What You Should Know About Seeking Compensation For Crush Injuries From an Ohio Car Crash

Crush injuries may be more likely to happen in high-speed collisions or crashes where one vehicle is significantly larger than the other. However, they can also happen in relatively minor car accidents.

If you are dealing with a crush injury from a car crash that was caused by another driver’s negligence, Friedman, Domiano and Smith is here to help. Our Cleveland-based auto accident lawyers may be able to take legal action on your behalf to seek compensation for damages.

Our firm offers a free legal consultation and does not charge upfront fees to represent crash victims. We do not get paid unless we win.

What Are Crush Injuries?

Crush injuries happen when body parts, like your arms, legs or torso, are put under intense pressure for a long period. The pressure restricts blood flow to the area, destroying cells and causing dangerous chemical reactions. Sometimes the damage is so severe doctors must amputate the affected limb to save the crash victim’s life.

Types of Crush Injuries

Crash victims could suffer crush injuries involving various body parts, such as:

• Toes
• Fingers
• Chest
• Arms
• Legs
• Head
• Neck
• Abdomen

The seriousness of the injury will depend on various factors, such as the amount of force applied, the affected body part and the surface area that was put under pressure. Typically, the larger the affected area, the worse the injury. The longer the area is put under pressure, the higher the likelihood of severe or life-threatening complications.

How Can a Car Crash Cause a Crush Injury?

The force of a car accident can throw occupants around the inside of the vehicle. This could result in one or both of your legs getting stuck under the dashboard.

High-speed collisions can cause catastrophic damage to your vehicle, moving parts of the inside of your car closer to you, applying intense pressure to your body. For example, if your vehicle gets compacted between two other vehicles, such as a commercial truck and another passenger vehicle, your chest or abdomen could get crushed. This may be more likely to happen if your vehicle is much smaller than the other two.

Crush injuries may also happen in motorcycle, pedestrian or bicycle crashes. Victims of these crashes could get pinned under a vehicle or pinned between a car and something else, like a road sign, utility pole, guardrail or even a building.

Early Signs and Symptoms of a Crush Injury

If part of your body got stuck inside your vehicle for an extended period, there is a strong possibility you suffered a crush injury.

You should also keep an eye out for symptoms like these:

• Numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
• Bruising and discoloration
• Difficulty breathing
• Intense muscle pain
• Excessive fatigue
• Symptoms of internal injuries, such as blood in your urine or stool, significant drop in blood pressure, or pain in your abdomen

Dangerous Complications From a Crush Injury

Our bodies are not built to withstand excessive pressure for prolonged periods. This can cause permanent medical issues.

These are a few examples of long-term problems caused by crush injuries:

Limb Ischemia

Pressure can restrict or cut off blood flow to body parts. If this happens to an arm or leg, the damage caused by a loss of blood flow could be catastrophic. Doctors may need to amputate the limb because the dead tissue could cause an infection.

Hypovolemic Shock

Some crush injuries cause victims to lose more than 15 percent of their blood supply. This can cause your vital organs to shut down.

Hyperkalemia

When cells are destroyed by a crush injury, it can trigger the release of potassium. If your body releases too much potassium, it could cause you to suffer a heart attack.

Crush Syndrome

The quick death of a lot of cells is dangerous because it can cause toxins to be released into your bloodstream. These toxins could be more than your body can handle, which could cause your kidneys to fail. Your kidneys can only handle so many toxins at once.

Compartment Syndrome

The restriction of blood flow can result in numbness or paralysis. Your heart rate may also slow.

Treatment Options For Crush Injuries

One of the first steps in treating a crush injury is resuscitating the affected body part with fluids. Doctors may also need to do dialysis to help clear toxins from your body and prevent your kidneys from shutting down.

Other treatments for crush injuries often include:

• Surgical procedures to get rid of dead tissue
• Antibiotics to prevent or treat infections
• Electrolyte therapy to replenish the electrolytes you lost
• Use of a hyperbaric chamber

Seeking Compensation For a Crush Injury From an Ohio Collision

In Ohio, people injured by the negligence of other drivers may be eligible to recover damages related to the crash. If successful, you could be compensated for your medical care costs, lost wages and other losses. You may also be able to seek compensation for non-economic damages, such as lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.

Victims have the burden of proof. This means they must provide evidence linking their injury to the crash and evidence establishing the value of the damages they suffered.

At Friedman, Domiano and Smith, we have many years of experience helping crash victims build cases for recovering compensation. We help victims keep track of their medical expenses and other damages, like pain and suffering and lost wages.

We have the resources and legal knowledge to investigate what happened, explain how the accident occurred and how it directly resulted in your injuries.

Call Today To Schedule Your Free Legal Consultation

At Friedman, Domiano and Smith, we are here to assist you in the aftermath of a car accident. Contact us to schedule a free case review and explore your legal options.

When we represent you, there are no upfront costs or fees to pay, allowing you to focus on your recovery. Your well-being is our priority, and we are committed to helping you navigate the legal process with ease and confidence.