When most people envision car accident injuries, they picture visible trauma like broken bones, whiplash, or head injuries. However, the human body’s response to a violent collision can trigger life-threatening heart attacks. The sudden impact, extreme stress, and physical trauma of a crash can cause cardiac arrest even in people with no prior heart conditions. You should speak with an Atlanta car accident lawyer as soon as possible following a collision to ensure you can receive fair compensation for injuries suffered.
Common Symptoms of Heart Attacks
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart becomes blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching heart muscle tissue. This dangerous condition requires immediate medical attention and can lead to permanent heart damage or death without treatment.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, call 911 and seek emergency medical care as soon as possible:
- Pain, pressure, or squeezing in the chest
- Weakness and cold sweats
- Discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
- Pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulders
- Lightheadedness and faintness
- Difficulty breathing
How Do Car Accidents Lead to Heart Attacks?
Car accidents can trigger serious cardiac complications through both physical trauma and emotional stress. Victims of car accidents often experience one of two conditions: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation (AFib).
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, known as broken heart syndrome, can affect anyone, even people with healthy hearts. The extreme stress from an accident causes chest pain and breathing difficulties that mimic a traditional heart attack. Most cases require immediate hospitalization.
- AFib develops when accident trauma disrupts the heart’s normal rhythm. Without immediate medical intervention, AFib can lead to dangerous complications like stroke, blood clots, or heart failure.
The physical impact of a car accident can also bruise the heart muscle and surrounding tissues, which can lead to heart failure without treatment. Warning signs include chest tenderness, breathing problems, irregular heartbeat, and visible bruising.
Can You Pursue Compensation for a Collision-Related Heart Attack?
In Atlanta, victims of car accidents have the right to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash. If you were involved in a collision, you may wonder if cardiac injuries qualify under these claims. The answer is yes, you can file a claim for a heart attack that resulted from a car accident.
When medical evidence links the cardiac event directly to the collision—whether through physical trauma or extreme stress—you can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. However, you will need to prove the following facts to secure a settlement:
- The at-fault driver owed you a duty of care.
- The at-fault driver breached their duty of care.
- The breach of duty led to your accident and the heart attack.
- You suffered damages that you can recover in your claim.
A car accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence needed to prove these facts and build a compelling case. Medical records, emergency response reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and expert testimony from cardiologists can all help establish the connection between your heart attack and the collision.
Contact the Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers at Monge & Associates
If you suffered a heart attack in an Atlanta car accident and you want to pursue a legal claim, you need an attorney in your corner. Monge & Associates has the experience, knowledge, and resources necessary to fight for the compensation that you deserve. After seeking medical care, contact us today at (678) 535-3938 or toll-free at (888) 653-0605 for a free consultation with our car and motorcycle accident attorneys in Atlanta.