A crush injury is any injury or injuries that occur to any part of the body when it is when force or pressure is put on a body part.
These injuries can be devastating because of the lasting effects on the body. Treatment can be complex and ongoing. It is not uncommon for death to occur as a result of these injuries because of the level of severity.
Surviving a crush injury may come with years of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and monitoring by medical professionals. The financial hardships resulting from the costs associated with this type of injury and the need for continual care add tremendous stress to victims. An experienced work injury attorney in Texas will have the experience and knowledge needed to properly determine compensation for crush injuries.
Types Crush Injuries and Symptoms
The weight and the force of the crushing objects determine the resulting severity of the injuries from a crush. How long this force lasts also plays a part in the seriousness of the injury. Injuries related to crushing can include:
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Laceration
- Fracture
- Nerve damage
- Infection
Debilitating syndromes can affect the body following a crush injury. These types of damages will likely need ongoing treatment and can lead to death:
Compartment Syndrome
A syndrome affecting a more localized part of the body, particularly the muscles and nerves, resulting in swelling and compromised circulation to the affected area. Lack of proper fluids and circulation nourishing the tissue results in cellular death in the damaged area of the body. Emergency procedures to restore the tissue are required.
Crush syndrome
The body and its organs can be severely damaged by crushing. This syndrome creates a series of metabolic changes due to injury of the skeletal muscles with enough severity to disrupt cellular integrity, releasing its contents into circulation in the body. This release of contents can affect organs.
Hyperkalemia
This is a direct result and most acute symptom of crush syndrome, leading to high levels of potassium in the body, disrupting organ function.
Amputation
The damaged limb is removed from the body when muscle tissue death occurs and nerve function no longer exists.
Organ Failure
High potassium levels resulting from crush syndrome can lead to kidney failure and respiratory distress.
Causes of Crush Injuries
Crush injuries are not isolated work events. They can happen suddenly, changing lives in seconds. Important safety missteps a company can make which impact worker safety include:
- Lack of appropriate training in specific tasks, tools, and equipment
- Insufficient planning of necessary steps for completing work safely
- Inappropriate clothing, including sleeves that are too long or loose, allowing the material to be pulled into moving parts of a machine
- Movement of vehicles, powered doors, and machinery such as forklifts that have not been appropriately tagged out or blocked
- Failure to create and train employees in appropriate safety guidelines
- Equipment failure or operator error
Competent Legal Representation for Crush Injury Victims
Sustaining a crush injury on the job can be devastating. Recovery can be a slow, ongoing process, limiting the type of work you can perform and activities you can enjoy, often leading to emotional and financial stress.
Part of your recovery strategy should involve working with a dedicated legal team to advocate for results that will help you rebound physically, emotionally, and financially from a crush injury. The work injury lawyers of Liggett Law Group provide passionate service while helping injured Texans reclaim their lives. Contact us to see how we can help you.