Car Accidents and Joint Injuries
Healthy joints are critical for mobility and most of the tasks of daily living. With damaged joints, it is much harder to dress, cook, walk, reach for the remote, or even hug loved ones. Unfortunately, traumatic events like car accidents can lead to a host of joint problems, which can keep many people out of work.
Joint injuries can require surgery, rehabilitation, or anti-inflammatory drugs. If you have suffered a joint injury in a car accident, or if a loved one has, then please contact Earnhart Law.
Knee Injuries
A properly functioning joint provides stability to the leg when standing and while bending. Unfortunately, in a car accident, the knee can slam into the dashboard, suffering serious damage.
Two of the most common knee injuries are:
- Damage to the posterior collateral ligament (PCL). This ligament is located behind the knee and keeps the shin bone from sliding back too far.
- Damage to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL provides stability to the knee cap and keeps the shin bone in the proper place. A tear in your ACL often requires surgical repair.
One problem with knee injuries is that they might not heal properly. Some people develop arthritis as a complication, which can drastically reduce a person’s mobility and lead to lifelong pain. To properly recover from an ACL or PCL tear, all efforts must be undertaken to encourage healing.
Jaw Injuries
Few people think of the jaw as a joint, but it is vital to eating, swallowing, and talking. Any injury to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can make it much harder for a person to go about their daily activities. A person can suffer a TMJ injury when they crack their head against the side of the car, or simply from forcible shaking during a car accident.
Neck Injuries
One common neck injury in car accidents is whiplash. Ligaments in the neck get stretched when a motorist’s head is pushed too far forward before it snaps back. Other damage can occur to the bones in the neck and the discs in between them. Often, it takes a day or two for a person to recognize any symptoms, such as:
- Neck pain
- Pain in the upper arms or shoulders
- Numbness, burning, or prickling sensation in the neck or arm
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Lethargy or malaise
- Sleep problems
- Blurred vision
- Depression
Doctors no longer immobilize the neck with a big, bulky white neck brace for weeks at a time. Instead, the key to recovery is to manage pain and slowly reintroduce movement to the neck so that the victim can regain a range of motion. Severe whiplash can take six months or more to resolve.
Do You Want Compensation for Your Injuries?
After a car accident, you should find an experienced Delray Beach car accident attorney with the necessary experience and skills to bring a case against the driver who is to blame for the collision.
At Earnhart Law, we have represented the interests of injured motorists just like you for 30 years. We have obtained millions in compensation for our clients, and we can help you with your case as well.
Please call 561-265-2220 to schedule a free consultation.
https://www.delrayinjuryattorneys.com/floridas-dram-shop-law/
