Hip Pain After a Car Accident
One of the most common injuries resulting from car accidents is hip pain. This symptom can result from a mild to a serious, permanent injury. If you or a loved one has sustained a hip injury after an accident, you will need to have a physician identify the full extent of your injury prior to filing a personal injury claim. If it is not a serious injury, you may not qualify for compensation from the person at fault for causing the car accident. The following general information is no substitute for seeking immediate medical attention.
Hip pain may be caused by a dislocated hip. This type of injury occurs when the impact of the crash causes your knee to jam into the dashboard, thereby forcing your hip out of its natural position. The common symptoms of hip dislocation are:
- Reduced mobility
- Abnormal position of your hip
- Severe pain.
A dislocated hip needs to be attended to immediately by a medical practitioner in order to aid blood circulation in the leg and avoid permanent damage.
Hip trauma from a car accident may result in tears or stretching of the hip’s muscle fibers, either of which can be quite painful. The main symptom of a muscle strain or tear is pain in the hip area accompanied by swelling.
The impact of a serious car accident can fracture your hip bone. A fractured hip bone can be very painful and can take a long time to heal. If someone’s negligence caused your injury, contact a car accident attorney immediately to learn about your legal options and to see if you qualify for compensation.
In some cases, individuals who suffer hip pain following a car crash also sustain a back injury. When your spine is misaligned from an impact, it may result in dysfunction and pain in your hip. The resulting strain of the muscles in your back and pelvis areas can also cause hip pain.
This is a serious injury that calls for immediate emergency attention. An acetabular fracture is when the bone in your hip socket breaks. This injury can cause you to experience excruciating hip pain. In addition to recovering damages from medical costs, you may be eligible to receive compensation for pain and suffering. Talk to a car accident attorney to find out more.
Although a dislocated or broken hip can heal over time, in some cases, it can lead to long-term complications. The most common form of long-term injury caused by hip injury is traumatic arthritis. This type of condition causes intense hip pain and a lack of mobility or function in the hip. If you suffer from such an injury, you will likely need hip replacement surgery.
If the car accident was a result of another person’s negligence, that person can be held liable for your injury. The liable driver will be required to compensate you for:
- Medical expenses for the immediate treatment of your hip injury
- Future medical expenses for additional medical care arising from a complication of the injury
- Lost wages arising from your inability to work
- Loss of earnings when the injury causes permanent damage to the hip and leg
- Pain and suffering arising from the torment and trauma you have had to endure due to the hip injury
If you have sustained a hip injury after a car accident, one of the first people you should consider calling an attorney your region trusts. In personal injury cases, most lawyers will represent you on a no-win-no-fee basis; therefore, you do not need to worry about upfront legal costs. Contact a car accident lawyer today to find out more about how they can help protect your rights and recover your damages.