Skilled Northern California Personal Injury Attorneys Handling Crush Injuries Claims
At GJEL, our California crush injury lawyers are proud to fight for the little guys. We have provided top-quality personal injury services to injured victims throughout Northern California for more than 40 years. Our law firm has deep experience handling catastrophic injury claims.
We fully understand the unique issues facing victims who have suffered devastating, long-term injuries. Our attorneys fight aggressively to ensure that victims can maximize their financial recovery. If you or a family member suffered a serious crush injury in Northern California, our legal team is here to help. For a risk-free initial consultation, please contact our law firm today.
What is a Crush Injury?
As it sounds, a crush injury refers to a type of injury that occurs when a person’s body (or a specific body part) is literally crushed by a foreign object. As described by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), a crush injury occurs when an object causes major compression of a part of the body. The ACEP notes that in most cases, crush injuries involve a victim’s extremities. More than 75 percent of crush injuries affect the victim’s feet or legs, while another 15 percent of crush injuries affect the arms or hands. In the remaining cases, the crush injuries affect the trunk. Trunk crush injuries have the potential to be truly catastrophic; to be sure, they can quickly turn deadly if the victim’s body is put under too much force.
How Do Crush Injuries Happen?
In general, a crush injury takes place when a person’s body is either stuck under something or stuck in between two things. Though, in practice, crush injuries can occur in many different ways. In some cases, these injuries happen due to structural collapses. This is an issue in earthquake-prone regions such as Northern California. In other cases, crush injuries occur because of machinery accidents that happen at industrial workplaces.
Notably, one of the most common ways that ordinary people are exposed to the risk of a crush injury is due to a car accident. Even at seemingly low rates of speeds, auto accidents involve an incredible amount of force. When crush injuries occur in a car accident, the results are often catastrophic, and victims always require immediate medical attention and ongoing professional support.
The Devastating Effects of a Crush Injury
The severity and extent of crush injuries vary widely depending on the specific nature of the accident. The one thing that all crush injury accidents have in common is that the victim needs emergency medical help. In some cases, bystanders can help them victim free themselves from the situation in relatively short order, limiting the physical damage. However, in other cases, an injured victim may be pinned under or between two objects for an extended period of time. When this happens, the crush injury can be especially severe.
At GJEL, our dedicated Northern California crush injury lawyers have handled claims involving a wide range of different accidents. No matter the extent of your crush injuries, we are prepared to protect your legal rights. Common crush injuries include:
- Deep bruising;
- Broken or fractured bones;
- The shattering of a bone;
- Severe soft tissue damage;
- Long-term nerve damage;
- Internal bleeding;
- Internal organ damage;
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
- Amputations;
- Spinal cord injuries; and
- Death.
To make matters even more challenging for victims, crush injuries are notorious for resulting in medical complications. In many cases, a crush injury is even more severe than the initial, already serious medical diagnosis. The most common type of complication is referred to as ‘compartment syndrome’ or ‘crush injury syndrome’. When this medical complication occurs, it is an emergency medical situation. It may even be a life-threatening issue. Blood and other bodily fluids can accumulate in an area, stopping proper blood flow to organs and tissues. In the most severe cases, crush injury syndrome can lead to the loss of key bodily functions, renal failure, organ damage, amputation, and even death.
Crush Injury Victims Deserve Full Compensation
Crush injuries often require extensive, ongoing medical support. Injured victims must be able to get fair compensation to pay for their bills and support their loved ones. If your crush injury was caused by the reckless, careless, or negligent actions of another party, you may be able to hold them legally liable for your damages. To be clear, recovering full compensation for a crush injury is never easy. Often these legal claims are defended by aggressive insurance carriers. Insurers try to limit a victim’s settlement offer.
Injured victims should always be represented by a skilled Bay Area personal injury attorney. A qualified attorney will be able to help you put together the case to establish liability and prove the full value of your damages. At GJEL, our California crush injury lawyers are dedicated to helping injured victims maximize their compensation. We can help you recover for:
- Emergency room fees;
- Long-term medical costs;
- Visits to specialized;
- Outpatient services;
- Prescription drugs;
- Medical equipment;
- Rehabilitative treatment;
- Disability compensation;
- Lost wages;
- Diminished earning potential
- Pain and suffering;
- Disfigurement;
- Reduced quality of life; and
- The wrongful death of a family member.
Contact Our California Crush Injury Attorneys Today
At GJEL, our compassionate California crush injury lawyers are standing by, ready to help you and your family fight for full financial compensation. If you or a loved one was injured in a crush accident, it is imperative that you seek immediate legal assistance.
For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact GJEL today. We have main offices throughout the Bay Area and Northern California, including in Oakland, San Jose, Fresno, Hayward, Walnut Creek, and Orinda. In addition, our law firm operates a number of satellite offices and client meeting locations to ensure that we can provide convenient legal service to you and your family.
