Joint Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are serious and can result in many different types of injuries. Victims of truck accidents may suffer spinal cord damage, brain injuries, fractures, or injuries to their joints. Joint injuries may not seem as severe as other types of injuries, but they can have a lasting negative impact on a person's life. Due to their construction, the demands on joints are significant. When a joint is injured in a truck accident, everyday activities can become challenging or impossible. If your joint has been injured in any truck accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your injury through a personal injury lawsuit.
Why are Joint Injuries Common in Truck Accidents?Joint injuries are among the costliest, most frequent injuries caused by truck accidents. Common Joint injuries can be caused when a person's knee, ankle, or wrist becomes crushed in a severe truck accident. The force involved in a collision with a truck is so significant that it can cause joint injuries. Sometimes, the passenger vehicle begins rolling over, and the passengers within become crushed. In other instances, debris from the accident, including glass, could cause a joint injury. A person's arm or legs could slam against the vehicle, the door, or the dash, causing joints to become injured.
The Long-Term Effects of Joint InjuriesOur joints are complex and easily injured. The knee is a prime example. The knee is one of the most unstable and complex joints in a person's body. The knee is involved in every step we take. A knee injury such as a torn meniscus or damaged ACL can make walking difficult, and the recovery process can take months. Any joint can become injured in a truck accident. However, injuries to shoulders, knees, and ankles are among the most common truck accident joint injuries. When joints become injured in a truck accident, the bones of that joint could become broken. Additionally, ligaments, tendons, and other structures can become damaged. Even a seemingly minor truck accident can cause trauma to a person's joints.
Different Types of Joint InjuriesJoint injuries range from mild to severe enough to prevent a person from walking and engaging in day-to-day activities. Pain is often a significant symptom when it comes to joint injuries. A person with joint injuries may face stiffness, swelling, weakness, inflammation, difficulty moving, and soreness. Suppose you suspect you sustained a joint injury after a truck accident. In that case, we recommend undergoing a thorough medical evaluation as soon as possible so you can begin receiving treatment.
Several different types of joint injuries can occur in a truck accident. In some cases, a person's joint may have already been suffering from a degenerative disease. The truck accident's force or impact could worsen his or her joint condition. Some most common types of joint injuries that occur and truck accidents are as follows:
- Dislocation: dislocation occurs when the force of the truck accident causes the end of the bone to push out of position. As a result, the bones in the joints become misaligned
- Sprain: Sprains our joint injuries that involve damage to the joint ligaments. An over-extension of the joint, caused by the force of the impact, is a common cause of sprains.
- Broken bones: in a truck accident, one or more of a victim's bones that make up the joint can become fractured, causing additional damage to the joint
- Torn tendons, muscles, or ligaments: examples of torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles include tears in a person's rotator cuff in their shoulder and anterior cruciate ligament injuries in a person's knee
- Bursitis: Bursitis happens when a fluid-filled Sac that cushions a person's joint becomes inflamed. The impact of the car accident can cause bursitis to worsen or cause it to start occurring.
- Arthritis: Arthritis occurs when a joint becomes inflamed. Over time, the joint could become more severely damaged. In truck accidents, we often see a condition called post-traumatic arthritis from the trauma.
If you or your loved one have endured a joint injury in a truck accident, then you need experienced personal injury attorneys on your side to fight for you. You might be entitled to compensation for the injuries that would help you and your family financially. Contact the Charlotte truck accident attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today to schedule your free initial consultation.