you unable to perform daily tasks, you might require care. If that is the case, the cost of care could be taken into consideration when pursuing a claim.

No Win No Fee Chest Injury Compensation Claims

Here at Legal Helpline, a solicitor from our panel could offer to manage your case on a No Win No Fee basis. Also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement, this form of financial agreement reduces the threat to your finances and eliminates any upfront fees. If a solicitor takes on a claim under a CFA and has a successful outcome, you’ll be required to pay a success fee for the services that have been provided.

This fee will be subsided from the awarded settlement and is capped at 25%. However, if a solicitor is unsuccessful, you will not be obliged to cover the legal fees of your solicitor. If you have any questions regarding No Win No Fee agreements and how they work, please speak to a member of our team.

Why Choose Our Team For A Chest Injury Claim

Here at Legal Helpline, we could connect those that have been affected by third party negligence with a solicitor from our panel. We work with a renowned panel of solicitors that are well versed in personal injury law and have years of experience.

However, in order to make a successful claim for compensation, you must begin your claim within the personal injury claims time limit. The time limit begins from the moment you are aware you are injured and could affect your ability to make a claim for compensation. So if you wish to begin a claim with a solicitor from our panel, please contact a member of our team.

Start Your Chest Injury Claim

If you have experienced a chest injury due to the fault of another and wish to make a personal injury claim, why not contact Legal Helpline? Our experienced advisers can offer free legal advice and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Alternatively, enquire online, and a member of our team will contact you.

To speak with an adviser, the number to call is 0333 000 0729.
To enquire online, please click here.

Essential References

We hope that this online guide on chest injury compensation claims has successfully provided information regarding the claims process. In addition to this online guide, we have provided some further materials that could be of use.

Accident At Work Employee Rights

Arm Injury Compensation Claims

Head Injury Compensation Claims

NHS – Chest Injury Advice

Gov.uk – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Chest Injury Compensation Claims FAQs

What is the most common chest injury?

Arguably the most common chest injury is a rib fracture. Such injuries can be sustained by blunt-force trauma, like falling from a height, being struck by a moving object, in road traffic accidents or slips, trip or falls.

How long does it take for a chest wall injury to heal?

Chest wall injuries can take between 4 and 6 weeks to heal, though symptoms may persist for longer beyond that. Bruising of the chest may clear up in a shorter space of time—around 4 weeks—but again, pain and symptoms may persist for longer.

What are the signs of a chest injury?

Common symptoms of a chest injury may include pain, especially when breathing in or out, laughing, coughing or sneezing, and; swelling, bruising and general tenderness in the chest area. It’s always advisable to get these symptoms checked out by a medical professional as more serious harm may have been sustained.

Thanks for reading our guide on chest injury compensation claims.

Guide by MN

Editor MA

Chest Injury Compensation Claims Specialists

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