Traffic accidents can cause serious harm to all involved. Victims who sustain crush injuries in a car crash face several risks, which could be irreversible or life-threatening without immediate medical intervention.

At Goldberg Finnegan, we have seen the devastation accident victims and their families suffer following a serious collision, and we are prepared to help. Our Silver Spring car accident attorneys have helped crash victims secure compensation for more than 20 years. Call 24/7 for answers to your legal questions.

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How Car Accidents May Cause a Crush Injury

A crush injury is caused by the extreme force or pressure of an object on a body part. In a car crash, this type of injury is often the result of one or more vehicles striking another vehicle or object at high speed. Drivers of smaller cars are especially vulnerable if they hit a larger vehicle, such as a truck or SUV.

The greater the force at impact, the more likely the chance of a crush injury. Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycle riders are also at risk for a crush injury if involved in a collision with another vehicle.

The initial effects from a crush injury are severe and may include:

  • Severe bleeding (often internal)
  • Nerve damage
  • Crushed muscles
  • Multiple fractures
  • Lacerations
  • Bruising
  • Swelling
  • Burns

What Risks May Arise From a Crush Injury?

Victims with larger body areas entrapped under a heavy object, such as one or both legs or their torso, are at a greater risk for life-threatening complications. Other factors that may increase common risks associated with a crush injury include:

  • A victim’s age and overall health
  • The amount of tissue injured
  • The duration and force of the compression
  • Underlying condition of a victim prior to impact

Crush injuries are extremely complicated and require immediate and aggressive medical intervention, even before being extricated from the wreckage of a car crash. However, even with immediate emergency care, victims face multiple risks, including:

  • Limb ischemia: A loss of blood supply to the extremity can cause limb ischemia, increasing the likelihood of the victim needing an amputation. If left untreated, victims could also suffer cardiac instability or death.
  • Compartment syndrome: The pressure and force to the damaged area causes muscle cells to swell, depriving the cells and surrounding nerves of blood. Victims may experience severe pain and paresthesia (pins and needles). For acute cases of compartment syndrome, immediate surgical intervention may be necessary.
  • Crush syndrome or rhabdomyolysis: This happens because of extreme damage to skeletal muscle tissue and resulting breakdown of cell integrity. When muscle cells begin to die, which can begin in as little as one hour, the body releases multiple toxins into the body. These toxins can cause a series of serious metabolic effects, including renal failure and death.

Seeking Compensation Once Injuries Are Stabilized

After your injuries are stabilized, we strongly recommend that you contact an attorney to help you seek compensation for your damages. While no amount of money can change what has happened to you, it can help you to receive the ongoing care you need. Having legal representation can also ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process. Victims with legal representation are often awarded more compensation than those who try to go it alone.

Other ways attorneys can help you with your legal claim include:

  • Guiding you throughout the process to help you avoid saying or doing things that could harm your claim – such as by posting on social media.
  • Fully investigating the cause of your crash and communicating with the insurance company and other third parties on your behalf
  • Giving you the peace of mind you need to recover, while keeping you fully informed about the process of your claim
  • Accurately calculating the value of your claim to help ensure you receive the maximum possible amount of compensation

As you recover, it is also important that you are diligent in following your doctor’s prescribed plan of care. Even if you are stabilized and beginning to feel better, you could impede your ability to recover if you stop treatment. Ignoring your doctor’s recommended care plan could cause your injuries to worsen or lengthen your recovery time. Missed appointments may also result in the insurance company devaluing your claim. They could argue that your injuries are not as bad as you claim, which could damage your credibility.

Our Law Firm is Ready to Provide Legal Help After a Crush Injury

If you or a family member has sustained a crush injury in a crash caused by another’s negligence, it is important to seek legal help as soon as possible. Medical costs to treat extensive injuries quickly mount up and create unexpected financial stress, both for the victims and their families.

Having an attorney to protect your interests and fight for a full and just compensation can help give victims peace of mind. Call our law firm to schedule your completely free initial consultation today. If you cannot come to us, we can come to you.

There is no legal obligation after meeting with us, even if we validate your claim. If you have a case and we represent you, there is nothing to pay us up front or while we work your case. You do not pay us unless we obtain a recovery for you.