Did you know that out of all car accidents, about 37% of the victims experience leg injuries? Car accidents, unfortunately, cause many injuries to the victims, especially ones occurring in the lower half of the body. Our legs allow us to walk, run, jump, drive, and so much more. Injuries to the leg can severely impact our day-to-day life, making simple tasks difficult. When a car accident occurs, a lot of pressure and initial impact go to the legs. The knee, ankle, and foot can be crushed, squeezed, or torn. At New York Injury Associates, our car accident doctors in Centereach can assess your injuries to provide proper help and provide legal assistance for your medical case. For more information on leg injuries after an accident, continue reading below.
What are some symptoms of leg injuries after a car accident?
After a car accident, pain is common. Pain can happen whether the accident is minor or severe. However, pain could also be a sign that there is a further injury. Some additional symptoms indicating a further injury are bruising, swelling, tenderness, and limited range of motion. A more serious symptom associated with leg injuries after a car accident is blood clots. Blood clots are when blood cells clump together. These are common after an injury. However, they can cause serious health problems if they move through the body and get stuck in the lungs. Some symptoms of blood clots include:
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- The leg becomes swollen, painful, and cold to touch
- Dizziness
Some additional symptoms of leg injuries also include:
- Instability
- Stiffness
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Pain standing
These symptoms can indicate a further injury to the lower body. If you experience these symptoms after an accident, contact our car accident doctors in Centereach at New York Injury Associates for help.
What are some common leg injuries?
After a car accident, leg injuries typically occur in the knee, ankle, and pelvis. These areas usually face the hardest impact, which can cause serious injuries. Injuries can range from as minor as small cuts to as severe as amputations. Some common injuries include:
- Ligament injuries
- When a muscle, tendon, or nerve is put under an intense force.
- Crush injuries
- Occurs when there is physical trauma and long compression on a limb.
- Lacerations
- Deep cuts in the skin.
- Amputations
- The surgical removal of a limb due to extreme damage and the limb cannot be saved.
- Fractures
- A complete or partial break of a bone.
Femur Fractures: A serious injury
Femur fractures are a common but extremely serious leg injury after an accident. The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the body. The femur is the bone between the hip and knee. A fractured femur can take months to heal, and it requires a lot of physical therapy and surgery. Symptoms of a femur fracture include:
- Leg pain
- Bleeding
- The bone pokes through your skin
- Bruising
- Swelling
Treatment for a femur fracture range from splints to surgeries. For some fractures, a weighted traction splint is used to stabilize the leg while it heals. In more serious cases, a skeletal traction surgery is performed. The doctor will place a pin in your femur and connect it to weights to keep the femur straight, so it heals correctly. Additionally, in certain cases, External fixation or Open Reduction and Internal Fixation will be performed.
If you experience a leg injury from an accident, New York Injury Associates is here to help you! We can provide legal assistance for the wrongfully injured who are pursuing legal action. In addition, our car accident doctors in Centereach provide medical consultations and treatment for a variety of injuries. Contact us today for the help you deserve!