An accident can happen at any moment, leading to unexpected injuries and financial losses. Crush injuries are among some of the kinds of injuries that can result from multiple types of accidents and dangerous scenarios.
If you or a loved one has sustained a crush injury, a personal injury lawyer can provide strong representation and work toward achieving the best possible outcome. But what exactly are crush injuries, and what types of accidents typically cause them?
Understanding Crush Injuries
A crush injury results when there is excessive force or pressure on a certain part of the body. The resulting injury and the severity depend on the exact area of the body affected. Crush injuries can look different for everyone but often cause bleeding, bruising, and open wounds.
In some situations, crush injuries can be deceptive. You may believe your injuries are minor, especially when the arms or legs are involved, but the injury may be more serious than it feels or appears. This further emphasizes the importance of seeking timely medical care in the event of an accident.
Potential Complications of a Crush Injury
Crush injuries can affect your physical health not only in the short term, but sometimes also in the long term. These injuries can result in severe, lasting consequences, including:
- Nerve Damage: A crush injury can cause nerves to become permanently damaged, resulting in unpleasant consequences, like numbness and weakness
- Infection: When strong force results in an open wound, bacteria can easily enter the body and cause different infections, which could lead to long-term damage
- Tissue Damage: A crush injury can disrupt blood flow to surrounding tissue, which could lead to permanent damage to the tissue
- Crush Syndrome: Crush syndrome can develop after a crush injury, causing major shock and renal failure
- Compartment Syndrome: Excessive pressure built up in the muscles can decrease blood flow, which could result in the need for amputation
The health issues caused by a crush injury can affect you well into the future, impacting your ability to work, socialize, and live life as you once did pre-injury.
The Top Causes of Crush Injuries
Crush injuries are common injuries resulting from various types of accidents. The following are some of the ways crush injuries most often occur.
Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents, including those involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles, can all result in unfortunate crush injuries. This is particularly true when the impact is severe, causing extensive, life-changing consequences.
Crush injuries in vehicular accidents usually result from the pressure of a heavy object. For example, when a motorcycle rider gets pinned under their bike in an accident, the weight of the motorcycle can easily cause a crush injury.
Pedestrian Accidents
A pedestrian accident involves a vehicle hitting a pedestrian on the road. These types of accidents regularly result in substantial injury, as pedestrians have no protection in the event of a collision.
Crush injuries in a pedestrian accident frequently occur due to the impact of the vehicle on the body.
Construction Accidents
Construction sites are dangerous locations, both for construction workers on the job and pedestrians in the surrounding areas.
Crush injuries are specifically common on construction sites, as there are plenty of heavy objects, tools, and machinery. These injuries are caused in many ways on construction sites, including getting caught between two objects, being stuck by falling objects, and limbs getting caught in machinery.
Product Liability Accidents
Almost any product can become damaged or defective, from kitchen appliances to children’s toys. Use of a defective or malfunctioning product can be dangerous to the consumer, resulting in crush injuries to various areas of the body.
Bring Your Crush Injury Case to a Personal Injury Attorney
When you sustain a crush injury as a result of another’s wrongful actions, you may have a valid claim for personal injury. A personal injury lawyer can protect your rights and pursue favorable compensation on your behalf.
The legal team at Hunt Law has extensive experience representing injured clients throughout Northern New Mexico and Las Vegas, NV. Contact us to request a consultation with a compassionate and skilled personal injury attorney today.