Crushing Injuries in Car Accidents

Car accidents often produce a high degree of force, and in many instances, the impact of a collision will cause crushing injuries. Crushing injuries not only cause significant pain, but they also typically cause impairment and, in many instances, the impairment is permanent. If you suffered crushing injuries in a car accident, you should speak to legal counsel regarding your rights. The seasoned Cape Cod car accident attorneys of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III can advise you of your options for seeking recourse and aid you in pursuing the full amount of damages recoverable under the law. Our dedicated Massachusetts attorneys have collectively helped people seek damages via personal injury lawsuits for more than fifteen decades, and we have successfully recovered numerous multi-million dollar damage awards for our clients.

Crushing injuries occur when a substantial amount of force squeezes or presses a portion of a person’s body. In car accidents, this typically occurs when a body part is caught between parts of the car, but it can also occur if a person is pinned between two cars or between a car and another hard surface. Examples of crushing injuries in a car accident include fractures or shattered bones in the arms, legs, hands or feet, internal bleeding, nerve damage, and organ damage. Crushing injuries can also cause hyperkalemia and rhabdomyolysis, which releases chemicals into the bloodstream that can damage the heart and kidneys, as well as compartment syndrome, which produces severe pain that is not diminished with medication.

Generally, car accidents that cause crushing injuries may be brought about by reckless or careless driving, such as by driving too fast for the conditions or failing to yield the right of way. As such, most lawsuits that arise out of car accidents set forth a negligence claim against the driver that caused the accident. In Massachusetts, to prove liability under a theory of negligence, a plaintiff must first show that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty to act with care. Typically, the standard of care is the reasonable person standard, which is the care that an ordinary, prudent person would use in the same circumstances.

The plaintiff must then show that the defendant breached the standard of care. In car accident cases, evidence that a defendant violated a motor vehicle law can help establish that he or she breached the applicable standard. Lastly, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the breach caused the plaintiff to suffer measurable harm. In other words, the plaintiff must show that if the defendant did not breach the duty owed, the plaintiff would not have suffered harm. Although the breach does not have to be the sole cause of the plaintiff’s harm, it must be a significant factor contributing to the plaintiff’s harm.

If a plaintiff successfully proves liability for an accident that caused crushing injuries, the plaintiff may be awarded damages for any medical expenses incurred because of the injuries and, if the plaintiff was unable to work following the accident, compensation for lost wages. Additionally, the plaintiff may be able to recover compensation for the pain and suffering he or she endured due to the injuries.

Crushing injuries can cause grave physical and psychological harm, in addition to significant financial losses. If you sustained crushing injuries in a car accident, it is in your best interest to meet with an lawyer to discuss your accident and what compensation you may be owed. The skillful attorneys of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are adept at helping people injured in car crashes in the pursuit of damages. We proudly maintain a record of favorable results, with numerous verdicts over one million dollars. We assist people in personal injury lawsuits in Cape Cod, and we are available to meet by consultation in Hyannis and Plymouth. You can contact us via our online form or at (888) 262-6664 to schedule a meeting. Nós Falamos Português.