Injuries to Extremities
Our extremities––meaning our hands, arms, shoulders, legs, knees, and feet––are vulnerable to injury. What makes injuries to our extremities critical is that we are simply dependent on them for our daily needs, like:
- Walking
- Eating
- Dressing
- Driving
- Writing or typing
- Etc.
When an extremity is injured, it compromises our ability to perform daily tasks. On an even deeper level, it compromises our ability to partake in life because it can upset the way we interact at work, at home, and socially, among other things. So, depending on the injury, a person’s quality of life can be affected dramatically. This matters, especially if your injury was caused by another person or entity. If the latter is true, then you are entitled to compensation, but this compensation must include both current and future costs and overall damages. Getting legal representation will be key to making sure you get the compensation your injury demands and the quality of your life requires.
We help you find the right attorney to address your legal needs. Below if a brief overview of personal injuries to extremities. If you have more questions or want to find the best lawyer for you in Los Angeles, contact our office today.
Upper Body Injuries to Shoulders, Arms, Hands
Your shoulders, arms, and hands are made up of dozens of bones. Your one hand alone has 27 bones. Along with bones, there are muscles, ligaments, joints, bursas, blood vessels, nerves, and more. These and more are necessary so that you can move around, eat, play an instrument, write a letter, etc. When an upper extremity is injured, your ability––as mentioned––to function normally is interrupted or diminished. Here’s an overview of the most common types of injuries to upper extremities in personal injury cases.
- Bruises. Your shoulder and arms are particularly prone to bruises when you have been in just about any type of accident where there was pressure or force to the upper extremities or an object struck you.
- Scrapes, cuts, and lacerations. Your arms and shoulders are prone to scrapes, cuts, and lacerations when a sharp foreign object penetrates your skin. Deep cuts have a higher rate of infection but scrapes can lead to infection, too. Infection can lead to other complications that must be addressed by a medical professional.
- Sprains and strains. Elbows, wrists, and hands often suffer strains and sprain from trauma-related accidents. A sprain occurs when a ligament has been torn while a strain occurs when a tendon is torn. Proper treatment can help make sure these injuries heal properly. Complications can arise when a sprain or strain is left untreated and damage becomes permanent.
- Inflammation. Inflammation can occur when joint, tendons, bursas, or other tissue has been injured. A common injury from car accidents is shoulder tendonitis, which is inflammation of the rotator cuff or biceps tendon. This injury can range from mild to severe, and in severe cases, one may stop using the shoulder for some time due to the pain.
- Nerve damage. Nerve damage in the upper extremities is common and can cause carpal tunnel syndrome or other problems.
- Frozen shoulder. The movement of a person’s shoulder can become severely restricted from a traumatic experience––this is adhesive capsulitis, more commonly referred to as a frozen shoulder. The condition can lead to a lack of use of the shoulder due to the severity of the pain.
- Broken bones. A person in an accident––for example, a motor vehicle accident––is likely to protect himself by bracing his chest or face with his hands and arms. So, a person’s upper extremities are at high risk of fracture. As mentioned, there are many bones throughout the arms, shoulders, and hands. Of particular concern are the:
- Elbow
- Humerus
- Humeral shaft
- Radial
- Ulnar
- Wrist bones
- Hand bones.
Simple fractures are easily cured with the help of splints or casts. More serious broken bones, like crushed bones or broken growth plates, can lead to complications and may need long-term treatment or care. Complications can include:
- Bone grafts––the fracture or break may not heal properly, and so you need a bone graft;
- Scaphoid bone fractures––small bones in the wrist (the scaphoid) take long to heal, if at all, and this can lead to arthritis;
- Scapholunate ligament injuries––Scapholunate ligaments are critical stabilizers for the lunate carpal bones and the scaphoid, and when they are injured, it can result in loss of grip and lead to arthritis.
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Lower Body Injuries to Legs, Knees, Feet
Lower body injuries to the legs, knees, and feet include:
- Bruises
- Scrapes
- Cuts
- Lacerations
- Dashboard knee (where the knee crashes into the dashboard)
- Dislocations (i.e., patella or hip)
- Strains
- Sprains
- Inflammation
- Broken bones, including ankle, foot, hip, patellar, pelvic, and tibia and fibula fractures.
Symptoms of a Lower Extremity Injury
You’ll know a lower extremity has been injured when any of the below symptoms are present:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising or bleeding
- Inability to walk on one or both legs
- Leg instability
- Deformity
- Numbness
- Loss of feeling.
Complications of a Lower Extremity Injury
Complications of extremity injuries, particularly fractures, can be serious. Fractures with complications can lead to:
- Persistent deformities
- Reduced or limited function
- Lack of nerve function
- Poor circulation
- Paralysis
- Amputation (due to severe crush injuries or failure to heal).
Nature & Extent of Injuries to Extremities & Their Impact on Compensation
Injuries to your extremities can be mild or they can threaten the quality of your life. The latter matters especially in terms of compensation because treatment can be costly and the pain and suffering you experience can be great. You may lose enjoyment of life and the ability to fully engage in relationships as you once did. Some of these injuries may qualify as catastrophic injuries, too.
Personal injury law is meant to put you back into the position you would be prior to the accident. That can’t always physically, emotionally, and psychologically happen, but it can happen monetarily. Making sure you get sufficient compensation to address all your needs as you experience and attempt to make the best of things really does make a difference, especially if your injuries qualify as catastrophic and/or if they are permanent or long-term.
Retain a Smart, Compassionate Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles
Get the compensation you deserve for the injuries you suffered due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional act. We help you find a smart, compassionate personal injury attorney in Los Angeles who has the skills, insight, and experience your case demands. Not all cases are alike, and not all attorneys are as qualified in each area of personal injury law. But finding the right attorney in a saturated legal industry can be exhausting. So, let us help you.
