Chest Injury Compensation

If you have suffered a chest injury due to the actions or negligence of someone else, you could be entitled to claim personal injury compensation. By speaking to one of the expert solicitors at JMW, you can be confident you have the best chance of making a successful claim.

Understanding the chest injury claims process is crucial to ensure you take the right steps and gather the necessary evidence to support your claim.

The estimates given below have been generated by JMW’s Compensation Calculator, which uses data from the Judicial College Injury Tables. Using this information, you can make a decision about whether or not you wish to begin the claims process.

For a more accurate calculation of how much your claim might be worth or to formally begin legal proceedings, get in touch with the expert solicitors at JMW today by calling 0345 872 6666, or by filling in our online enquiry form to request a call back. You can find out more about our personal injury claim services here.

How JMW Can Help

If you choose to begin the compensation claims process in earnest, your solicitor will make contact with the party responsible for your injuries, and start compiling the strongest possible case for you. By gathering evidence and reviewing all of the available information, they can help you achieve the best outcome when claiming chest injury compensation and receive a fair settlement.

For more information on what to do next, have a look at our guide to the Lifecycle of a Claim, or contact our team for more information about your specific circumstances.

What Is a Chest Injury Claim?

A chest injury claim is a type of personal injury claim that involves seeking compensation for injuries sustained to the chest area. This includes injuries to the torso, breastbone, sternum, ribs, lungs, and heart. Such claims can be made against the person or entity responsible for the injury, whether this be an employer, a driver, or a medical professional.

Chest injury claims often arise from various negligent events, including car accidents, workplace incidents, medical malpractice, and even sports injuries. If you have suffered a chest injury due to someone else’s negligence or actions, you may be eligible to claim compensation for your injuries and related expenses. This compensation can help cover medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with your recovery.

Common Causes of Chest Injury Claims

Chest injuries can occur in various situations, often due to the negligence of another party. Understanding the common causes of these injuries can help you determine whether you have grounds to make a claim. Some of the most frequent causes include:

Road Traffic Accidents

Collisions involving cars, motorcycles, cyclists and pedestrians can result in severe chest injuries due to the force of impact. These may include broken ribs, lung damage, or internal bleeding. If you have suffered a chest injury in a road traffic accident, you may be entitled to compensation.

Accidents at Work

Workplace accidents, particularly in industries such as construction, manufacturing and manual labour, can lead to serious chest injuries. These may be caused by falling objects, machinery malfunctions or crush injuries. If your injury was caused by unsafe working conditions, you could be eligible to make a work accident claim.

Serious Falls and Slips

Falling from height or slipping on an unmarked hazard can result in chest trauma, particularly if the individual lands on their chest or is struck by an object during the fall. If the accident was caused by negligence, you may be able to make a public liability claim.

Industrial Diseases and Asbestos Exposure

Long-term exposure to hazardous substances, such as asbestos, can cause serious lung conditions, including mesothelioma and chronic lung disease. If your employer failed to protect you from these risks, you could pursue an industrial disease claim.

Chest injury compensation claims related to industrial diseases often involve long-term exposure to hazardous substances and require thorough documentation of the impact on the individual's health.

Types of Chest Injury

Chest injuries vary in severity depending on the type of injury and its cause. Less serious injuries can be painful and debilitating, while the most severe are potentially life-threatening because of the vital organs that could be affected.

For more information on some of the more common and serious forms of chest injury, read below.

Fractured ribs

A crack or break in one or more of the ribs is typically caused by a blow to the chest. This type of injury can be especially debilitating, as it makes it difficult for the patient to move or take anything more than shallow breaths without causing pain.

Until fractured ribs heal, it can be hard for sufferers to go about their day-to-day and working lives while their ribs are healing.

Collapsed lungs

The technical term for a collapsed lung is pneumothorax and describes when the space between the lung and the chest wall (pleural space) fills with air. This puts pressure on the lung and causes it to collapse, preventing it from expanding as it should.

Collapsed lungs typically occur following a broken rib or puncture wound in the lung, and can lead to shortness of breath and chest pain.

Blunt and penetrating traumatic injuries

Blunt chest trauma refers to injuries caused by a collision with a blunt surface or object, whereas a penetrating chest trauma describes an injury caused by an object that pierces the skin, such as a bullet, knife or other sharp objects.

In some cases, these injuries can result in permanent damage to vital organs, significantly affecting the individual's quality of life.

Both blunt and penetrating injuries are very serious in nature and can cause a wide range of medical problems, such as:

• Collapsed lungs
• Haemothorax - blood in the chest cavity
• Sucking chest wounds
• Bleeding heart
• Cardiac tamponade - blood and fluid in the sac surrounding the heart

Industrial and asbestos-related diseases

Lungs can be seriously damaged as a result of a range of occupational and asbestos-related diseases, such as:

• Mesothelioma
• Chronic lung disease
• COPD
• Emphysema

For more information about making an industrial disease claim, click here.

How Much Compensation Could I Claim for a Chest Injury?

The amount of compensation you could claim for a chest injury varies, depending on the severity of the injury, the impact on your quality of life, and any financial losses incurred as a result.

Compensation claims for chest injuries could range from the thousands for minor injuries to hundreds of thousands of pounds for severe or life-altering conditions. As a general rule, the more serious and life-altering the injury, the higher the potential compensation.

You could also claim for financial losses such as loss of earnings, medical expenses and the costs of care or assistance.

Due to the wide range of factors involved in calculating chest injury compensation, it is impossible to say how much you are likely to claim for your unique circumstances. For a more accurate estimation of the compensation you may be eligible for, please contact our team of experienced personal injury solicitors at JMW.

How to Calculate Compensation for a Chest Injury

Calculating compensation for a chest injury involves a detailed assessment of the injury’s severity and its impact on the individual’s life. Personal injury solicitors consider several factors, including the individual’s age, health, lifestyle, and the extent of financial loss and expenses incurred.

There are two primary types of compensation in a chest injury claim: general damages and special damages. General damages compensate for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, reflecting the physical and emotional toll of the injury. Special damages cover financial losses and expenses, such as medical bills, travel costs for treatment, and lost earnings. The amount of compensation awarded can vary widely, depending on the specific circumstances of the injury and its effects on the individual.

What Can Affect the Value of a Chest Injury Compensation Claim?

The value of a compensation award to your claim accounts for more than just the injury itself. It is also based on the wider impact the incident has on the individual’s life, finances and professional prospects, in order to properly reflect the damage they have suffered.

Determining the level of compensation for a chest injury can be particularly difficult, because this type of compensation claim is relatively uncommon and usually complex in scope. The payout will need to be calculated according to the effects it has on the injured party, the age and gender of the claimant, any long-term scarring sustained, whether life expectancy has been reduced, and the impact on the individual’s work and home life.

By speaking to your legal team, you will be able to get an accurate appraisal of how many of these factors are relevant in your case, and how much you could be owed as a result.

How Can Chest Injury Compensation Help?

Chest injuries can have a huge and long-lasting impact on you and those around you, with some of these consequences often being lifelong. 

Compensation awards will help to fund your medical and rehabilitation bills and cover the costs of any lost earnings. If your injuries were so severe that you are not able to make a full recovery after your accident, the money can also be used to pay for long-term treatment and necessary modifications to your living area and lifestyle.

Additionally, compensation from a claim can help to compensate you for any psychological impact that has been caused by your injury, providing peace of mind and helping your recovery.

What Are the Benefits of Chest Injury Compensation?

Receiving chest injury compensation can provide numerous benefits for individuals who have suffered due to someone else’s negligence or actions. Financial compensation can alleviate worries about medical expenses, lost earnings, and other related costs, allowing individuals to focus on their recovery without financial stress. It ensures that individuals receive the necessary treatment and support to recover from their injuries.

Additionally, compensation provides recognition of the harm and suffering caused by the injury, offering a sense of justice and closure. This financial support can be crucial in helping individuals rebuild their lives and move forward after a traumatic injury.

Am I Eligible to Make a Chest Injury Compensation Claim?

If you have suffered a chest injury due to someone else's negligence or actions, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation.

To qualify for a chest injury claim, you will need to establish that:

1. Your chest injury was caused by someone else’s action or negligence.
2. The incident occurred within the last three years, unless in cases involving children or those with diminished mental capacity. If you were under 18 at the time of the accident, you have until your 21st birthday to make a claim.
3. You have suffered loss or damage as a result of the injury, be it physical, financial or psychological.

The expert personal injury solicitors at JMW are here to provide personalised advice, assess your case and help you understand whether you have a valid claim. We aim to ensure that every eligible person can access the compensation they deserve.

What Evidence Do I Need to Provide to Support a Chest Injury Compensation Claim?

To support your chest injury compensation claim, the more evidence you can provide, the stronger your personal injury claim will be. Here is a list of the key types of evidence you may need to collect:

• Medical reports: these are crucial in any personal injury claim. They should document the extent and nature of your injuries, the treatments you have received, any future treatments you may require, and the long-term prognosis of your condition. It is worth noting that in some cases, independent medical assessment might be needed to support your claim.
• Photographic evidence: if possible, take photographs of your injuries, especially soon after the incident, and throughout the healing process. This can help to demonstrate the severity of the injury and the impact on your daily life.
• Witness statements: if there were any witnesses to the incident that caused your injury, their accounts can be valuable. They should provide their contact information and a detailed account of what they saw.
• Accident reports: if your chest injury occurred at work or in a public place, this should be reported in an accident book and a copy of the report provided. If your injury was the result of a road traffic accident, the police report can also be valuable evidence.
• Financial evidence: keep a record of all expenses related to your injury. This might include medical bills, travel expenses to and from medical appointments, and any costs for care or assistance you have needed. If you have been unable to work due to your injury, keep a record of your lost earnings.
• Personal diary: keep a diary documenting your pain levels, any difficulties you are having with daily tasks, and the impact of the injury on your personal life. This can help to show the impact of the injury on your quality of life.

Gathering all this evidence might seem daunting, but our team is here to support you. We can guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have the best possible chance of a successful chest injury compensation claim.

Are There Time Limits for Making a Chest Injury Compensation Claim?

Generally, you have three years from the date of the accident or from when you first became aware of your injury to make a claim. This period is known as the 'limitation period'.

There are, however, exceptions to this rule. For instance:

1. Children: if the person injured was under 18 at the time of the accident, a claim can be made on their behalf at any time until their 18th birthday. Once they turn 18, they can make a claim themselves, but the three-year limitation period then applies, meaning they have until they turn 21 to do so.
2. Those who lack mental capacity: if the person injured is incapable of managing their own affairs due to mental incapacity, there is generally no time limit to make a claim.
3. Claims for fatal injuries: if the chest injury has unfortunately resulted in a fatality, the family of the deceased has three years from the date of death or the date of the post-mortem to make a claim.

Despite these timeframes, we recommend that you start the claim process as soon as possible. This is because the details of the accident and your injuries will be fresher in your mind, and it may be easier to collect necessary evidence.

What Should I Do After Suffering a Chest Injury?

Now that you know how much your chest injury claim could potentially be worth, it is important to take the right steps to successfully move the claims process forward.

The most useful action to take is to speak to a specialist personal injury solicitor as soon as possible to discuss the specifics of your case and personal circumstances. This will allow you to obtain personalised and more accurate advice on how much you could claim, as well as to weigh up your legal options.

Why Choose a Specialist Solicitor for Your Chest Injury Compensation Claim

Choosing a specialist solicitor for your chest injury compensation claim is crucial to ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Specialist personal injury solicitors have extensive experience and knowledge in handling chest injury claims, providing expert guidance and support throughout the claims process. They can help you navigate the complex legal system, gather essential evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies to secure the best possible outcome.

Additionally, many specialist solicitors work on a no win, no fee basis, meaning you do not have to pay any upfront costs or fees unless you win your claim. By choosing a specialist solicitor, you can ensure that your claim is handled efficiently and effectively, giving you the best possible chance of securing the compensation you deserve.

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