What Are the Risks of Crush Injuries After a Car Crash?

Motorists, passengers, pedestrians, or other injured victims that experience crush injuries in an auto accident require immediate emergency treatment. They are also likely to need ongoing and extensive medical care, physical therapy and rehabilitation. Accident victims with crush injuries are often at a high risk of life-threatening medical complications and may sometimes have to undergo amputation surgery to save their life.

It takes an experienced car accident attorney in Alabama to determine the immediate and long-term medical costs, income loss, and pain and suffering of the injured victim in order to pursue maximum financial damages from the at-fault parties.

Types of Crush Injury Auto Accidents in Alabama

Crush injuries occur because of sudden, prolonged, and extreme pressure on the person’s blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and other soft tissue. A victim’s hands, torso, arms, and legs can experience a crush injury during the following types of collisions:

• Two vehicles colliding at high speeds.
• Single vehicle crashing into a stationary object, such as a tree, utility pole, or a stopped vehicle.
• Vehicle slides or crashes under a truck.
• A pedestrian caught between two cars or a car and a stationary object.
• Crash victims become trapped under the wreck of heavy vehicles.

Early Symptoms of a Crush Injury

These are a few initial effects of a crush injury following a car accident:

• Severe bleeding
• Broken bones
• Nerve damage
• Bruising
• Lacerations
• Severely crushed muscles
• Bruising

Crush injuries usually have catastrophic consequences even when the victim survives the initial damage. Pertaining to this, time is not on your side since the damaged tissue will quickly begin deteriorating because of loss of oxygen and the severe and sudden reduction in blood flow.

Secondary Conditions Can Be Life-Threatening

Victims are often in shock following a crush injury in a car crash. This can make you unaware of other injuries. In fact, many victims insist that they don’t feel any pain and refuse treatment. With that said, the only way to be sure about the injuries you may have is by getting examined by a medical professional. If you delay seeking medical treatment, your condition may rapidly decline and substantially reduce your ability to recover.

Crush injuries come with a high risk of life-threatening and debilitating secondary conditions, such as:

• Limb ischemia: Sudden reduction in blood flow to the affected limb causes this condition. Patients are at a high risk of amputations. If left untreated, limb ischemia may result in serious cardiovascular complications or death.
• Acute compartment syndrome: This condition occurs when there is a dangerous level of pressure on the affected muscle groups. This causes a sudden and devastating reduction in blood flow. Your affected muscles may feel tight and have a burning or tingling skin sensation. Emergency surgery is usually required in case of acute compartment syndrome.
• Rhabdomyolysis: Skeletal muscle tissue can get severely damaged by crush injuries, which can break down cellular integrity. The body releases multiple toxins when this happens. This includes myoglobin – a type of protein. Myoglobin along with other toxins can lead to kidney failure and death. Depending on the severity of your injuries, your body may start releasing myoglobin and other toxins within 4 – 6 hours following the injury. In severe cases, this may begin in as little as 60 minutes.

You should not delay in getting medical attention for your injuries. You should also not delay in consulting with an experienced car accident attorney that can get the claims process started while you recover.

Red Flags Indicating a Crush Injury

Crush injuries are internal, which means the severity of damage is not immediately apparent. In fact, first responders can miss this condition as well. Victims may not get the lifesaving care they require in a timely manner. These are a few early warning signs that emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and doctors look for in patients with crush injuries:

• Swelling
• Changes to skin color
• Paralysis
• Hypothermia
• Decreased pulse
• Paresthesia (tingling, burning)

Legal Help for Crush Injuries After a Car Accident in Alabama

Crush injuries need ongoing and extensive treatments. Victims usually need surgery and costly medical interventions. There may be a lengthy recovery involved. You should contact an attorney to ensure that you can obtain maximum compensation for your damages and pain and suffering. This vital step is required if you want to protect your legal rights while you continue focusing on your health.

Victims suffering from a crush injury following an auto accident may be eligible to receive compensation for:

• Surgical interventions
• Emergency transportation and treatment
• Physical therapy once the injuries are stabilized
• Prosthetics if an amputation is needed
• Ongoing ICU care
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering

Get Strong Legal Representation Today

If you or someone you love has been left with crush injuries following a car accident in Alabama, it may be time to speak with the experienced auto accident attorneys at the law firm of Frank M. Wilson. We will aggressively advocate for your rights with the insurance company and ensure that you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.

Schedule your free and confidential consultation with us today. Call (334) 420-2931 or write to us online.