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Crush Injuries - Jones Law Group

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St. Petersburg Crush Injury Attorneys

St. Petersburg Crush Injury Lawyers - Jones Law Group

What is a Crush Injury?

A crush injury occurs when a portion of someone’s body is compressed between two hard surfaces. Crush injuries are usually traumatic and life-threatening. Those who survive crush injuries are often left with injuries, disabilities, and trauma that can last a lifetime. 

Those who experience crush injuries often experience a large change in their quality of life. They may not be able to return to work or continue working in any capacity. Because of the devastating effects of crush injuries, there’s often a lot of money on the table when it comes to compensation. 

If you’ve experienced a crush injury, speak with an attorney to make sure that you get the max amount of compensation possible. Insurance companies will often try to downplay injuries or place blame on other parties. A talented attorney will be able to negate their efforts, ensuring that you get the compensation that you deserve. 

Types of Crush Injuries

When the body is compressed or crushed between two hard objects, it can cause many different types of injury, such as: 

  • Severe soft tissue damage meaning the damage to:
    • muscles
    • ligaments
    • tendons
  • Broken or fractured bones 
  • Nerve damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Internal organ damage
  • Traumatic brain injury, including:
    • contusions
    • anoxic brain injury
    • coup, contrecoup, and coup/contrecoup 
    • diffuse axonal injury
    • hypoxic brain injury
  • Shattered bones
  • Amputation, either at the scene or because of complications 
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Wrongful death 

Long-term Effects of Crush Injuries

It’s incredibly common for complications to arise because of crush injuries. Compartment syndrome or crush injury syndrome is the most common complication to arise because of crushing injuries. 

Compartment syndrome requires emergency medical attention and can result in fatality if not treated fast enough. When compartment syndrome occurs, blood and other bodily fluids accumulate in an area and stop proper blood flow to organs. 

If it’s not treated in time, compartment syndrome can cause permanent damage to bodily functions, causing renal failure, amputation, organ damage, and death. 

Even without complications immediately following the accident, crush injuries can have lasting effects on one’s life. You may experience disability, permanent disfigurement, or scarring. You may also have to adjust your lifestyle to accommodate these lasting effects, which can be expensive. 

When a Crush Injury is Fatal

Unfortunately, crush injuries can be fatal. If someone you love has passed away because of their crush injuries (either at the scene of the accident or later on because of complications associated with their injuries), you may be able to file a wrongful death case on their behalf. 

In Florida, a wrongful death claim can be filed by a surviving family member, including parents, children, and spouses. 

Causes of Crush Injuries

There are many different types of accidents that can cause crushing injuries, but most commonly, they’re associated with motor vehicle accidents. In the United States, there are approximately 38,000 deaths because of car accidents each year. On top of that, there are three million accidents that cause injuries and two million accidents that cause permanent injury. 

Most accidents that result in fatality occur because of alcohol (40%), speeding (30%), and reckless driving (33%). 

Car Accidents

Car accidents can cause crushing injuries when a car is struck with a large force, causing the car to crush inward on the victim. Most commonly, car accident victims incur crushing injuries in their lower bodies. 

Car accidents are the most common type of motor vehicle accident because of how many cars there are on the road, but they’re not the most fatal type of accident. 

Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are often much more fatal than car accidents simply because of the sheer force and impact they deliver. Crushing injuries are much more common, as the impact of a truck hitting a passenger vehicle can cause the metal to fold in on itself, crushing the lower body, legs, abdomen, and arms depending on where the impact occurs. 

Motorcycle Accidents

Unlike car and truck accidents, motorcycle accidents result in crushing injuries when a vehicle pins a motorcyclist up against another object or when a motorcyclist gets trapped under their own bicycle because of the impact of another vehicle. 

Bicycle & Pedestrian Accidents

The same is true of bicycle and pedestrian accidents. If a car strikes a bicyclist or pedestrian and pins them against something else, like another vehicle, a telephone pole, or a wall, they may suffer from crushing injuries. 

Common Damages Related to a Crush Injury Claim

Because crushing injuries are devastating and can cause many complications, the medical bills associated with them are often extremely high. On top of that, you may lose wages because of the work you’ve missed. Not only that, but you’re likely to experience pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity, and in some cases, permanent disability, disfigurement, and scarring. 

These are all things that you can claim as damages and receive compensation for you. If you’re filing a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a loved one, you can also claim damages for funeral costs, burial costs, your own lost wages, and your own pain and suffering. 

Contact a St. Pete Crush Injury Attorney to Review Your Case

If you or someone you love has sustained a crushing injury, please contact one of our talented attorneys here at Jones Law Group in Florida. Our years of experience working on automobile accidents and crushing injury accidents will prove invaluable to you. 

We will work hard to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve while you focus on relaxing and recovering from your injuries. 

For more information or a free case evaluation, contact us online, by using our chat box, or by calling us at 727-571-1333. You can also call us after business hours at 727-753-8657.