crush injury

The injuries you sustain in a car accident can vary greatly. Some people come out of accidents having only suffered a few minor cuts and bruises, some suffer from mild injuries, and others can sustain devastating, life-threatening injuries.

One such injury that falls into the more catastrophic injury category is a crush injury. While a person can recover from a crush injury, they may still struggle with an impairment for the rest of their life, and they may even suffer from complications that could reduce their quality of life or shorten their lifespan.

At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand how devastating a crush injury can be. We have helped countless victims of severe car accidents file their claims and recover high-value settlements to help them cover their losses and move on as comfortably as possible. If you need help with a crush injury claim, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our California catastrophic injury lawyers.

What is a Crush Injury?

A crush injury is simply defined as any injury that occurs when “force or pressure is placed on a body part.” However, the specific injury and symptoms that occur as a result of being crushed can vary depending on various factors, such as how the injury happened, what part of the body was affected, and how badly the body part was crushed.

Damage that can occur as a result of a crush injury can include:

  • Internal bleeding
  • Open wound bleeding
  • Crushed bones and fractures
  • Crushed muscles and soft tissue
  • Bruising
  • Lacerations
  • Nerve damage
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Loss of limbs

How Do Crush Injuries Happen?

Crush injuries can happen in any number of situations, but most often, they occur when heavy machinery and equipment are involved, such as in workplace and car accidents. Most crush injuries tend to result from car accidents. More specifically, a crush injury is more likely to occur when a car accident happens at high speeds and/or involves one vehicle that is much larger than another.

For example, if someone was speeding and they flew off the side of the road, their car could end up wrapping around a tree, crashing into a wall, or rolling over a hill—and when this happens, there is more likely to be severe damage that results in the vehicle occupants being crushed.

Another example would be when a smaller car gets into an accident with a large semi-truck. Because of the truck’s weight and size, it can easily crush the smaller car, which will then result in those inside the vehicle being crushed as well.

Crush injuries can also happen when someone outside of a vehicle, such as a pedestrian, gets run over by a car. Or when a motorcyclist or bicyclist gets struck by a larger vehicle.

Why Are Crush Injuries So Dangerous?

Crush injuries can be deceiving at first glance, especially if no skin is broken and there is no sign of bleeding. However, even though the damage might not look that bad on the outside, there could be a number of things going on internally.

And the problem is that if these injuries are not treated immediately, they often lead to complications that can result in losing the entire limb or severe internal bleeding and organ damage, which can lead to death.

Most victims who suffer a crush injury must receive emergency medical care right away in order to save their crushed limb or even to save their life.

Complications That Can Arise From a Crush Injury

One of the biggest concerns with crush injuries is the secondary injuries that later happen as a result of the initial trauma. Even if victims are rushed to the hospital and taken immediately into surgery, there is no guarantee that they will recover without suffering further complications.

Some of the most common complications that can arise after a crush injury include the following:

  • Crush injury syndrome: This occurs when severe damage to the muscle tissue causes a breakdown of cell integrity. When this happens, the cells begin to die off, which then results in toxins being released into the bloodstream, leading to metabolic disorders, kidney failure, and cardiac arrest.
  • Hyperkalemia: When a part of the body suffers from extreme, sudden pressure, it can release an excessive amount of potassium into the body, which can then lead to cardiac arrest.
  • Compartment syndrome: This occurs when cells in the body begin to die as a result of the muscles, nerves, and tendons being constricted for too long due to lack of blood flow.
  • Hypovolemic shock: This is what happens when the body loses an excessive amount of blood, which commonly occurs with crush injuries. If the heart is unable to pump blood, it can lead to multiple organ failure.

How Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help

With crush injuries, immediate medical attention is vital in order to save the victim’s life and reduce the chances of complications. So if you suffer from a crush injury, your number one priority should be to seek emergency medical attention.

However, after you have been treated, you should consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You could be dealing with mountains of medical bills, lost income while you are recovering, emotional distress, and potentially a future with a reduced quality of life.

While this is scary and overwhelming to consider, a personal injury lawyer can help you file your claim and ensure you are fully and fairly compensated for all you have suffered and may continue to suffer in the future, which can help alleviate some of your burdens.

At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, car accident attorneys know what it takes to ensure our clients are awarded maximum compensation. We will fight hard to protect your rights and help you win your case so you can focus on rest and recovery.

For help with your crush injury claim, call us at 877-380-8852 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.

Accident Client

Sally’s calm and professional demeanor gave me peace of mind when I was so frantic after a major accident. Having such a busy schedule, Sally’s team took the ball and ran with it putting my worries at ease. Highly recommend!

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KNOW HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AFTER AN ACCIDENT

It is essential to know your rights after a traffic accident so you can protect yourself and the value of your claim.
This guide will help you:

  • 1Know what to do when dealing with insurance claims, police reports and lawyers.
  • 2Avoid making mistakes that undermine the value of your claim
  • 3Put yourself in a position to get the best settlement possible