Crushing injuries can have devastating consequences, and victims are often left dealing with severe pain, long-term impairments, and permanent disabilities. These injuries happen when part of the body is subjected to extreme pressure, usually by being caught or pinned by heavy objects.
Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for crushing injuries is critical for victims and their families. Additionally, those affected in Louisiana may have legal options to recover compensation for their financial losses.
Common Causes Of Crushing Injuries In Louisiana
Crushing injuries can happen in a number of different scenarios, but victims may be more likely to experience them in certain types of accidents.
Workplace Accidents
While work accidents aren’t unheard of in any industry, you may be more likely to see crushing injuries at worksites that have tools and heavy equipment. The risk of an accident can further increase when safety protocols are ignored, protective gear isn’t offered, and equipment isn’t maintained.
Construction sites often have heavy materials, machinery, and unstable structures that can cause crushing injuries to anyone present in the area. Collapsed scaffolding, falling beams, and improperly secured equipment are common culprits.
Balers, presses, forklifts, and other heavy-duty machinery used in agriculture and similar industries can lead to crushing injuries if they’re not operated properly or if they malfunction. These machines exert extreme force to do the work that they’re designed for, so entrapment accidents tend to be especially severe.
Motor Vehicle Crashes
Car accidents, especially those that involve multiple vehicles or large commercial trucks, often lead to crushing injuries. Victims might be trapped in their cars, pinned under debris, or suffer compressive force injuries caused by the impact.
Natural Disasters
Tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, landslides, and other disasters can cause severe physical trauma when buildings collapse or debris falls on the people caught up in them. Nature’s unpredictability can make these injuries especially dangerous because victims could be trapped for long periods of time before they are rescued.
Sports And Recreation
High-impact sports and extreme recreational activities can sometimes result in catastrophic injuries. Mishaps in adventure sports, accidents during contact sports, and even falling weights at the gym are common sources of crushing trauma.
Symptoms And Long-Term Effects Of Crushing Injuries
Crushing injuries can cause significant damage to bones, muscles, nerves, and internal organs. The severity of the trauma depends on the force behind the impact, the amount of time the victim spent trapped or pinned, and the area of the body affected.
Some of the most common symptoms and complications include:
- Excruciating pain and swelling due to tissue damage and internal bleeding in the immediate aftermath
- Fractures and crushed bones that may need major surgery to correct, including the placement of rods, plates, or even amputation in extreme cases
- Muscle and nerve damage in cases of compartment syndrome, a condition where increased pressure on the muscles cuts off blood flow
- Trauma to internal organs that can lead to life-threatening complications
- Severe infections in open wounds, with a higher risk if the injury happens in an unsanitary environment
- Disruptions to normal blood flow, which can increase the chances of dangerous blood clots that lead to heart attacks and strokes
- Chronic pain and mobility restrictions even after recovery, often requiring ongoing physical therapy and pain management
In many cases, the trauma extends well beyond the physical damage. Many victims of crushing injuries also deal with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other emotional issues after an accident.
Emergency Response And Treatment For Crushing Injuries
Given the substantial physical trauma associated with crushing injuries, immediate medical care is typically critical to reduce the chance of long-term problems.
Immediate Stabilization
Emergency responders generally focus first on stabilizing the victim, controlling the bleeding, and taking steps to prevent any additional trauma. If possible, they carefully remove whatever object is causing the compression to avoid making the injury worse.
Pain Management
Victims usually experience severe pain with crushing injuries, so they often need pain relievers to make it easier for them to cope with the immediate aftermath. In some cases, they may require sedation, especially if they’re also dealing with anxiety or panic attacks.
Surgery And Reconstruction
It’s not uncommon for crushing injury victims to need surgery to repair damaged bones, muscles, and blood vessels. If any tissue death occurs, the tissue may need to be removed, and amputation is sometimes necessary.
Psychological Support
The emotional trauma can be just as notable as the physical injuries after a crushing accident. Victims often need counseling to help them deal with PTSD and other psychological conditions.
Assistive Devices And Long-Term Care
Some victims of crushing injuries need to rely on medical devices like wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs to maintain their mobility and independence after their accident. They may also have to make adjustments to their living spaces and vehicles.
Legal Options For Victims In Lafayette
Those who have suffered crushing injuries in an accident in the Lafayette area may be able to file for financial compensation. Depending on the situation, you have a number of options available.
Workers’ Compensation
If you were injured on the job, you might be able to file for workers’ compensation benefits. This usually covers medical bills, rehab, and a portion of your lost paychecks.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
If the injury was caused by someone else’s negligent behavior, a personal injury lawsuit can help cover the financial losses. If your employer was negligent, you can file a personal injury lawsuit alongside a workers’ compensation claim.
Product Liability Claims
In cases where a defective machine or product caused the injury, victims can pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer or distributor. As a form of personal injury, this could also be filed alongside a workers’ comp claim if a piece of machinery contributed to the employee’s trauma.
Wrongful Death Claims
Unfortunately, crushing injuries sometimes take the victim’s life. When that happens, surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim to seek justice and financial compensation for the losses suffered due to the death of their loved one.
Finding The Legal Support You Need After A Crushing Injury
Dealing with the aftermath of a crushing injury in Louisiana is stressful and overwhelming enough on its own without having to juggle a legal case alongside your treatments, insurance claims, and financial uncertainty. This is where the support of a seasoned crushing injury attorney comes in.
If you or a loved one has suffered a crushing injury in Lafayette and you feel you have grounds for a legal claim, turn to the skilled team at Kenny Habetz Injury Law. We are committed to fighting for justice on behalf of injury victims throughout the Pelican State. Contact our office today at 337-399-9000 for a free consultation to explore your legal options.
