What to Do About Chest Pain After a Car Accident

It’s pretty common for car accident victims to walk away from the scene feeling shaken up but ultimately forgo medical attention. You may think you just need to rest or that you’re on the road to recovery, only for symptoms to rear their ugly heads days after the fact. No matter when they appear, injuries like chest pain after a car accident warrant your concern and immediate medical attention.

Whether it appears immediately or days after the incident, chest pain should never be ignored, as it could indicate serious underlying injuries ranging from bruising and muscle strain to potentially life-threatening conditions like internal bleeding or cardiac trauma.

Keep reading to find out what to do about chest pain following a car accident, or, if you or a loved one is experiencing pain after an accident, call Jose Calderon of Calderon Law Firm today at (346) 999-5673 to get the help you deserve. 

If you’ve been involved in an accident and are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or report to the nearest emergency room before contacting an attorney.

How long after an accident can you feel pain?

Pain following a car accident doesn't always manifest immediately. The human body's stress response during a traumatic event like a collision releases adrenaline and endorphins that can temporarily mask pain and injury symptoms, so it’s common for people to feel okay after a car accident when they’re really not. Adrenaline can conceal injuries for hours, days, or sometimes even weeks after the accident occurs.

Accident victims often begin experiencing pain 24 to 48 hours after the collision as their adrenaline wears off. Some injuries may not become noticeable until days later, developing gradually or worsening over time. This delayed onset of symptoms is particularly common with:

• Soft tissue injuries like whiplash and muscle strains
• Internal bruising that takes time to develop
• Concussions and other mild traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal disc injuries that become more painful as inflammation increases
• Internal injuries that worsen as bleeding or swelling continues

The delayed response to injuries is exactly why your Houston injury lawyer will encourage you to seek medical attention immediately after you’re hit by a truck or car, no matter how well you feel in the aftermath. Early diagnosis can prevent complications as well as establish a clear connection between your injuries and the accident for insurance and legal purposes.

Can your chest hurt from whiplash?

While whiplash is most commonly associated with neck pain, it can absolutely cause chest pain as well. Whiplash occurs when the body experiences a sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement, like the cracking of a whip. During a car accident, this violent motion can strain not only the neck but also the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues throughout the upper torso, including the chest.

• The chest pain associated with whiplash typically results from:
• Strained or torn chest muscles that connect to the neck and shoulders
• Inflammation of the costovertebral joints (where ribs connect to the spine)
• Referred pain from injured cervical or thoracic spine structures
• Intercostal muscle strain (muscles between the ribs)
• Inflammation of the sternoclavicular joint (where the collarbone meets the breastbone)

Whiplash chest pain is often characterized by a dull, aching sensation that may worsen with movement, deep breathing, or resting in certain positions. It’s important to note that whiplash-related chest pain often worsens after the accident as inflammation builds in the strained tissues, and that other, more serious conditions can present similar symptoms; as is the case with all injuries after a car accident, you should see a qualified medical professional to protect your health after the fact. 

Causes and symptoms of delayed chest pain after a car accident

Delayed chest pain following a car accident can stem from any number of injuries, each with distinct symptoms and levels of severity. The common thread here is that they all warrant a trip to the doctor — and a call to your lawyer. 

Some common causes of delayed chest pain include:

1. Muscle and soft tissue injuries. The force of impact or strain from seatbelts can cause bruising, strains, or tears in the chest muscles, particularly the pectorals and intercostal muscles. These injuries often become more painful as inflammation develops over several days.
2. Costochondral separation. This occurs when the cartilage connecting the ribs to the sternum becomes damaged or separated. Pain typically worsens with movement, breathing, or pressure on the affected area.
3. Rib fractures. Hairline fractures may not be immediately painful due to adrenaline but can become increasingly uncomfortable as the initial shock wears off. Delayed swelling around the fracture site often intensifies discomfort.
4. Sternum fractures. The breastbone can crack or fracture upon impact with the steering wheel or from seatbelt pressure. These injuries may take time to manifest their full symptoms.
5. Internal organ injuries. Trauma to organs like the lungs, heart, or liver might not cause immediate pain but can develop into serious conditions over hours or days.
6. Pulmonary contusions. Bruising of lung tissue that progressively worsens as inflammation and fluid accumulation increase.
7. Traumatic cardiac injuries. The heart can sustain bruising or other trauma that may not immediately cause symptoms but could lead to complications.

Symptoms that commonly accompany delayed chest pain include:

• Pain that worsens with deep breathing, coughing, or certain movements
• Tenderness when the affected area is touched
• Visible bruising that develops or expands over days
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing deeply
• Feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest
• Swelling around the injured area
• Muscle spasms in the chest or between the ribs
• Crackling sensation with breathing (may indicate air in tissues)
• Increasing fatigue or weakness

The reason so many chest-pain-related symptoms are delayed after a car accident is that your body takes time to carry out its inflammatory response. Don’t wait for things to get worse; contact a Houston car accident lawyer who can help you protect your health and your future before it’s too late. 

What are 4 signs of a serious chest injury?

While some chest pain after a car accident may be relatively minor, there are signs that indicate potentially life-threatening conditions that require immediate emergency care.

If you or someone else exhibits any of these four serious signs following a car accident, call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room immediately. Don't wait to see if symptoms improve, as delaying care for these conditions can significantly worsen outcomes and may prove fatal.

What to do about delayed chest pain after car accident

When chest pain develops hours or days after a car accident, you need to make the right moves to protect your health and your potential personal injury claim. If you find yourself struggling with chest pain after an accident, follow these steps:

1. Seek medical attention immediately. Even if the pain seems manageable, chest pain should never be ignored.
2. Document everything. Record when symptoms began, take photos of your injury, and save all medical records and communications with insurance companies. 
3. Contact a Houston car accident lawyer. Avoid settling too quickly, as insurance companies will likely push you to take a lowball settlement soon after your accident. A skilled lawyer can help you push for what you really deserve. 
4. Focus on your recovery. Avoid strenuous activities and follow your doctor’s recovery advice rigorously. You’ve only got one life, and protecting your health should take precedent over everything else after an accident. 

The road after being seriously injured in an accident can be a long and arduous one. Frankly, it can be very difficult to prioritize yourself and your family while navigating the difficult aftermath of an accident — this is where Calderon Law Firm comes in. We handle everything from the insurance company to your medical bills, so that you and your family can focus on what matters: your recovery. 

Can you sue for seat belt injury chest pain?

While seat belts save lives during collisions, they can also cause injuries (commonly called "seat belt syndrome") due to forceful restraint during impact. You can absolutely sue for injuries related to chest pain from car accidents, which means you can sue for seat belt injury chest pain as well. 

You may be able to sue for economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.

• Economic damages often cover quantifiable financial losses resulting from your accident and injuries, like costs related to medical expenses, lost income, and property damage. 
• Non-economic damages are meant to compensate for intangible losses that don't have a specific monetary value but significantly impact your life, like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. 
• Punitive damages are intended to punish the liable party for their actions and deter similar behavior. They’re generally only awarded in cases involving particularly reckless or egregious behavior.

Chest pain after a car accident? Get the legal help you need from Calderon Law Firm.

At Calderon Law Firm, we understand just how difficult the challenges you’re facing right now are, and we have what it takes to help guide you through this difficult time. If you or a loved one is dealing with chest pain after a car accident, trust us to get you down the path to your recovery and the settlement you deserve. 

Don't let delayed chest pain go unaddressed. Not only can this compromise your health, but it may also undermine your ability to receive fair compensation. Insurance companies often attempt to deny claims for injuries that weren't immediately reported or treated, arguing they must not be related to the accident.

Whether you need a Houston truck accident lawyer to take on the trucking companies or were injured in a rideshare accident and need to fight Uber or Lyft, Calderon can help. Call Jose Calderon and Calderon Law Firm today at (346) 999-5673 or contact us online to get the help you need.