Motor vehicle collisions are among the most common sources of crush injuries. Particularly when crashes occur at high speeds or involve vehicles of significantly different sizes, occupants are at risk of crush injuries that can produce massive medical expenses and generate lifelong functional limitations. People who sustain crush injuries often underestimate the long-term financial impact of their injuries in the first weeks after a car crash. Some complications take time to develop after the initial trauma.
What medical consequences have a strong association with collision-related crush injuries?
1. Compartment syndrome
When one extremity or limb sustains crush damage, fluid accumulation in the affected tissue or nearby tissue may occur. Compartment syndrome can cause severe tissue damage due to increased pressure.
2. Nerve damage
Crush injuries can cause extensive tissue damage, including damage to the nerves in the affected body part. People may experience neuropathic pain that causes chronic discomfort or produces functional limitations. Nerve damage can be permanent in some cases, although nerves do sometimes heal after trauma.
3. Comminuted fractures
Crush injuries often cause severe damage to the bones of the affected body parts. Comminuted fractures, where the bone breaks into many small pieces, usually require surgery to treat. They may cause permanent functional limitations due to the decreased strength of the bone and body part after healing.
Understanding the serious consequences of crush injuries can help people navigate car crash insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits more effectively. Those who sustain crush injuries may need help from a lawyer to secure adequate compensation given their long-term medical expenses and potential lost income, and that’s okay.