A motor vehicle collision can cause a great deal of bodily harm to a vehicle’s occupants and anyone else who is involved. There are multiple types of serious injuries that can occur in a car accident, and in addition to receiving emergency medical treatment, victims may require ongoing care to address the effects of their injuries. Dislocated joints can be especially difficult to deal with, and victims will want to understand how these injuries may affect them both immediately and in the months and years following an accident.
Common Joint Dislocations in Auto Accidents
There are a large number of joints throughout the body where two or more bones meet. Bones are held in place by ligaments and other tissues, but the force of an impact in a car accident can force bones out of place, resulting in a dislocation. Some common joints that may experience dislocations in car crashes include the shoulders, elbows, and wrists, and these injuries may occur when the impact of a collision forces a person’s arms or hands into unnatural positions. Dislocations may also occur in the hips, knees, or ankles due to the stress placed on a person’s lower body in situations such as T-bone collisions where a vehicle is struck from the side.
When bones move out of place due to a dislocation, a person is likely to experience significant pain, and they may be unable to move the parts of the body that have been affected. They may also experience significant swelling and bruising around the joint. Pinched or damaged nerves may cause numbness or tingling in a joint or other parts of the body below the location where the dislocation occurred.
A dislocation will usually require emergency medical treatment. Doctors will reposition the bones, returning them to their correct location. A person may need to keep the joint immobilized for several weeks while the injury heals. In some cases, dislocations may lead to additional complications, such as fractures of the bones in and around a joint and damage to nerves and blood vessels. Surgery may be needed to repair damage and ensure that an injury can heal properly. A person may also experience additional complications, such as infections or torn ligaments, tendons, or muscle tissue. Significant damage may also result in chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Contact Our Green Bay Joint Dislocation Injury Lawyers
Dislocated joints and other related injuries that were caused by a car accident can not only cause significant pain and discomfort, but they can lead to ongoing health issues that will affect a person for years to come. Extensive medical treatment may be needed, and an injury may limit a person’s ability to work and participate in other activities. At Herrling Clark Law Firm Ltd., we work to ensure that car accident victims can receive compensation that fully addresses their injuries. We can help make sure the effects of dislocations and related injuries will be properly addressed. Contact our Appleton car accident injury attorneys at 920-739-7366 to discuss your injuries in a free consultation and get legal help with your case.
Sources:
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/injuries-and-poisoning/dislocations/overview-of-dislocations
https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/dislocation
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17873-dislocation