The brain and heart are important organs in the body. The heart pumps oxygenated blood to different parts of the body, while the brain controls it. Although the ribcage, thick muscles, and connective tissue provide protection to the heart, they may not be enough in certain situations.
“During a car accident, the protective measures may fail, and the heart can sustain serious damage. The brunt of the force of a car accident can cause catastrophic damage to the heart,” says Sean Roberts of Roberts Markland, LLP. This article explains heart injury in detail and highlights common motor accidents.
How Severe Are Heart Injuries?
Heart injuries are always serious, although the severity level can differ from one case to another. Injuries to the heart can range from physical impairment to serious heart damage to death.
The three main layers covering the heart are the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The largest artery in the human body, the aorta, carries blood from the heart to the circulatory system. Meanwhile, the heart comprises four chambers: two pumping oxygenated blood out of the heart and two pumpings deoxygenated blood into the heart.
If any damage occurs to any of these layers, chambers, and arteries, it means there is a serious heart injury. Very serious car accidents, such as high-impact accidents, often cause injuries to the heart because they include force.
The great force caused by the accident rattles the heart around the chest cavity. Meanwhile, in worse cases, the accident crushes the chest cavity itself, which can result in irreparable damage to the heart.
Types of Post-Vehicle-Accident Heart Injuries
The most common heart injuries resulting from mobile crashes include but are not limited to aortic rupture, cardiac rupture, and A-fib, among others.
- A-Fib
This type of heart injury occurs when the accident throws off the electronic beat and sync of the heart. In this condition, the heart cannot pump blood efficiently; it has to beat harder, faster, and longer. This injury is not fatal, but if not treated properly or timely, it can lead to fatal conditions.
- Aortic Rupture
In this condition, the aorta tears and pumps blood directly from the heart into the chest cavity. Thus, the heart cannot send oxygenated blood to the rest of the body, and the chest cavity fills up with blood. Considering the importance of the aorta, this injury is serious and requires immediate, and sometimes-unsuccessful surgery.
- Aortic Dissections
This condition is serious but not fatal; it is when there is a not-so-little-not-so-big tear in the aorta lining. This tear will result in a slow leak that can result in blood pooling into the aorta lining, which is often characterized by numbness. The victim needs immediate emergency diagnosis and treatment to prevent the aorta from rupturing, thus leading to death.
- Cardiac Rupture
This heart injury is one of the most severe, with a very high risk of death. This condition is when the heart completely rips or tears open; this injury is often large and uncontrollable. However, if the medical team catches it on time, the small leak can be repaired before death happens.
- Heart Contusions
There is a bruise or bump on the heart’s wall exterior in heart contusions. While some heart contusions heal over time, many require that victims seek medical help immediately to avoid more serious issues.
Conclusion
If you have been involved in a motor accident, a vehicle accident lawyer can help. They know the effects of such accidents and will work to protect your rights while ensuring the negligent person does not escape. Plus, a good, experienced lawyer will ensure you receive proper compensation for what you went through.
