On average, Americans are involved in about 6 million car accidents every year. Statistics from 2020 show that out of this average, about 1.6 million crashes resulted in injury. One of the most common injuries in a car accident is injuries to the hand. In this article, we will explore what kinds of injuries your hands can incur in a car accident and what you need to do if you find you need to pursue a broken hand car accident settlement after a crash.
How Common Are Broken Hand Car Accidents?
Considering where your hands are during a car accident, an injury to the hand should not be surprising. Whether you’re the driver with your hands on the wheel or a passenger with your hands near the dashboard, chances are your instinct will be to brace for impact. This bracing against a surface in the car can cause significant injury to your hands.
The most common types of injuries to your hands after a car accident include:
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Sprains and strains
- Nerve injuries
- Tendon injuries
- Burns or abrasions
- Blood vessel injuries
- Extensor tendon injury in the hand
It’s important to note that an injury to your hand may not be noticeable immediately after an accident. It could take hours, days, or even weeks to realize you’ve done damage to your hand. Hand injuries could range from painful and annoying to debilitating and life-altering. Hand injuries, no matter how minor, will impact your daily life.
What to Do About Your Hand Injury
Immediately following a broken hand car accident, you must prioritize your health and well-being. Don’t put off seeking medical attention for your hand injury as soon as it is noticeable. Getting urgent medical care will help get an accurate and appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan from the outset.
A diagnosis may involve one or more of the following:
- Physical Examination
A medical professional will assess your fingers, hand, and wrist by looking at your range of motion, strength, and stability and how it compares to your uninjured hand. This will help the professional identify signs of swelling, bruising, tenderness, or other abnormalities.
- Palpitation Test
A medical professional will gently press the injured area to identify specific areas that are tender to the touch. This will help them find possible fractures, tendon injuries, or tissue damage.
- Imaging Tests
In some instances, you will need to get imaging done of the affected areas to get a look inside. This includes having an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI depending on the injury.
Based on the results of this examination, your medical team will create a treatment plan customized to your injury to help you get the full functionality of your hand as quickly as possible. Common treatments include the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), immobilization using a brace or cast, or physical therapy to help restore function. In the most severe cases involving fractures or dislocations, surgery may be required to regain mobility.
Broken Hand Car Accident Settlement: How Legal Counsel Can Help
If your hand injuries were caused by reckless or careless driving, seeking the help of a trusted law firm like McCoy and Sparks can play a vital role in helping you recover physically and financially from your injuries.
Legal council can help you with the following:
Legal Guidance
It can be overwhelming to navigate legal processes even when you’re not experiencing pain and limitations due to an injury. We can provide clear guidance on your rights and options while walking you through the claims process.
Insurance Claims
Dealing with insurance companies is frustrating and confusing. We can help communicate with these companies on your behalf to ensure your claim is handled properly while advocating for an accurate representation of the extent of your injury.
Establishing Liability
It can be challenging to ascertain who is responsible for a car accident. A lawyer can do the investigation for you with expertise in local laws that may affect your claim. To help establish liability, lawyers can also gather evidence to support your claim, such as medical records, accident reports, photographs, and witness statements.
Settlements or Litigation
A lawyer can negotiate a settlement to give you fair compensation for your injury, whether dealing with an insurance company or the legal representation of the party at fault. If a settlement can’t be reached, a lawyer can navigate the court system on your behalf to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
McCoy & Sparks: Kentucky’s Car Accident Lawyers
A hand injury after a car accident can be devastating, but you don’t have to tackle the issue alone. Contact the car accident attorneys at McCoy & Sparks for a free consultation about your case. We don’t get paid unless we get you a settlement or court award, so there is no risk to you when working with us!
We help Kentucky’s broken hand car accident victims get the compensation that will put them on the path to recovery. Schedule a free consultation today. One of our experts will be happy to hear your story and get you on the road to recovery.