Utah Car Accident Arm Injury: The Ultimate Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Car Accident Arm Injuries
Arm injuries are easily one of the most overlooked types of injuries victims suffer after a car accident. Car accidents cause so much trauma for victims that they often don’t fully understand the extent of their injuries for days or even weeks after their accidents. Indeed, it isn’t until they return to their daily lives and routines, doing housework or working out at the gym, that they realize they’ve suffered a serious injury.
When most people think of car accident injuries, they think of whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, or, worse still, spinal cord damage. Yet, while arm, hand, and shoulder injuries may not be as severe, they can still leave victims struggling with chronic pain and unable to return to the quality of life they had before they were injured.
If you’ve suffered an arm injury due to an auto accident or from a personal injury caused by another person, the guide below can help you understand the ins and outs of your injury.
Common Causes of Arm Injuries
When a car accident occurs, vehicle occupants will often reach their arms out in front of them to try and protect themselves. Unfortunately, this can actually injure them more, particularly in a head-on collision.
Airbags deploy in a fraction of a second—the force associated with airbags inflating can cause soft tissue injuries, broken bones, or dislocated joints.
Seat belts can also cause arm injuries (though they can protect you from far more serious harm, so always be sure to buckle up). When a vehicle occupant is thrown forward by the force of a crash, their seat belt locks to keep them from going through the windshield. This may result in lacerations or bruising to the arm or shoulder.
Arm, Hand, and Wrist Sprains and Strains
The most common arm injuries are basic sprains and strains. According to the Mayo Clinic, a strain or sprain is the “stretching or tearing of ligaments.” Strains are officially classified in increasing severity from Grade 1 all the way up to Grade 3. Sprains happen in car crashes due to how viciously victims are tossed and jerked about during the chaos of a crash. It is not uncommon for the arms and hands of victims to be forced into unnatural positions.
Car accident victims who suffer sprains to their arms, elbows, and wrists report experiencing deep bruises, swelling, and not being able to move their arms into certain positions. The best way to treat sprains is the R.I.C.E. method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). Depending on their severity, sprains typically begin to heal after a few weeks or so. If symptoms persist, however, victims are advised to seek medical attention immediately.
Broken Arms and Bone Fractures
Another type of arm injury that is frequently reported by car accident victims are fractures and broken arms. In a car accident, the most common arm fractures are typically to the hands, elbow, and wrists since these parts are fragile and have a lot of complex, moving parts.
Another reason auto accident victims suffer broken bones and fractures is the extreme force inflicted upon their bodies during the crash. In the middle of an accident, victims often instinctually reach out for the steering wheel, or they might attempt to protect themselves by shielding their face with their arms. These actions frequently cause arm injuries like crushed or broken fingers, fractured wrists, and damage to the arms, such as dislocations and cuts or lacerations.
A broken bone can be diagnosed with an X-ray. Broken bones take weeks or months to heal properly. And if surgery is required, these recovery periods could potentially be longer.
Dislocated Joint
Dislocated joints are some of the most painful arm injuries you can suffer from a car accident or personal injury. The joints in the arm act like literal glue between the bones in the arms, hands, and shoulders. So when they are dislocated, victims feel extreme pain and chronic soreness for weeks after first being injured.
The most common dislocations in the arm happen at the elbow joint, wrist joint, and shoulder joint. Dislocations happen when the bones in the arm (the upper arm bone, known as the humerus, and the lower arm bones, known as the ulna and radius) move out of place.
People who suffer from dislocated joints in the arm can find it difficult to move their limbs or even ball up their fists. Arm joint injuries should be treated immediately by a doctor or a medical professional and should not simply be left to heal on their own. Not attending to an arm joint injury could potentially cause permanent damage to the blood vessels, nerves, and ligaments in the arms. If you believe you may have a dislocated joint, you should seek medical care as soon as you are able.
Torn Ligament
The next serious arm injury caused by a car accident or another type of personal injury is torn ligaments. A torn ligament is a severe injury, so much so that the injury is considered to be a grade 2 injury by medical professionals.
The ligaments in the arm are connective tissue between bones, cartilage, or joints. Victims with torn ligaments describe feeling chronic pain and the loss of functionality in shoulders, arms, and hands. Some victims might even experience a loss of feeling in their limbs.
If you are one such victim, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as you are able. Torn ligaments tend to worsen with time, so don’t expect your injury to simply heal on its own.
Tendon Damage in the Arm
Hands down, one of the most painful arm injuries you can experience after a car accident or another type of personal injury is tendon damage. A tendon injury in the arm is so painful, in fact, that doctors and medical professionals classify it as a grade 3 injury.
Similar to ligaments, tendons act as rubbery webs that connect your bones to your muscles. The pain resulting from tendon damage following a car accident or personal injury is almost always chronic and lasts for months after the victim is first injured. Victims can expect swelling along the damaged area and inflammation from a condition called tendonitis or tendinitis. If you suspect you may be suffering from tendonitis, contact your doctor immediately.
Arm Injury Legal Compensation – Personal Injury Attorney
If you’re experiencing pain from an arm injury from a car accident or another type of personal injury, you will need an Advocate to help you get just compensation for your injuries and losses. The last thing anyone wants after being injured due to the negligence of another person is to be stuck with thousands of dollars in medical bills.
With a car accident attorney from The Advocates law firm representing your case, you can rest easy knowing you have an experienced personal injury lawyer working to make your life whole again.
Our car accident lawyers will fight insurance companies to help you get the settlement you deserve for your medical expenses, property damage, and emotional distress. We will be by your side to answer your questions, provide regular updates on your case, and help you find the resources you need.
Don’t wait to contact us today for a free consultation for your potential personal injury case. You can chat online immediately with a live injury attorney from our homepage. With the Advocates on your case, your full recovery will always be our first priority. You deserve an Advocate!