Hand and arm injuries are among the most common types of injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries can range from minor bruises and cuts to severe fractures and permanent nerve damage.
The legal team at Flaxman Law Group has helped many car accident survivors seek compensation after they have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. Hand and arm injuries are a common type of life-changing injury we see in these plaintiffs.
Causes of Hand and Arm Injuries in Car Accidents
There are many ways you can injure your hand or arm in a car accident:
- Airbag deployment. While airbags are designed to protect you from life-threatening head and chest injuries, they can also cause injuries to your hands and arms if you’re holding the steering wheel or dashboard when they deploy. Faulty airbags can also deploy with too much force and cause arm injuries that way.
- Steering wheel impact. During a car crash, you may be trying to brace yourself, and this can put your hands and arms at risk. If you hit the steering wheel with your hand or arm, you can suffer broken bones, sprains, dislocations, lacerations, or other injuries.
- Glass injury. If your hand or arm goes through a window or windshield during a crash, you can suffer cuts, abrasions, or other injuries. Even if you don’t hit a window or windshield, if the glass breaks upon impact it can cause cuts and other injuries to your arms and hands.
- Seat belt injury. Seat belts keep you safe by preventing you from being thrown around the inside of the car or being ejected from the vehicle, but they can cause injuries to your hand or arm if they tighten too much or if they cut into your skin.
- Crushing injury. If your hand or arm gets trapped between the door and the frame of the car ow between other parts of the car, you can damage your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, or nerves. Crushing injuries can even lead to amputation. These injuries can be especially common if you have your arm or hand hanging out of the window at the time of the crash.
Healing from Hand and Arm Injuries After a Car Accident
You may be experiencing any of the following after a car accident:
- Pain in your hand or arm that can be constant or intermittent.
- Swelling in your hand or arm that causes numbness, tingling sensations, or mobility issues.
- Bruising or discoloration in your hand or arm that can indicate damage to the blood vessels.
- A hand or arm that looks bent, twisted, or out of place.
- Difficulty gripping, holding, lifting, writing, typing, or performing other fine motor skills because of your injury.
You use your hands and arms every day, so protecting their function is crucial after a car accident. Loss of mobility or use of your arm or hand can affect your every day life or your ability to do your job.
Immediately after a car accident, always seek a full medical evaluation. Your doctor may order x-rays and other tests to properly diagnose any hand or arm injury. Prompt medical treatment can ensure you have proof of the injury and can start treatment right away, which can help you heal more fully.
If you have suffered a hand or arm injury in a car accident, you might also want to contact a Florida car accident attorney in your area. An experienced attorney can pursue compensation, if you qualify, and can explain whether you have a claim.
Flaxman Law Group works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay us nothing until and unless we win your case. We have more than 60 years of experience and offices in Miami, Homestead, and Hollywood. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact us for a free case consultation to find out what your claim may be worth.