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California Fractured Rib Attorneys

The rib cage forms an extremely important set of bones in our body. That's because it acts as a protective frame shielding vital internal organs including the heart and lungs, and facilitates breathing. A rib cage consists of 24 curved ribs arranged in 12 pairs and each of these pairs is attached to a vertebra in the spine.

The rib cage is supported by ligaments and muscles and these muscles allow the ribcage to expand and contract as we breathe. Injuries to your rib cage often involve bruises, torn cartilage and bone fractures.

Rib injury symptoms depend on the type and severity of the injury, but usually include:

• Pain in the injured area
• Pain when the rib cage flexes, such as when you breathe, cough, sneeze or even laugh
• Crunching and grinding sounds when the injured area is touched or moved
• Muscle spasms of the rib cage
• A deformed appearance of the rib cage
• Breathing problems

Blunt force trauma is the most common cause of rib injuries and this usually happens when the chest is directly hit. Situations where rib injuries can occur include motor vehicle accidents (this could especially happen when your chest slams against the steering wheel); crush injuries, when a heavy object lands directly on your chest; sports-related injuries; fall from a height or assault. In auto accidents, rib injuries may even be caused by defective seat belts. In such cases, the product manufacturer may be held liable for your injuries.

A rib injury always has serious risks associated with it, because these bones protect vital organs such as the heart and lungs. So, there is the potential for life-threatening injuries. Rib injuries can result in a collapsed lung because of changes in pressure within the chest. A broken rib could also tear or puncture the lungs or a chest wall leading the victim to cough up blood and have chest pain or breathing problems. The heart could be affected if for example, there is trauma to the coronary artery, which helps blood to flow to the heart. A rib injury could even rupture the spleen, affecting the abdominal cavity.

Rib injuries are not to be taken lightly. They should be treated promptly and effectively and if someone's negligence or inappropriate behavior caused your serious injuries, they must be held responsible and financially liable for their actions. The Northern California rib fracture attorneys of Gillin, Jacobson, Ellis & Larsen have been representing victims of rib injuries successfully for more than three decades. We have the knowledge, experience and the will to fight for you and protect your legal rights. Call us immediately for a free consultation.