Crush Injuries: Damages and Causes

crush leg injury

When excessive force or pressure is applied to a part of the body, a crush injury can occur. These injuries happen when all or part of a body is squeezed between two objects under pressure. In the context of occupational health and safety, this type of injury is known as “caught in or between.”

Prevention of crush injuries is given emphasis by OHSA as one of its construction “Focus Four” occupational hazards. Crush injuries are listed as “Caught in/Compressed by” among the top 10 causes of disabling workplace injuries in Liberty Mutual’s Safety Index. Crush injuries can be extremely serious or fatal.

If your injury resulted from a car accident or other accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for your injuries through a personal injury claim. You should seek legal advice immediately – before you discuss the matter with an insurance adjuster and before you sign anything.

Let the law offices of Kraft & Associates, P.C., advise you about your rights after an accident that caused crush injuries. We’re an established and professional law firm with friendly lawyers and staff who are easy to talk to. Please call us at (214) 999-9999 or contact us online.

Damage Caused By Crush Injuries

Symptoms may vary according to the severity of crush injuries. Minor crush injuries, such as a finger smashed in a car door, may result in pain and bruising or lacerations. Serious crush injuries can be extremely painful, disabling, and life-threatening.

A CNN Health article with the headline “Crush injuries can be deceptively dangerous” discusses the dangers of crush injuries to legs or arms that do not appear to be life-threatening, but result in kidney failure and death days later.

General damage resulting from crush injuries is as follows:

  • Compartment syndrome (painful swelling within an enclosed area that causes serious soft tissue damage).
  • Nerve damage.
  • Secondary infections.

Causes of Crush Injuries

Car accidents are a leading cause of crush injuries. When a crash causes a body part to be pressed or “smashed” between two objects or under a heavy object with a great deal of pressure or force, serious damage to the body can result. Victims of crush injuries in motor vehicle accidents should receive emergency medical treatment.

All types of traffic accidents can result in crush injures, including the following:

Workplace accidents are also a leading cause of crush injuries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports 73,740 occupational crush injuries requiring days away from work in a single recent year. There are many possible work-related accidents that can cause crush injuries, particularly in the construction industry. Some examples include:

  • A falling load strikes a worker.
  • Someone’s hand gets caught in machinery.
  • A vehicle runs over a worker’s foot.
  • Someone is crushed between the loading dock and a tractor-trailer.
  • Heavy objects dropped during loading or unloading fall on a worker.
  • A farm worker gets pinned between a large animal and a fence.
  • A structure collapses on top of workers.

Legal Help for Victims of Crush Injuries in Dallas

If you have suffered a crush injury at work or in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, it is important to consult with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney and actively pursue the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive.

The experienced Dallas accident lawyers at Kraft & Associates, P.C., are dedicated to protecting your rights and helping you obtain the compensation you deserve. We can thoroughly examine the facts in your case and work with investigators to establish liability of the party who caused your crush injuries. Our lawyers have been helping accident victims in Northern Texas for decades.

We know to handle crush injury cases, and we have helped our clients obtain fair compensation. Whether your case is settled out of court or we take it to trial, you can rest assured that we have the skills and experience needed to provide you with vigorous representation in your accident claim.

Please contact us for a Free consultation

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