A crushing injury occurs when a part of the body is subjected to a significant amount of pressure. Aside from the harm that being trapped between two objects can cause to muscles, skin, and other tissues, prolonged compression can have even more serious health consequences.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury because of another party’s negligence, what are your rights? Learn more about crushing injuries, whether you can file a personal injury claim, and what types of damages you may be able to receive.
What Are the Dangers of Crushing Injuries?
Crushing injuries can lead to all manner of complications. You can expect to suffer harm on impact, with the force involved in these types of accidents often leading to broken bones, damaged muscles, and even amputations.
During a crushing injury, blood can rapidly stop flowing to the affected area. This is called ischemia. Organs that don’t receive enough blood will experience cell death, which could result in everything from strokes to heart attacks.
When muscle cells don’t receive enough oxygen and start to die, they release toxic substances, including potassium and myoglobin. These substances course through the rest of the body, leading to systemic issues.
When the pressure is released and blood flows back into the affected area, it can cause further harm. The toxic substances can quickly spread, leading to kidney damage and potential multi-organ failure.
Additionally, you also have the risk of developing infections from open wounds. These can quickly spiral out of control, resulting in sepsis.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Crushing Injuries?
Truck, motorcycle, and car accidents are the most common causes of crush injuries. You can become trapped in a crushed car, especially if you’re involved in a rollover collision, leading to potentially deadly injuries.
Workplace accidents can also result in these injuries. This is especially the case if you work in the construction industry or an industrial setting.
Falling debris or equipment that isn’t secured correctly, as well as falling structures, can hit workers and trap them. Workers can also end up with limbs caught in machines.
People who work in agriculture come into contact with heavy machinery, too, and even falling hay bales could result in crushing injuries.
What Are Your Legal Options After Suffering a Crushing Injury in Georgia?
If you sustained losses because of another party’s conduct, you may be entitled to initiate a personal injury claim. In instances when the injury occurs at work, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim to cover your medical expenses and lost wages.
For a successful personal injury claim, one of the first things to keep in mind is that you will need to prove that the other party behaved negligently or wrongfully.
The majority of cases revolve around negligence, which requires proving that the other party owed you a duty of care that they failed to live up to, resulting in your losses.
For example, if you suffered a crush injury in a car accident involving a drunk driver, you have to demonstrate that they breached their duty to drive safely and lawfully. Since they were intoxicated and you sustained losses for which you can be compensated, you will likely prevail with your claim.
What Types of Compensation Are Available After a Crushing Injury in Georgia?
When you file a personal injury claim in Georgia, you can potentially obtain compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages address the medical expenses you’ve incurred, including any future needs you may have.
It also covers the wages you have lost while you received treatment and went through the recovery process. If you can’t return to work because of the severity of the injuries, it’s also possible to receive compensation for your loss of earning potential.
In the most severe instances, if a loved one dies because of a crush injury, you can obtain compensation for funeral expenses.
Non-economic damages address losses that are not as simple to put a number on. These strive to compensate you for your loss of enjoyment of life as well as for the physical and emotional distress you’ve experienced.
To calculate these damages, your lawyer will look at how severe the injury was, how long it will take you to recover, and how the injury affects your life.
Contact the Tifton Personal Injury Attorneys at The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you have suffered a crushing injury in Tifton, GA, you’re likely struggling with significant medical expenses and the inability to work in the same capacity as you did before the accident.
If the accident occurred because of another party’s negligence, you may have the chance to file a personal injury case.
At The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our legal team can help you fight for fair compensation. Contact us at (229) 386-1376 to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our Tifton personal injury lawyers.
