Car accidents in Hollywood and across South Florida often result in serious injuries, such as head trauma and fractures. Fractures are quite common in accidents due to the force of impact. Bones of the foot can be especially vulnerable to breaks, especially if your foot gets trapped under the pedal or if you to drive a small car and are in a head-on crash during which the front of your car is smashed.
The crumple zone of your car is meant to protect you from head-on car accidents. The front of your car lessens the impact it before the metal and plastic vehicle gets your feet and legs. The force of the impact will have to tear through the entire hood. Unfortunately, in some smaller footprint cars, crumple zones are greatly reduced, increasing the risk of broken feet. In addition, some drivers place their feet underneath the pedals or in such a position that their feet can easily slip underneath the pedal in the event of a crash.
There are a few things you can do to avoid broken feet if you are ever in a car accident:
- Avoid keeping objects loose in the car, especially in the foot wells. In the event of a car accident, these become projectiles and can cause concussions or serious injuries to your feet and the rest of your body. Larger items such as laptops and purses can be especially dangerous.
- Always wear comfortable footwear when driving. Wear shoes with good treads and avoid wearing high heels. This will prevent your foot from slipping on the pedal and getting stuck underneath. Never drive barefoot.
- Keep the foot well and your feet tidy. Avoid wet shoes or wet pedals which can become more slippery and can cause serious injuries in the event of an accident.
- Keep your feet above the pedals at all times. Avoid resting your feet under the pedals or right by them. In an accident, they can get jammed in there and can get broken. Not keeping your feet above the brake pedal also slows your response times if you need to stop suddenly and can increase your risk of a collision.
- If you are in the market for new car, consider crash tests and safety standards when selecting a vehicle. Look for cars which give you the maximum amount of protection in the event of a collision. Think twice before getting cars with reduced crumple zones.
Unfortunately, foot fractures are extremely painful and debilitating. They can take months to heal. If you work outside the home they can keep you from returning to work for months. In addition, the pain is considerable and your injuries may mean months of rehabilitation and physical therapy. Walking around on crutches is very inconvenient and makes you less productive. It also makes you more prone to falls, which can mean you’re at greater risk for more injuries.
Due to the complexity of the foot fractures, you may have a difficult time walking and taking care of simple tasks such as going for groceries when you have a broken foot can quickly become complicated. Feet also have many bones and in an accident it is possible to fracture multiple bones in your feet, which can complicate the recovery time.
In this situation, you need to make sure you have financial resource sufficient to cover the cost of your medical treatment, time away from work and any personal services you need to help you with everyday life. If your car accident occurred due to someone’s negligence, you may have a legal claim and may be able to seek compensation for your injuries. To find out if you have a claim, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free, no obligation consultation with a Hollywood car collision attorney.