
Anyone involved in a serious traumatic accident can sustain life-changing injuries. This could involve workers dealing with heavy machinery, car accident victims, or those caught in a natural disaster event.
If you have suffered crush injuries, you may be able to seek legal relief. TheReno car accident lawyers at Kidwell & Gallagher would like to discuss the severity of crush injuries and when you may be entitled to damages.
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An estimated 125,000 workers suffer from crush injuries each year. Often these workers were caught between two objects or got entangled with machinery.
A crush injury occurs when pressure or force is exerted upon a body part. Injury results when the body part is squeezed between two objects.
Crush injuries cause constant pressure on muscles and vital organs. Prolonged pressure can cause decreased blood flow to the area.
A pedestrian who is struck by a motor vehicle can suffer a crush injury. The pedestrian may have his or her leg pinned under the car following the accident, resulting in impeded blood flow.
Injuries from a crush injury range based on the severity of the incident. While some crush injuries may appear minor, all injuries require medical attention.
Common types of crush injuries include:
A person who has sustained crush injuries may experience damage to their peripheral nervous system. The damage to these nerves can affect the brain’s ability to communicate with muscles and internal organs.
Peripheral nerve injuries can result from a cut or tear (laceration), compression, crush, or stretching of the nerve tissue.
The peripheral nervous system controls communication between the brain and spinal cord to the entire body. Traumatic nerve damage can affect motor function, movement, and sensation.
Any type of traumatic injury can cause bleeding or swelling, which places pressure on nerves and muscles, which can result in compartment syndrome.
If the pressure gets too high, then the area will be deprived of oxygen-rich blood and nutrients. Crush injuries that are left untreated can result in limb amputation.
Acute renal failure is a rare complication of crush syndrome, but deadly. Due to damaged muscles releasing toxins into the body, the kidneys can begin to fail. Acute renal failure must be treated immediately in order to save the patient’s life.
In any personal injury case, an injured party may seek compensation for their hardships, known as damages.
In a crush injury, the victim may be entitled to damages if they can prove that the accident was caused by another’s negligence or oversight.
You may be eligible to receive compensation for both economic and/or noneconomic losses.
Economic losses are any losses that have a specific worth assigned to them, such as:
Alternatively, noneconomic losses include any losses that affect a person’s mental or emotional well-being, but do not have an intrinsic monetary value, such as:
In reviewing your case, a Reno work injury lawyer will be able to determine which damages you should seek in court.
Crush syndrome is among the most serious late complications of crush injury, occurring hours or days after trauma. It happens when muscle tissue is destroyed to such an extent that toxins, including myoglobin and potassium, enter the bloodstream, which can then bring on kidney failure, cardiac arrest, or shock. Identifying these signs early is imperative since it can lead to these life-threatening results.
Crush syndrome has several typical signs and symptoms:
After car accidents in Reno, victims may not initially recognize these symptoms due to adrenaline or co-occurring injuries hiding the severity of their situation. This detection gap, however, can put people at greater risk of serious complications.
It is important to get medical attention immediately. Emergency personnel often give IV fluids to reduce kidney damage and watch for organ failure. Knowing why crush injuries are more serious than anticipated speaks to the need for urgent care and warning signs.
head trauma from a car accident can cause damage to blood vessels, which can aggravate the consequences of crush syndrome. Patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), in addition to morbidly butchered limbs or torso, face compounded catastrophes:
In those cases, the physician needs to stabilize multiple injuries right away.
These are some life-threatening complications that may occur if treatment is delayed:
Time is of the essence when it comes to survival of crush injuries and avoiding the development of crush syndrome. In the absence of timely treatment, the following potentially fatal complications can develop:
Nevada emergency responders and medical providers are trained in crush injury protocols, such as immediate fluid resuscitation and rapid transport to trauma and burn centers. Studies have indicated that early interventions like fluid replacement and electrolyte monitoring can significantly improve outcomes.
If you’ve suffered crush injuries in a Reno car accident, you may face overwhelming medical bills, lost wages, and long-term physical limitations. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is vital to securing fair compensation. A skilled lawyer will help you pursue damages for:
The legal team at Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers understands Nevada’s personal injury laws and has a proven track record of success in handling complex injury cases. Contact our Personal Injury Lawyer today to ensure you receive your deserved settlement.
Anyone who has been injured in an accident knows that it is a long road to recovery. If you have sustained crush injuries in an incident caused by another’s negligence, we want to hear from you. Contact Kidwell & Gallagher today to schedule your free consultation.
Craig W. Kidwell is the managing partner of Kidwell & Gallagher, Ltd., and exclusively represents injured workers in Nevada. Mr. Kidwell has been practicing workers’ compensation law in Nevada since 1999 and has acted as lead counsel on over 2,000 contested workers’ compensation claims. Mr. Kidwell represents injured workers in Nevada through all stages of Nevada’s complex worker’s compensation system. Craig regularly appears in all levels of Nevada’s administrative workers’ compensation system and has represented injured workers in Nevada’s districts and Supreme Court.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Managing Partner, Craig W. Kidwell who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.