Understanding the dangers of crush injury

Car accidents can cause a variety of horrifying injuries, many of which result in long-term pain and suffering, or even death. Of the most traumatic of these injuries are a type known as crush injuries.

A crush injury is much like it sounds – an injury resulting from prolonged pressure and compression on parts of the body such as the torso or limbs. Crush injuries cause significant swelling, tissue trauma and muscle injury.

Severe motor vehicle accidents can cause a crush injury if heavy parts of a car press down against a passenger for a prolonged length of time. Crush injuries can result in significant complications, such as the following:

• Compartment syndrome – This occurs from fluid or swelling in the tissue and is one of the most common complications resulting from crush injury. Compartment syndrome can lead to other complications on this list, as well as muscle cell death.
• Kidney injury – One of the major organs affected by crush injury is the kidney. The injured muscles in your body release toxic proteins that can lead to kidney injury, which can increase the risk of death.
• Crush syndrome – In the most severe cases, crush injury can become crush syndrome, which occurs when kidney injury turns into kidney failure. Crush syndrome also includes symptoms such as major shock and muscle injury known as rhabdomyolysis. The longer someone is crushed under the heavy weight, the more likely crush syndrome can develop.

Motor vehicle accidents can have damaging effects on everyone involved. To protect yourself from severe trauma and injury, it’s essential to stay safe on the road and especially exercise caution when you drive around larger vehicles such as trucks.

If you or a loved one experience crush injury due to an accident, you have the right to compensation to cover the costs. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help you through the complicated process and painful aftermath of the accident.