Car accidents often cause debilitating and long term injuries. Some of these injuries, including leg crush injuries, require extensive treatment and involve long recovery periods.
One of the most common injuries that can result from a car accident is a broken bone injury. It is not uncommon to see a cast on a car crash victim’s leg, but in some cases, it can be worse.
While broken bones are extremely painful, there are more serious injuries such as a crushed leg that can occur from a car accident. A crushed leg means that it is fractured in several places, and it is needless to mention that the overall damage and pain caused is much greater compared to a simple fracture. A crushed leg can have severe and even life-threatening consequences. In this post, our St. Louis car wreck attorney will discuss the possible consequences of a crushed leg.
Consequences of a crushed leg after a St. Louis car crash
There are various car accident scenarios that can result in a crushed leg. The victim’s leg may become trapped under the dashboard or caught under the steering wheel. It may even become completely pinned beneath the metal frame of the vehicle after a rollover crash. One of the most common consequences of a crushed leg injury is a fractured thigh bone or femur. This often requires surgical treatment, and the victim is rendered immobile for weeks. However, there are other more serious complications that can follow a crushed or twisted leg injury. These include:
Hip fracture: If you have suffered a hip fracture as a result of a crushed leg injury, you may need a partial or complete hip replacement in order to restore the complete function of the joint.
Hip dislocation: A crushed or twisted leg injury can cause hip dislocation, and doctors may have to insert screws in the hip joint to ensure that it heals properly.
Amputation: If the leg is crushed severely and is beyond repair, or if a fragment of the broken bone has severed an important artery, it may necessitate surgical amputation below or above knee level to save a life.
Paralysis: In case trauma to the pelvic region affects the spinal cord, the victim may suffer a complete loss of function below the waist.
The victims of a crushed leg injury often require prolonged hospital stays and long-term medical care. They also suffer debilitating restrictions concerning their ability to earn a livelihood. Huge medical expenses combined with a loss of income can put anyone in a state of financial despair. However, if the car accident that resulted in your injuries was caused by another person’s negligence, you may be able to recover all your losses including medical expenses, therapy and rehabilitation costs, loss of income, and pain and suffering from the party at fault.
Other Common Leg Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
Bursitis
This condition occurs when the bursae or the cushion-like sacs responsible for padding the muscles, tendons, and bones of the knee become inflamed. When a person develops bursitis, he/she faces problems moving the knee and experiences pain and swelling.
ACL Injury
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) connects the femur bone to the tibia and helps maintain stability and flexibility of the knee joint. An ACL injury is usually very painful and may cause swelling, weakness, and a popping sound in the joint. Surgery is often required to treat ACL injuries. Patients also have to undergo physical therapy to restore the function of the knee.
Broken Bones
A broken leg may refer to the fracture of any of the three bones in the leg, such as the tibia (shinbone), femur (thighbone), or fibula (runs parallel to the tibia). When a person suffers a broken ankle injury in a car accident, the bones that are broken are usually in the ankle joint, for example – the talus (beneath the tibia and fibula), fibula (runs parallel to the shinbone) and tibia (shinbone).
A broken foot usually occurs in the car accident victim’s toes, or in the bones that connect the toes to the rest of the foot. These bones are known as “metatarsals.”
Common symptoms of a broken leg, foot, or ankle:
St. Louis car accident victims who suffer a broken leg, foot, or ankle may experience the following symptoms:
- Pain that increases with activity and subsides with rest
- Immediate, throbbing pain
- Deformity
- Swelling, bruising, tenderness
- Cuts, open wounds or protruding bone fragments
- Inability to walk or bear weight
Torn Meniscus
The knee joint contains semi-circular, shock-absorbing cartilage, which can tear due to an unnatural rotating or twisting motion.
Common symptoms of torn meniscus:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
Depending on the severity of the injury, the victim may have to undergo surgery, followed by physical therapy. However, minor cases are usually treated with pain medications, rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free, and you don’t pay unless we get you money!
