Whether it occurs in a car crash or a construction accident, a crush injury is very serious. It typically happens when a body or a body part is squeezed between heavy objects.
This is as bad as you might think. Not only may you see bleeding, bruising, bone fractures and wounds with a crush injury, but you may also see infections, nerve damage and compartment syndrome.
Compartment syndrome involves an increase in pressure in a muscle compartment. It often involves muscle and nerve damage and problems with blood flow. If the pressure lasts too long or blood flow is cut off for too long, the muscles may die. This may require surgery or even amputation.
Crush injuries often occur in motor vehicle accidents. They are also common on construction sites, either when a large object falls on a worker or when a worker is crushed between two objects. For example:
- A body part such as a finger is crushed in machinery with moving parts
- A piece of mobile machinery pins a worker against a wall or other object
- A construction vehicle strikes or runs over a worker
The long-term effects of crush injuries can be very serious. Victims may be unable to work for a time or become permanently disabled. They may completely lose the use of the affected body part. Or, the body part may have to be amputated.
If you have suffered a crush injury, there is a good chance it was preventable. When these injuries are caused by negligence, the victim usually has a personal injury claim.
If your crush injury occurred in a car accident, the at-fault driver should be held responsible for the injury.
If your crush injury occurred at a construction site, you may have a personal injury claim as well as a workers’ compensation claim. This depends on who was responsible for the accident. If the responsible person or company did not work for the same company as you, you probably have a personal injury claim against that person or company.
The best way to know if you have a personal injury claim is to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney. Consultations are generally free.