What Are Common Car Accident Leg Injuries?
September 5, 2024
Leg injuries are one of the most common results of car accidents. There are many ways that your legs can be hurt. They can slam against a hard surface of the car due to the violent motion of your body. The unnatural motion of a car accident can cause a sudden twisting of your entire body, including your legs. Debris from the accident or items in your car can also impact your legs due to the force of the accident. Regardless of how you have suffered a leg injury, you could be looking at a long and challenging road ahead of you. Contact a car accident attorney to learn more about potential financial compensation if someone else was to blame for the accident.
Here are some common types of leg injuries that you can suffer in a car accident.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Your leg consists of cartilage and ligaments that provide stability, primarily to the knee. Cartilage provides cushioning to the joints, while ligaments allow your leg to move. The violent motion of the car accident can cause sprains and tears to cartilage and ligaments. For example, you may suffer a torn anterior cruciate ligament that can cause your knee to become unstable. Soft tissue injuries often do not heal on their own, and they require surgery.
Fractures and Broken Bones
When something makes contact with your leg during a car accident, it can fracture or break bones. Any type of fracture can be severe. Common breaks in a car accident can occur to both your fibula and tibia. Bone breaks may require surgery to set, and they may never fully heal. These injuries often take months of time and extensive rehabilitation for you to recover to the fullest extent possible.
Nerve Damage
Nerves are an extensive network throughout your body that transmits messages. Blunt force trauma and violent motions can damage the nerves. Neurotmesis is the most serious type of nerve injury, and it occurs when the nerve is severed. Many nerve injuries can heal on their own after weeks or months, but some may require surgery to repair. Nerve injuries can be extremely painful, and they can affect your movement.
Cuts and Lacerations
When something makes contact with your leg, it can cause serious cuts. These lacerations can damage your skin’s surface and underlying muscles and tendons. Cuts and lacerations can lead to permanent scarring that can change the appearance of your leg. Depending on the cut’s depth, they could also cause permanent damage.
Dislocated Joints
The joint in your leg may pop out of place because of the violent motion of the car accident. These are serious injuries that require immediate medical attention. The joint does not move into place back on its own. The doctor would need to reposition the joint, and you would need to keep your leg immobilized for many weeks. In addition, the actual dislocation can cause damage to the surrounding areas in the leg, including the nerves and muscles.
If you have suffered a car accident leg injury, you could be entitled to substantial financial compensation. The size of your settlement depends on the extent of your injuries. Since leg injuries can be painful and result in reduced mobility, you could be entitled to damages for lost wages when you are unable to work and the pain and suffering associated with your injuries. Your car accident leg injury can be worth more than you think, so it is essential to have a lawyer estimate the value of your case.
Contact a Maryland Car Accident Lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton if You Have Leg Injuries From a Crash
If you have suffered a leg injury in a crash, contact a Maryland car accident lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. You can schedule a free initial consultation by calling us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contacting us online.
We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Lanham, and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.