Injury Claims for Crush Accidents in Denver
A crush injury occurs when a person’s body, or a part of the body, is compressed by an object, or between objects. Most crush injuries involve the extremities, such as the arms, hands, legs, or feet, but some others affect the trunk. And these are potentially catastrophic or life-threatening injuries.
What Types of Accidents Can Cause Crush Injuries?
Crush injuries are frequently sustained in the following types of accidents:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Car wrecks, truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, and pedestrian accidents are common causes of crush injuries. These injuries occur when the body, or a specific part, is crushed under a heavy object or pressed between two objects in a crash.
- Construction accidents: Crush injuries are common in the construction industry, accounting for 5.5% of worker fatalities in 2018, as reported by OSHA. Workers may sustain crush injuries when they are hit by heavy falling objects, caught in or compressed by machinery, run over by vehicles, or buried under a collapsing structure.
What Are the Medical Complications of Crush Injuries?
Very serious complications can develop with crush injuries, including:
- Amputation: If the damage to a limb is too severe, it may be medically necessary to amputate the limb.
- Nerve damage: Crush injuries can cause serious damage to nerves in the affected areas.
- Compartment syndrome: This is a painful condition that occurs when crush injuries cause pressure within affected muscles to build up to dangerous levels. The pressure can disrupt blood flow, preventing oxygen and nourishment from reaching the area, and damaging cells and tissue, usually leading to gangrene and medical amputation.
- Crush syndrome: This medical condition can be life-threatening. It is characterized by shock and kidney failure after crush injury to skeletal muscles. Crush syndrome is a systemic manifestation of damage to muscle cells from pressure or crushing.
- Organ failure: Crush injuries can lead to organ dysfunction, including renal failure and cardiovascular instability.
How Do You Pursue Compensation for Crush Injuries?
If you sustained crush injuries in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have a claim for compensation against the negligent party. For example, if another driver crashed into you, causing your crush injuries, the at-fault driver may be liable for your damages. Your best chance of recovering full and fair compensation is to get an experienced personal injury attorney to handle your claim.
What Damages Can You Claim in a Crush Injury Case?
In many cases, crush injuries require extensive medical treatment and may cause long-term disability. It is important to have an experienced lawyer assess the full extent of your damages, which are likely to be significant. Depending on the severity of your crush injuries and complications, damages you are entitled to claim may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Loss of earning capacity
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
Why You Need a Lawyer
Insurance companies are primarily interested in their own bottom line. Their goal is to minimize their payout by denying your claim entirely. For the best chance of recovering maximum compensation, you need experienced legal representation with the knowledge, skills, and resources to fully assess your losses and fight for the compensation you need and deserve.
Our Denver personal injury attorneys at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, have recovered tens of millions in settlements, verdicts, and arbitration awards for our clients. If you have sustained crush injuries through the negligence of another, call us at (303) 502-5587 to schedule a free consultation. We can tell you if you have a case and what damages you may be entitled to claim.