Understanding what a crush injury is and how it occurs is often misunderstood. Crush injuries may occur if a victim was literally crushed by a vehicle, rubble, etc. In general, being physically crushed between two objects. Alternatively, a crush injury can occur from a fall or an otherwise severe injury in which the crush occurred from the impact itself.
Common Types of Catastrophic Crush Injuries
- Skull fractures
- Spinal cord injury
- Severe tissue, ligament, joint or muscle injury
- Bone fractures
- Amputations / Severing Limbs
Crush injuries can have lasting, painful effects
Immediate medical attention is warranted in nearly 100% of crush injury events. Categorized as a catastrophic injury for good reason, crush injuries are typically accompanied by severe, painful and often life-threatening ramifications. In the moments, days and months following a crush injury – it can be difficult for the victims to think of anything else but the long path to recovery.
Recovering from a Catastrophic Crush Injury
As an injury attorney I have had clients that suffered from a catastrophic crush injury that simply didn’t realize how long the road to recovery would actually be. After a a crush accident victim is initially ‘out of the woods’ so to speak, it can be easy to justify or accept what happened – You may even take blame for the accident or you may not understand your rights to compensation as a result of the crush injury.
In most cases, recovery from a crush injury doesn’t end with a clean bill of health. While a victim may visit the doctor or therapist less frequently, the pain and proverbial impact of a crush injury can and will last a lifetime.
A crush injury can result in long term affects that can adversely impact a person’s life ongoing.
- Bone Damage
- Muscle damage
- Nerve damage
- Long term care
- Therapy
- Lifelong medications
- Lost wages
- Quality of life
A victim’s life may never be the same again, or it may take a very long time before they can return to a ‘new normal’. For many, the very nature of a crush injury is life altering, never enabling a return to the way things were before the accident.
It is imperative to seek legal advice immediately following a crush injury. Speak to an attorney who specializes in catastrophic injuries.
