Crushing Injury
A crushing injury occurs when a body part is subjected to extreme force or pressure, usually from being caught between two heavy objects. This type of physical trauma can cause severe tissue damage, bone breaks, internal bleeding, and even organ failure. In many cases, it can even lead to long-term complications like nerve damage, amputation, or permanent disability.
Common Causes Of Crushing Injuries
Crushing Injuries can happen in a number of scenarios. However, there are some types of accidents where a person is more likely to experience them, including the following examples.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
High-speed crashes can trap a person’s limbs between car parts or pin their bodies under heavy debris. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bike riders are particularly vulnerable to these injuries because of their lack of protection.
Industrial And Construction Accidents
Collapsing structures, heavy equipment, and falling materials create situations where crushing injuries become much more likely. Workers who operate cranes, forklifts, and other heavy machinery are at an especially high risk.
Equipment And Machinery Failures
When industrial machines, conveyor belts, hydraulic presses, and similar equipment break down or aren’t handled correctly, those who use them could find themselves getting hurt without warning. It’s not uncommon for hands and arms to get caught or crushed.
Falling Objects
These accidents happen most often in construction zones, but a crushing injury can occur anywhere that unsecured materials are in a position to fall from a significant height. Those caught below could get trapped or crushed.
Natural Disasters
Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, mudslides, and many other types of weather events can cause buildings to collapse. Anyone in those buildings could find themselves caught under heavy debris that could crush them and lead to severe physical trauma.
The Medical Consequences Of A Crushing Injury
Broken bones, nerve damage, and crushed limbs are common injuries that victims of crushing injuries face. However, you can experience plenty of other immediate and long-term complications as well that could cause permanent disability.
A person has compartment syndrome when excessive pressure builds up within the muscles of the body. It can severely restrict the blood flow, which leads to tissue death. Immediate medical care is needed to relieve the pressure and prevent permanent damage.
Similarly, crush syndrome is a life-threatening condition that takes place when muscle cells break down after a long period of compression. This causes toxins to be released into the bloodstream, which can lead to kidney failure, shock, and death if it’s not taken care of quickly.
Infections are often overlooked as a potential complication of crushing injuries. However, when physical trauma leaves behind open wounds, there’s always a risk of bacterial infection. In turn, that can lead to a number of new problems. Infection can set in and spread quickly, so it needs to be addressed immediately.
If the injury itself or the secondary infection is severe enough, it could create a situation where the damaged tissue can’t be saved. In these cases, amputation is often the only way to save a patient’s life. Even so, complications like phantom limb pain, mobility issues, and psychological trauma can all have lasting effects for years after the injury happens.
What To Do After A Crushing Injury
If someone around you suffers a crushing injury, it’s critical that you know what to do. Taking the following steps can help minimize the damage and improve their chances of recovering:
- Call 911 immediately
- If the person is bleeding excessively, apply direct pressure to the wound to slow down the blood loss until help arrives
- Shock is a common response to a traumatic injury, so keep the victim as calm and still as possible to avoid additional harm
- For an injury on a limb with no sign of broken bones, elevating it can reduce swelling
Additionally, if a limb or body part is trapped under something, don’t try to remove the object unless something is threatening the person’s life, like fire or drowning. Doing so can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure or lead to more internal damage.
If you’re trained in first aid, do what you can to help the patient without making the situation worse. Use clean bandages to cover any wounds and keep an eye on their breathing and consciousness until emergency responders get there.
Treatment And Recovery For Crushing Injuries
Treatment for a crushing injury is typically extensive and often involves the following elements:
- Surgery: Used in cases severe with damage, such as repairing crushed bones, removing dead tissue, or improving blood circulation
- Physical Therapy: Usually prescribed after the initial treatment to restore strength, flexibility, and function to the injured area
- Pain Medication or Nerve Blocks: Can improve quality of life
- Prosthetics and adaptive devices: Used in cases of amputation
- Psychological Support: Helps the patient deal with any emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, through counseling or support groups
A person’s ability to recover from the trauma will depend on how badly they’ve been hurt and the part of the body that’s been injured.
Legal Considerations For Victims In Denver
Those who suffer from crushing injuries tend to face major hurdles to their recovery. Besides the medical treatments, the financial fallout can be staggering. Hospital bills, lost time from work, and emotional suffering all add up in a hurry. When the trauma is caused by someone else’s negligence, the victim can take legal action to pursue compensation for their losses.
Potential lawsuits for crushing injuries might come in the form of:
- Personal injury claims when the accident was caused by reckless or negligent behavior
- Workers’ compensation claims for injuries that happen at work
- Product liability claims against a manufacturer if a defective tool, machine, or piece of safety equipment played a part in the accident
- Premises liability claims against property owners and managers if a hazardous condition on someone else’s property caused the victim to get hurt
The legal system is complicated, and trying to juggle a lawsuit while healing from such severe trauma could leave the victim feeling overwhelmed and unsure about what to do. Legal counsel can help alleviate that stress and improve your chances of recovering compensation.
Protect Your Rights And Get The Compensation You Deserve
A crushing injury isn’t just a momentary trauma. It’s a life-changing event that can redefine your future. Although medical advancements continue to improve patient outcomes, true recovery goes beyond physical healing. No one should have to face these obstacles alone, and knowing where to turn can make all the difference.
If you or a loved one has suffered a crushing injury in Denver, the legal team at Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to help guide you through the legal process and fight for the compensation you’re entitled to. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation of your case, or call our office at (720) 613-9706.
