Hip Injury from
Car Accident
Hip injuries are very common following car accidents. If you have sustained a hip injury due to the actions of a negligent driver, make sure to hire a lawyer and pursue financial recovery.
It’s all too common, unfortunately, to suffer an injury in a car accident. Even minor collisions can result in significant physical damage to victims.
Specifically, according to research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), nearly one-third of all car accident injuries are to the victim’s lower extremities. So if you have suffered a hip injury from a car accident, you are not alone.
Injury victims often experience personal and financial losses that they do not anticipate. Medical bills, lost income and other costs can make the aftermath of a car accident incredibly stressful. But victims do not have to carry the burdens of their car accident injuries alone.
A car accident attorney can help you through the process of recovering financial compensation after a crash. When you need representation for a hip injury caused by a car accident, contact the skilled team at NST Law.
Table Of Contents
How do car accidents cause hip injuries?
The hip consists of a ball-and-socket joint. Muscles, ligaments, nerves and tendons connect to and surround this skeletal joint.
Because of the range of elements that compose a hip joint, there are many ways that a hip injury can occur. Any type of severe impact to a person’s knees, legs or side can result in damage to the hip. Even without a direct impact to these areas, motor vehicle collisions may still result in damage to the victim’s hip, due to the sudden force caused by deceleration of the car, or from broken or loose machinery or objects inside the car.
Many car crash victims are unaware of the prevalence of hip injuries from motor vehicle collisions. And while pain may occur immediately, some hip injuries do not show obvious symptoms until much later.
What are typical kinds of hip injuries from car accidents?
Motor vehicle crashes often involve significant impacts and extreme force, even in seemingly minor collisions.
During many accidents, drivers and passengers collide with the interior features of the car. These include:
- Dashboard
- Console
- Steering wheel
- Interior of the doors
- Roof
Regardless of what the victim’s body collides with, a hip injury may result. There are many different types of hip injuries that happen as the result of crashes. These include fractures, dislocations, and damage to tendons or other soft tissue structures.
Fractured Hip
The hip joint consists of two bones: the femur (or thigh bone) and the pelvis. The top of the femur forms a ball, known as the femoral head. This fits into a socket on the pelvis, which is called the acetabulum.
Any of these parts may be fractured in a motor vehicle collision. It’s more common for the femur to break than the acetabulum. In fact, the femur is the most commonly fractured bone during a car crash. More than a quarter of fractures of the femur in a motor vehicle collision occur at or near the hip joint. (The femur may also fracture in the middle of the thigh, or closer to the knee.)
Fractures of the acetabulum (the socket of the hip joint) are uncommon, because this side of the joint is better protected. In fact, motor vehicle collisions are the most common cause of this type of fracture.
After a hip fracture, the victim may experience the following symptoms:
- Difficulty walking
- Severe discomfort in the groin or hip
- Difficulty putting weight on the leg near the injured hip
- Swelling and bruising around the injured area
It is important to speak with a medical professional as soon as possible if you believe you may have sustained a hip fracture. This type of injury can result in significant medical expenses and other personal losses. Surgery may be necessary to prevent serious long-term consequences.
Dislocation of the Hip Joint
When the top of the femur comes partially or completely out of the socket on the pelvis, this is known as a hip dislocation. Dislocations can be very painful, and are unfortunately common in the aftermath of a vehicular collision.
A hip dislocation is actually a medical emergency. This is because the dislocation can interrupt the blood supply to the top of the femur. Without timely treatment, the bone tissue may die, a condition known as “avascular necrosis.” This condition has serious and permanent consequences. To prevent “avascular necrosis,” hip dislocations must be treated promptly.
Typical symptoms following a hip dislocation include:
- Spasms in hip muscles
- Discoloration and swelling at the injury site
- Inability to move the associated leg
- Unnatural positioning of the leg
- Numbness in the foot or hip
If you believe your hip has been dislocated, consult with a physician as soon as possible. A medical professional will provide you with a reliable diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan.
Tendonitis
This hip injury affects the soft tissue surrounding the hip joint. Tendonitis occurs when an accident damages the tendons that connect the hip bones to the surrounding muscles.
This type of injury can cause significant pain. If left untreated, tendonitis can result in additional injuries and physical damage.
Bursitis
A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions structures like tendons and muscles. They’re usually located near joints, and serve to protect soft tissue structures from being damaged by movements of the joint. When a bursa becomes damaged, this can result in bursitis, or inflammation of the bursa. As a result of this inflammation, fluid collects in the area, which can put pressure on other structures in the area. Bursitis causes symptoms such as:
- Stiffness and aches
- Pain when moving the hip
- Swelling and redness
- Inability to move the hip joint
- Severe joint pain
- Fever
It is critical to seek medical care if you experience any of the symptoms of bursitis following a car accident. Treatment can help to avoid permanent damage to the bursa itself as well as to surrounding structures.
How can an attorney help with your car accident hip injury claim?
When you have sustained a hip injury in a collision, you are likely to face a wide range of financial and personal losses. Most people underestimate the types of monetary and emotional consequences that result from a traffic accident injury. The costs of medical care, as well as other costs like lost wages, can be considerable.
Because of the significant costs associated with a personal injury, it is critical to secure the services of a skilled legal professional. A knowledgeable tort lawyer will work diligently for your best interests.
If you are suffering from a hip injury, one of the seasoned litigants at NST Law will fight hard to recover the following compensatory damages that apply in your case:
- Current and future medical expenses
- The cost of necessary in-home care
- Medical equipment and assistive devices
- Rehabilitative and physical therapy
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional turmoil, including anxiety and depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Lost income and wages from missed work
- Long-term decreases in earning potential
It can be difficult to determine the total value of your hip injury claim. For this reason, it is crucial to contact a qualified personal injury lawyer to represent you.
Greedy insurance corporations often attempt to devalue victims’ claims. Do not let this happen to you. One of the accomplished litigants at NST Law will negotiate with the opposing party to ensure that your claim is valued appropriately.
In addition to negotiations, a tort lawyer will gather relevant evidence and documents to prove that your injury was the result of another person’s negligence. If you have sustained an injury because of another driver’s carelessness or recklessness, you deserve justice in the form of financial recovery.
A hip injury from a traffic accident can derail your life. That is why you should let a personal injury attorney help you get the money you need to successfully move forward.
Contact NST Law for Reliable Legal Representation
If you have experienced hip pain following a motor vehicle crash, do not wait. After seeking appropriate medical care, reach out to the skilled legal team at NST Law.
For three decades, our attorneys have fought diligently on behalf of injury victims. We have recovered more than $2 billion in successful verdicts and settlements.
To arrange a free legal case evaluation, contact the legal team at NST Law today!
Contact us for a free consultation now so that we can review your case and decide how we can best help you.
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