If you or a loved one has experienced a compression injury, Huber Thomas Law is here for you. We understand the physical and emotional trauma one experiences during an accident. Not only are you faced with a devastating injury but also the complexities of pursuing compensation.
Don’t worry, we can handle the pursuit of compensation.
To get started, you need to understand your rights and options. Below we’ve broken down exactly what you need to know following a compression injury. We believe in equipping clients and their loved ones with all the facts. It’s how we help you move forward with confidence.
When you’re ready to get started, we’ll be here to help you gain the compensation you deserve.
What is a compression injury?
In a car accident, sudden force can pin or trap a person's body between vehicle parts. When this happens, a compression injury can occur. A compression injury occurs when body tissues are crushed or “compressed.” This compression can occur throughout the body, including the following:
- Chest
- Abdomen
- Pelvis
- Limbs
- Spine
Severity can vary, depending on the force of the collision. At the least severe, a person may experience mild bruising and tissue damage. At the most severe, a person may experience a fracture, internal organ damage, or a spinal injury.
What types of accidents cause compression injuries?
Compression injuries can occur in any accident that involves forceful impact. When this impact occurs, the impact can compress or crush parts of the body. Below are the common types of accidents that cause compression injuries.
Head-On Collisions
When the front of one car crashes into the front of another, a head-on collision occurs. This sudden impact can thrust car occupants forward, especially if they do not wear seatbelts. When an occupant is thrown forward, they may experience compression against the dashboard, steering wheel, or seatbelt.
T-Bone Collisions
In a T-Bone collision, one car crashes into the side of another. Those who are on the impacted side of the car may experience compression. A compression injury may occur if those occupants are pinned between the door and the center console.
Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents occur when a car is flipped over one or more times. As the vehicle rolls, occupants may feel impacts against the car’s interior. The repeated impact may cause compression injuries.
Crushing Accidents
If falling debris impacts the top of a vehicle, a crushing accident has occurred. The debris may trap occupants, causing compression from the weight of the fallen material.
Rear-End Collision
A rear-end collision is when the front of one car crashes into the back of another. An injury can occur if the impact is strong enough to cause a compression.
Seatbelt Restraint
Seatbelts can prevent a myriad of injuries in a car accident. However, they can lead to a compression injury if not worn properly. Seatbelts can exert force on the body in a collision, leading to a compression injury.
What are the different types of compression injuries?
Compression injuries can occur in various parts of the body. Understanding where a compression injury can occur is important when evaluating your symptoms. You’ll need to speak confidently to your medical professional about where the impact was made, no matter if you are currently experiencing symptoms.
Chest Compression
Sudden impact can cause a person to jolt forward towards the steering wheel or dashboard. Depending on the force, a person’s chest can compress against these vehicle parts. This may lead to broken ribs or a broken sternum. One may also even experience damage to internal organs, such as the lungs or the heart.
Abdominal Compression
Sudden impact can also affect a person’s abdomen. The accident's force can compress one's abdomen against the steering wheel or seatbelt. When an abdominal compression occurs, it may affect internal organs such as the liver, spleen, or intestines.
Pelvic Compression
Pelvic compression can occur in a variety of vehicle accidents, including head-on and T-bone collisions. If you do not properly wear a seatbelt, you increase the risk of pelvic compression.
The severity of a pelvic compression can vary. One may experience a fracture of their pelvic bone. However, the most severe injuries affect the internal organs, such as the bladder, intestines, and reproductive organs.
Limb Compression
Vehicle parts can also compress arms and legs. Depending on the speed of the impact, one may experience mild bruising or severe fractures and soft tissue damage. In the worst-case scenario, an amputation may be required.
Spinal Compression
Your spinal column consists of vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Excessive force in a car accident can displace, rupture, herniate, or fracture vertebrae or discs. Not wearing a seatbelt properly increases this risk.
When a spinal compression occurs, it can damage your vertebral bones, discs, and the spinal cord itself. The severity ranges from mild fractures to complete paralysis.
What are the symptoms of a compression injury?
The symptoms one experiences after a compression injury depend on the location and severity of the impact. One may even experience immediate, delayed, or gradual symptoms. Please consult with a medical professional if you have experienced any of the following symptoms.
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness
- Loss of function
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Digestive problems
- Urinary issues
- Reproductive/sexual dysfunction
- Difficulty walking
- Loss of coordination
- Headaches
You may not feel any of the above symptoms immediately. However, it is still extremely important to receive a medical evaluation. Some compression injuries have delayed symptoms, especially those involving soft tissues or internal organs.
Be sure to document all symptoms and medical treatment received. This will be important when you begin pursuing a legal claim.
Should I talk to an attorney if I’ve experienced a compression injury?
Absolutely! If you or a loved one have experienced any type of injury after a car accident, it is highly advisable to speak to a qualified attorney. Someone else's negligence may have caused your compression injury.
If the facts of the case prove this to be true, you are entitled to compensation. Here’s how an attorney can help you following a compression injury:
Experience in Handling Compression Injuries Like Yours
Personal injury attorneys are well-educated on the intricacies of car accidents. With a team like Huber Thomas Law, your experience and your injury will be taken seriously. We’ll give you thorough counsel on your rights and pathways to a legal claim. You can rest assured your interests will be protected.
Attention to Detail in Evaluating the Facts of the Case
At Huber Thomas Law, we’ve represented car accident victims who have experienced compression injuries. We can assess the seriousness of your injuries and determine the involvement of the other party. We will provide you with a straightforward analysis of how you can prove liability for your compression injury.
Relentless Pursuit of Compensation for Your Compression Injury
It’s highly advisable that you work with your insurance company to receive compensation. However, they may not give you the maximum you deserve. By working with Huber Thomas Law, you will have an advocate on your side. We will negotiate with insurance companies to ensure they cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Advocacy that Allows You to Focus on Compression Injury Recovery
After a compression injury, you should focus on your physical and emotional health. We believe our clients should stay focused on rehabilitation – and getting their life back. While you rest and recover, we’ll do our best to claim your maximum compensation.
What is the maximum compensation for a compression injury?
Every car accident case is unique. There is no set amount of compensation for a compression injury. However, Huber Thomas Law has found opportunities and pathways to maximum compensation in a variety of cases. The compensation one receives is dependent on a variety of factors.
The Severity of the Compression Injury
No matter the severity, a compression injury will require medical evaluation. A medical professional will be able to evaluate the extent of the injury and the recovery required. Mild injuries will require some rehabilitation; however, more severe injuries may cause more long-term complications. Therefore, more severe injuries will typically result in higher compensation.
The Amount of Medical Expenses
As you seek medical treatment, costs will rise. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may have to pay for doctor’s appointments, prescriptions, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and other medical treatments. Your compensation following your compression injury will often include reimbursement for any current and future medical treatment.
Lost Wages from Loss of Work
A compression injury can take a major toll on your ability to work. The best-case scenario is that you may miss a few days while tending to your injury. The worst-case scenario is that the injury prevents you from conducting your regular job duties long-term. We will determine your compensation based on the past and future income lost due to your compression injury.
Suffering Experienced After Your Compression Injury
The factors above all have concrete numbers – or dollar signs – to quantify compensation. However, you may also be compensated by something a bit more abstract. Your compression injury is likely to result in immense pain and suffering, both physically and emotionally. While hard to quantify, you may be compensated for this.
Loss of Consortium
A compression injury may also affect close personal relationships. Spouses and other family members may receive compensation for any loss of companionship or support.
Contributory Negligence
All of the above factors add up in determining the maximum compensation you deserve. However, your compensation may decrease depending on whether you were partially at fault for the accident. If someone finds you partially responsible for the accident, your compensation may decrease as a result.
How can I get the maximum compensation for a compression injury?
Your best chance of getting the maximum compensation you deserve is through hiring a personal injury attorney. You cannot fight this alone. A dedicated team like Huber Thomas Law will be able to navigate you through the process. We have experience assessing the unique facts of car accident cases and determining the best course of action for clients.
However, there are other factors that will help your legal team provide the best representation.
Make sure to document everything.
Your legal team will want documentation of all matters related to the accident. This will include all of your medical expenses as it relates to your accident-related injuries.
Provide all evidence to your legal team.
If you have photos or videos of the accident or your injuries, you’ll need to provide them to your legal team. They will also want to see accident reports, witness statements, and surveillance footage, if available.
Communicate all damages experienced to your legal team.
It is important for you to be as vocal as possible about what you’ve experienced since your compression injury. Medical expenses and lost wages will factor into your compensation. However, pain and suffering are other important factors. Please share as much as you can with your legal team regarding the impact on your quality of life.
Allow your attorney to negotiate with your insurance company.
You can increase your amount of compensation by allowing your attorney to handle all insurance negotiations. Insurance companies are notorious for undercutting claims. However, an experienced legal team like Huber Thomas Law can fight to get you more.
Be patient with the process.
Pursuing legal claims for personal injury cases takes time. It cannot be rushed.
While you may want the process to end as soon as possible, stay patient. Your attorneys will work hard to uncover the maximum you deserve. If that time is cut short, you may receive less.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Huber Thomas Law
If you or a loved one has experienced a compression injury in a car accident, you need a team on your side. We’ll begin by listening to your story and assessing the best path forward. With Huber Thomas Law, you can focus on your well-being. We’ll be negotiating on your behalf.