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Car Accident Leg Injuries
Car accidents happen without warning and can be devastating to the victims involved. Thousands of people each year experience serious injuries in car accidents that can result in permanent damage, long-term complications, and costly medical treatment.
All auto accidents, including motorcycle accidents, can cause incredibly painful injuries that can lead to permanent disabilities. In some cases, tragically, they can result in the death of a loved one. Unfortunately, according to the United States Department of Transportation, 94% of car accidents are caused by human error and careless driving.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our personal injury attorneys have many years of experience representing clients who have been injured due to someone else's carelessness. We understand the laws that apply to these cases, and we know how to get our clients the maximum compensation possible.
We offer a free consultation with an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you don't have to pay us unless we recover money for you.
Contact one of our personal injury lawyers at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today for immediate legal advice and schedule a free consultation.
How Do Leg Injuries Occur in a Car Accident?
Leg injuries are fairly common after a car accident. When a vehicle is struck from the side or involved in a frontal collision, the victim is highly likely to suffer an injury to their upper or lower legs.
These injuries can often require the need to undergo surgery, and the victim may need to complete extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Leg injury statistics from the United States Department of Transportation show that 37% of people involved in a frontal collision will sustain a lower leg injury.
For example, when the leg strikes the steering wheel or instrument panel, the force of contact can cause significant trauma. Other injuries relating to the lower legs, such as an injury to the lower spine causing nerve damage, are also common.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located in the center of the knee joint and is responsible for the rotation and forward movement of the tibia (shinbone). The ligament may become hyperextended and torn in a car accident, causing an ACL injury.
A torn ACL injury can occur when a blunt, powerful force strikes the knee joint. This forceful action causes the connective tissue in the knee to tear. An ACL injury can cause a car accident victim intense pain, accompanied by rapid soft tissue swelling and the possibility of a reduced range of motion.
ACL injuries can require weeks of recovery time, and sometimes reconstructive surgery is required to replace the torn ligament. Soft tissue injuries, such as ACL injuries, cause severe pain and take time to heal correctly.
Broken Bone in the Leg
A fractured bone is one of the most common leg injuries sustained in a car accident. The femur bone, otherwise known as the thigh bone, is located in the upper leg.
The femur is the strongest bone in the human body. Even though the femur is the longest and strongest bone in the body, the force and trauma of a car accident can break the leg bone, which can be a significant and lengthy leg injury requiring surgery and rehabilitation.
Femur fractures from an auto accident cause accident victims' ongoing leg pain and are one of the more common car accident injuries.
Other broken leg bone injuries can occur in an auto accident. A car accident can cause broken bones in other prominent locations in the leg, like the tibia, fibula, and ankle bones, such as the talas.
It is important to note that broken bones and related leg injuries may be more common in an elderly person who is the victim of a car accident. An elderly person may be at increased risk for a leg injury and broken bone following a car accident due to skeletal fragility.
Torn Meniscus in the Knee Cap
A torn meniscus is a common leg injury after a car accident. The meniscus is soft cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the shinbone and thigh bone.
Leg injuries can cause significant leg and knee pain. This car accident leg injury can cause leg pain.
The herniated disc occurs when the cushion-like pads between the vertebrae are forced out of position and compress the nerves in the spinal column. During a car accident, the force of the collision can be an abrupt shock to the spine and cause damage to the discs.
A herniated disc can be a common cause of leg pain after an accident due to the compression of nerves that run from the spine through the leg. One of the most common car accident leg injuries that occur from this is damage to the sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve runs from the lower spine down the leg and the foot. If a herniated disc is causing nerve damage to the sciatic location, car accident victims may experience shooting pain down the injured leg or complain of sharp foot pain when walking.
Accident victims who experience this type of personal injury generally have difficulty maintaining their daily life activities.
Sprains and Strains
Car accident leg injuries can include a variety of sprains and strains in the lower leg and ankle areas. Sprains and tears are soft tissue injuries that can cause general leg pain, rapid swelling to connective tissue, shin pain, and pain in the feet.
These types of leg injuries are common in an auto accident and can be due to the accident victim attempting to brake suddenly or possibly from the leg coming in contact with the dashboard.
Crushed Legs and Amputations
One of the most severe leg injuries, usually only seen in high-speed car accidents, is a crushed leg injury that may involve the accident victim needing to undergo a limb amputation. The loss of a leg is extremely traumatic and leads to a life-altering disability.
How Do I Claim Compensation for My Personal Injury?
If you are experiencing leg pain after a car accident, it is important that you contact a law firm to engage a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
These common car accident leg injuries can cause accident victims significant trauma and financial burden in medical bills and lost wages. You may be able to obtain compensation through a personal injury claim.
A personal injury claim may provide compensation that covers:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages
- Property damages
Call us today at (888) 424-5757 for immediate legal help and schedule a free case consultation to discuss your compensation case. We accept all injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This agreement ensures you pay nothing until your case is resolved through a negotiated settlement or jury trial award.
All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
