Motor vehicle crashes are known to cause hand injuries. While such injuries may be hard to detect within the first few hours, such injuries may become serious to result in limited hand motion. This may cause a significant impact on the victim’s daily life. If you suffered from a hand injury and have noticed limited motion after your car accident caused by someone’s carelessness, you need to take proactive steps to secure your compensation.
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Injuries That May Lead To Limited Hand Motion
There are many ways that may lead to hand injuries after a car accident, but the most common is due to high trauma that results in skeletal and nerve injury leading to inflammation. If not treated, this may lead to severe hand injuries. Worse still, when the hand is operated, it’s more likely for the victim to have limited hand motion in the future.
Suppose you were involved in a car crash and believe your hand injuries were a result of negligence. In that case, it becomes paramount to look for a top car accident lawyer group who can advise you on the legal matters associated with the injury. The reason is that hand injuries can make it very difficult to handle even your simplest personal basic hygiene chores. Another worst scenario would be time lost for work. Many hand injuries may lead to hand injury claims under personal injury law. The most common injuries leading to limited hand motion may include:
1. Lacerations
This involves damages to the tendons and nerves that lie close to the skin on your hands. Even simple lacerations may later turn out to cause partial or complete amputations.
2. Fractures
If your hand hits the steering wheel or any other object, the trauma may lead to bone fractures.
3. Sprains and strains
The injury may happen when your hand is moved unusually; this may lead to ligament tears that may require surgical intervention.
4. Joint dislocation
It’s more likely to use a hand to brace yourself from being hurt due to the force of the accident. In such a case, due to the force exertion, the hand may be dislocated at the middle knuckle of your fingers. You may experience a decrease in your hand motion leading to swelling and pain while moving your hand.
If the above injuries are not treated, they may result in permanent damage. Many people ignore the fact that hand injuries are common occurrences after a car accident. As such, they don’t take proactive measures to deal with hand injuries until such injuries lead to pain or limited hand motion.
When a hand injury occurs, treatment should be consulted as early as possible to avoid long-term effects. If you take too long before seeking medical care, you may tend to strain your hand with activities, and this could result in more severe debilitations. This may be a bad recipe for your case as the insurance company may argue that you took time to get medical treatment because you never suffered such injuries.
Seeking Compensation
If there is limited hand motion after a car accident, you will require a hand specialist. He/she should inspect and have a continuous evaluation of your sensory nerve function or motor function to determine the nature and extent of your hand injuries. Your doctor may perform MRI scans, X-rays, or CT scans to suspect not only issues in your soft tissues but also bones. When seeking compensation for your personal injury claim, you may consider that:
- There is no exact amount to expect as compensation for your hand injury. Every case is different.
- The amount awarded either through negotiating a settlement or by the court will depend on the nature and extent of your injuries.
- You need evidence to support your claim. This is possible with the medical report provided by your medical expert. Such an expert will give details on whether your injuries may result in short or long-term disability. If you have a valid claim, your lawyer will make arrangements for an experienced hand specialist to review your injuries. He/she will help you provide solid proof that another driver’s negligence caused your hand injuries. Again, if you retain an experienced car accident lawyer, he/she can give an average amount for your hand injury compensation.
Personal injury law is complex, and may require one who has dealt with such cases previously. It’s vital to take your hand injuries seriously. You may find it challenging to perform your normal activities, which could affect your ability to work, particularly if you are a manual worker or do a lot of typing.
If you have noticed reduced motion after a car accident, you must seek medical help immediately. The next best thing would be to look for an experienced car accident lawyer to guide you on the necessary steps of obtaining compensation.
