Have you been hurt in a car accident?
After getting into a car crash, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. In some cases, it might actually be a life-or-death pivotal moment to get that aid quickly.
This is possibly the case when it comes to crush injuries. How do they happen during crashes and what impacts do they have?
How do crush injuries happen?
Up To Date discusses the matter of severe crush injuries in adult patients. Crush injuries occur as a result of a heavy and/or large object making prolonged contact with the body in any capacity. Incidents can differ wildly from situation to situation.
For example, if a truck driver runs over someone’s foot, this constitutes a crush injury. At the same time, someone getting buried in rubble from a collapsed house during an earthquake is also a crush injury.
In regard to crashes, crush injuries often happen due to the car crumpling in on itself and causing damage. It is also possible for people inside of the car to end up jettisoned out, where they can end up pinned between two vehicles or crushed below one.
In either case, crush injuries can cause many immediate issues. For example, if someone’s chest ends up compressed too far, they may not have the ability to draw a breath and could suffocate.
The lethality of crush injuries
Even crush injuries to extremities can end up lethal, though. Someone could have a crushed hand that becomes necrotic, leading to tissue death and infections like gangrene which can lead to amputation or sepsis which can cause death as soon as 72 hours after diagnosis.
This is why it is important to get medical help on the scene of a crash immediately.
This article is brought to you by Mason Rashtian of The Mason Law Firm, a full-service personal injury attorney and accident lawyer. We represent clients all throughout California and Los Angeles County, including the Santa Clarita Valley, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Canyon Country, Newhall, and the entire San Fernando Valley.
We can be reached at (661) 270-5677.
This article is meant for informational purposes only.