What Are Crush Injuries and How Do They Happen?

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If you are the victim of a crush injury you are aware of the widespread damage this type of injury can do to the body. Bones, muscles, organs, and other tissues can be impacted, requiring specialized medical care from those trained in surgery, wound care, physical therapy, pain management, and much more. Following a crush injury, many different medical professionals will work together to create a comprehensive care plan that will address all your health needs.

You may be unable to return to work due to the crush injury and, therefore, unable to pay your normal monthly expenses. You may be in constant pain and could be looking at various medical interventions for months, years, or even a lifetime. If your crush injury is the result of the negligence of another person, that person should be held accountable. When you choose Noteboom—The Law Firm, you can be sure that you have gained a strong advocate who truly cares about your health and future and who will fight aggressively on your behalf.

What Are Crush Injuries?

In the simplest terms, a crush injury occurs when a part of the body is subjected to extreme pressure or force. Often, crush injuries are the result of a body being squeezed between two heavy objects and can result from auto accidents, industrial/work accidents, or accidents stemming from a natural disaster, including the collapse of a building. Crush injuries can be life-threatening because they affect so many systems in the body including bones, tissues, and major organs.

Acute kidney injury is often seen in those who experience a crush injury, but multi-system organ injury can occur as well. Crush injuries can also occur when tissues are crushed through prolonged immobilization, or from burns or electrical injuries when tissues are compressed as a result of “unyielding” skin. Victims being trapped in or under a vehicle are common causes of crush injuries resulting from car collisions.

With prolonged compression, cells in the body can die, resulting in what is known as “crush syndrome.” There are often delayed complications from crush syndrome, as the victim can appear to be doing well after extrication, and then experience a sudden deterioration. When a crush injury occurs in the chest area, there must be support of airways, breathing, and circulation to avoid respiratory failure.

Are Crush Injuries Serious?

Crush injuries are extremely serious as they can affect so many different body parts and organs. A crush injury can cause one or more of the following:

  • Open cuts
  • Severe bleeding
  • Bruising
  • Bone fractures and breaks
  • Joint dislocation
  • Injuries to nerves and tendons
  • Secondary infections
  • Organ damage
  • Compartment syndrome (serious muscle, nerve, blood vessel, and tissue damage resulting from pressure on an arm or leg).
  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Hypovolemic shock caused by loss of plasma volume across cell membranes
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Electrolyte imbalance
  • Irreversible muscle cell death
  • Acute kidney injury

What Types of Personal Injury Accidents Can Cause a Crush Injury?

Auto accidents are a leading cause of crush injuries. Auto collisions can trap a person, causing the body to be pressed between two objects, or under a heavy object with a great deal of force. Auto accidents that can result in a crush injury include car accidents, semi-truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workplace accidents are also a leading cause of crush injuries caused by the following:

  • Heavy items can fall from a height and strike a worker, perhaps trapping them
  • Workers’ hands can be caught in a machine used in the workplace
  • A vehicle runs over a worker’s foot
  • Employees can be trapped between a loading dock and a tractor-trailer or other type of heavy equipment
  • Farm workers can be pinned between a large animal and a fixed object such as a fence or barn
  • A structure can collapse on top of workers

This is not a comprehensive list of all the ways crush injuries can occur, however, it lists the most common causes of crush injuries from auto accidents and work-related accidents. If you are the victim of a crush injury from a car accident or other type of personal injury, it can be extremely helpful for you to speak to a knowledgeable crush injury attorney from Noteboom—The Law Firm. Since worker’s compensation insurance is not a requirement in the state of Texas, if your crush injury occurred in the workplace, you may be able to sue your employer if his or her negligence caused the accident.

What Should You Do if You or a Loved One Suffer a Crush Injury?

There are two critically important steps you can take following a crush injury that will make a difference in the remainder of your life. The first step is to seek medical attention as quickly as possible following your accident. In addition to emergency medical care, you may need to have doctors visits and medical treatments in the coming months and years to ensure your crush injuries heal. The second crucial step is to hire an attorney—one with significant experience in severe injuries. While we understand that you have choices when choosing an attorney following a personal injury, at Noteboom—The Law Firm, we also believe strongly that once you speak to an attorney from our firm, your choice will be clear.

Our first job will be to ensure that you are receiving the best medical treatment possible. Our firm has a broad network of medical professionals who can help you with your recovery. Beyond helping you get the medical care you need, we will aggressively represent you against the negligent party or its insurance company. Because our office often handles serious injury cases, we will never treat your crush injury as the result of “just another car collision.” If your crush injury was the result of an auto accident, we can utilize an accident reconstructionist when appropriate to prove the extent of the other driver’s fault.

Our resources also include vocational, economic, and rehabilitative experts to fully show the level of damage done to your physical and mental health as well as to your future earning potential. Our attorneys will work hard to protect your rights and your future because we believe strongly that people should always be valued above the profits of the insurance company. Because we are always fully prepared to go to trial, we settle more than 90 percent of our cases. If you need an attorney who will stay in regular contact with you throughout the recovery process while answering all your questions in a comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand manner, you need Noteboom—The Law Firm.

How Noteboom—The Law Firm Can Help Following a Crush Injury

Established in 1982, our Fort Worth firm boasts a wealth of experience, particularly in navigating cases involving severe or catastrophic injuries stemming from accidents caused by the negligence of others. Chuck Noteboom and Brian Butcher are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The level of knowledge we bring to every case is unparalleled in the industry. Our resources include an on-staff investigator, along with strong relationships with a wide variety of experts. We can front expert fees and court costs on your behalf, giving you the time you need to heal from your injuries. If you have been injured because of another’s negligence, it is time to contact Noteboom—The Law Firm. Don’t risk your health and your future to a less experienced personal injury attorney.

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