A pneumothorax, commonly known as a collapsed lung, is a severe internal injury that frequently occurs in high-impact vehicle collisions on New Braunfels roadways like I-35 and TX-46. This potentially life-threatening condition develops when trauma to the chest causes air to leak into the space between the lung and chest wall, preventing proper lung expansion. In car accidents, pneumothorax often results from blunt force trauma, broken ribs, or penetrating injuries from the steering wheel or dashboard. The condition may present immediately or develop hours after the crash, with symptoms including sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and bluish skin color. When pursuing a personal injury claim, documenting the immediate and long-term medical implications of a pneumothorax is crucial, as treatment often requires emergency medical intervention, chest tube insertion, and extended hospitalization, leading to substantial medical expenses and lost wages.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Texas follows a modified comparative fault system, where accident victims can pursue compensation as long as they are less than 51% responsible for the collision. For pneumothorax injuries sustained in New Braunfels accidents, victims have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003. Insurance claims should be filed promptly, ideally within days of the accident. Texas law allows recovery of both economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of quality of life). In severe pneumothorax cases, victims may also be entitled to future medical expenses and diminished earning capacity. Working with insurance adjusters requires careful documentation of all medical treatments and their connection to the accident. An experienced Texas personal injury lawyer(link is external) will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

Examples of accidents that can lead to a pneumothorax injury claim include:

• Comal County car accidents(link is external)
• Comal County truck accidents(link is external)
• Comal County motorcycle accidents(link is external)
• Comal County bicycle accidents(link is external)
• Comal County pedestrian accidents(link is external)
• Comal County slip and fall accidents(link is external)

Related Resources

Local Courts:

• Comal County District Court
• New Braunfels Municipal Court
• Comal County Court at Law

Support Services:

• CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital - New Braunfels Trauma Center
• Resolute Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
• Comal County Victim Services Division
• Texas Trauma Support Network

Legal and Regulatory Resources:

• Texas Department of Transportation Crash Reports
• Texas Transportation Code Chapter 550 (Accident Reports)
• Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code
• Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Protection Division

Return to the New Braunfels internal injury information page