Injuries Sustained to Non Dominant Ring Finger
Crush Injury Claims Solicitors.
Sustaining a crush injury in an accident can have extremely serious consequences, and may even prove life-threatening or fatal.
A serious crush injury can have a huge impact on an individual’s life, potentially affecting their ability to carry out their usual daily activities, such as working, socialising, and even personal care.
The journey to recovery after a crush injury can be varied, largely depending on the part of the body affected by the injury, as well as the severity of the injury. Many individuals experience long term pain after their accident, and may require extensive physiotherapy, or even surgery, to set them up on the road back to health.
Crush injuries are most commonly caused by accidents such as road traffic accidents, and workplace accidents, particularly those workplaces that use heavy plant machinery such as construction sites and agricultural sites. For example, a crush injury may occur when an individual becomes trapped between a vehicle and a solid wall or object, or when they are struck by a vehicle and become trapped underneath it.
If you have been involved in an accident that occurred due to somebody else’s fault, in which you have suffered a crush injury, you may be entitled to claim compensation. In order for your claim to be successful, we must be able to provide evidence that you were owed a duty of care by the defendant, that they breached their duty, and that this breach caused or contributed to the accident.
Here at Lanyon Bowdler we understand that no amount of compensation can make up for the suffering you have endured. That being said, we will always strive to ensure that you receive the maximum amount that you are entitled to, as well as facilitating access to the medical, psychological, social, and financial support that you and your family need as you recover.
What is a Crush Injury?
A crush injury is a type of trauma that occurs when part or all of your body suddenly becomes compressed between two solid objects, for example between a vehicle and a wall. Depending on the part of the body affected, the force of the impact, and the duration that the body is in that position, a crush injury can affect the bones, soft tissues, nervous system, and internal organs.
Crush injuries can be incredibly painful and debilitating, and may involve taking an extended period of time off work, or giving up work altogether, which of course can have a detrimental impact on your finances. Minor crush injuries may involve treatment such as painkillers, plenty of rest, and physiotherapy, whilst some major crush injuries may lead to brain injuries or the amputation of a limb.
Crush injuries can occur in any high impact situation where your body is suddenly exposed to a significant blow, high pressure or heavy weight.
Our Crush Injury Expertise
Lanyon Bowdler is a specialist firm of Personal Injury Solicitors with years of experience supporting clients in work injury claims, including those involving crushing. Our expertise in this field is recognised by national organisations, peers, and clients across the UK.
The Personal Injury Team is recognised in Tier Two for the West Midlands in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500, which states: ‘The entire team is client focussed and will not hesitate to go the extra mile even if the costs of doing the same are not recoverable’.
Testimonials
The 2024 edition of The Legal 500 includes the following testimonials:
‘This team have wide ranging skills and provide a very good service. They have a very personal touch with their clients. They are very approachable and supportive‘.
‘The team at Lanyon Bowdler are very easy to talk to and are always there to help when needed. No question went unanswered’.
‘They actually listened and go through everything thoroughly explaining any jargon’.
The 2024 of The Legal 500 includes the following work highlights:
Acted for a claimant who was injured during the course of his employment after falling down a stairwell void. This resulted in him sustaining life changing brain injury involving 47 fractures to the right temporal bone and organic injury to the frontal lobe. Awaiting a pathways meeting and case is still ongoing.
Acting for a claimant who had worked at the same company for 18 years and sustained stress-related injuries. This matter is of significant importance to the client, as he thought he had a job for life with the company, before being forced out, also medical evidence indicates it is unlikely he will be able to return to an employed role, though he has recently set up his own small business.
Chambers UK 2024 rank the department in Band One in the Midlands and states ‘Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors is a leading Shropshire firm advising on an extensive breadth of personal injury cases, including high-value RTA and accident-at-work claims. The firm is particularly experienced in acting for clients with spinal and cerebral injuries. The team is skilled in handling military cases and accidents abroad. It also works alongside clinical negligence and Court of Protection teams to fully support clients’.
Strengths
“The Lanyon Bowdler team are very competent at handling complex cases.”
“A dedicated team who are all specialists in their field.”
“The group does brilliant work for their clients.”
Dawn Humphries handles a wide range of orthopaedic and spinal injury claims. She is active on an array of personal injury cases, including those relating to workplace accidents and RTAs.
“She is very thorough, extremely welcoming and understanding.”
“Dawn is knowledgeable, experienced and good with claimants.”
Debbie Humphries is highlighted for her experience in handling a full range of severe injury matters, including motor incidents and accidents at work.
“She has an excellent reputation.”
Your Crush Injury Compensation Questions Answered
Crush injuries are typically caused by an accident in which a sudden impact, involving high pressure or heavy weight, compresses part of the body between two solid objects. Some of the most common types of accident that can lead to a crush injury include:
- Road traffic accidents – As our roads get busier, road traffic accidents (RTA) are unfortunately becoming increasingly common. An RTA could involve a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian being impacted by a moving vehicle, causing part of their body to become crushed.
- Machinery accidents – Industries that use heavy equipment and machinery are statistically more likely to have accidents resulting in crush injuries. For example, industries such as construction, agriculture, warehousing, and logistics carry a higher risk of crush injuries than office-based workplaces.
- Overcrowding – When a venue, such as an arena or sports ground, is hosting an event for thousands of people, there is a risk of crush injuries occurring due to overcrowding. For example, if the crowd surges forwards, people can become too compressed against each other, or pushed up against walls or railings, leading to crush injuries occurring.
- Building collapse – A building may collapse for several reasons, for example a planned demolition in which the correct procedures have not been followed. A building may also collapse if it has not been constructed properly and is then subjected to a natural disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane.
- Falls from height – The impact with the ground, or an object, after a fall from height can result in a crush injury occurring.
If you have been involved in any type of accident that occurred due to somebody else’s negligence, and it resulted in you sustaining a crush injury, you may be entitled to claim compensation. At Lanyon Bowdler our specialist team of personal injury solicitors have helped many people in your situation to seek justice, receive compensation, and access private medical treatment and alternative therapies to aid their recovery. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out how we can help you, too.
The symptoms of a crush injury will differ depending on the part of the body affected, and the severity of the injury. However, some of the most commonly experienced symptoms after a crush injury include:
- Pain – The individual may experience sudden pain, or it may develop and worsen over time.
- Swelling – The site of the injury may become swollen as fluid and white blood cells rush to begin the healing process.
- Bruising – The impact of a sudden crush injury can cause the capillaries near the skin’s surface to break.
- Numbness – The individual may experience a loss of feeling, numbness, or a tingling sensation of the injured area.
- Loss of movement – The individual may lose mobility in the injured site, perhaps due to nerve or bone damage.
After a crush injury it is vital that you seek medical assistance as soon as possible, even if you feel relatively okay. Sometimes it is possible to sustain an internal injury which will only be discovered after examination by a paramedic or doctor.
The treatment for a crush injury typically depends on the part of the body affected, and the severity of the injury. The first step taken after a crush injury is usually to stabilise the condition and prevent further injury from occurring, for example by stopping any bleeding and cleaning any wounds to prevent infection.
Some of the different types of treatment prescribed for a crush injury include:
- Pain relief – Medication such paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, or opioid based analgesics like codeine and morphine will be administered depending on the levels of pain experienced.
- Ice therapy – Treating a crush injury with ice, usually by applying an ice pack, can help to reduce the swelling and pain at the site of the injury.
- Compression – Applying a compression bandage to the affected body parts can also help to alleviate swelling and pain.
- Elevation – Raising the injured body part above heart level can aid blood flow and drainage, helping to reduce the swelling.
- Fluids – Patients may be given an intravenous fluid drip in order to prevent dehydration and aid the body’s natural healing process.
- Rest – After the trauma of a crush injury the body needs time to rest and heal, so patients are advised to avoid overexertion for a period of time.
- Surgery – If the crush injury has damaged any of the patient’s bones, tissue, or nerves, surgery may be required to repair the damage.
- Blood transfusion – If the crush injury has caused internal bleeding it may be necessary to perform a transfusion to replace the blood lost.
- Physiotherapy – After the accident the patient may need help from a physiotherapist as they work towards regaining their strength and range of motion in the affected area.
The time it takes to recover from a crush injury will vary depending on the severity of the injury, and the general health of the patient. In the majority of cases a full recovery will be made, and most people go on to live a normal life. However, in some cases, the victim may be left with permanent and life-changing damage which limits how they carry out their daily tasks.
A crush injury is both physically and psychologically traumatic instantly, and the trauma can also be prolonged due to some of the potentially dangerous complications that could occur. Even if the injury does not seem very extreme at the time, it is always advisable to seek medical attention as soon as possible in case there is internal damage that can’t be seen or felt initially.
Some of the medical complications that can arise from a crush injury include:
- Degloving – Also known as avulsion, this refers to the situation whereby the top layers of the skin become forcefully separated from the adjoining musculature, and it typically requires prompt surgical treatment.
- Hyperkalemia – This occurs when the sudden damage to the cell membranes triggers large amounts of potassium to be released into the body, which can subsequently cause a heart attack.
- Hypovolemic shock – Also known as low-volume shock, it is triggered by a significant amount of internal bleeding, and can cause damage to the organs including organ failure.
- Rhabdomyolysis – Damaged muscle tissues release a chemical known as myoglobin, as well as electrolytes and proteins, into the blood. These substances can accumulate and cause damage to the heart and kidneys that can lead to permanent disability, or even prove fatal.
- Compartment syndrome – This is a painful condition that occurs when an increased amount of pressure within a compartment of grouped muscles leads to a restriction in blood flow to the area, potentially causing tissue, muscle, and nerve damage.
If you have suffered medical complications after a crush injury that wasn’t your fault, we can help you to seek the justice and compensation you deserve. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our specialist team of personal injury solicitors today to find out more.
What our clients say.
Can I Claim Compensation for a Crush Injury?
If you have sustained a crush injury in an accident that occurred due to somebody else’s negligence, we can help you to make a claim for compensation. In order for your claim to be successful we must be able to provide evidence that you were owed a duty of care, that duty of care was breached, and that the breach directly caused or contributed to the accident.
For example, if the accident occurred at your place of work the responsibility will usually lie with your employer. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 all employers have a legal obligation to ensure that the workplace is safe and that all employees can carry out their duties with minimal risk of harm. This may involve providing adequate training and appropriate personal protective equipment.
If your employer has failed to uphold their legal duty of care and an accident has occurred, causing you to sustain a crush injury, we can help you to claim what you deserve. Your physical injuries will be taken into account, as well as the psychological impact of the accident, and your final compensation award will reflect the full extent of the suffering you have endured.
Contact our Crush Injury Solicitors
Our Personal Injury Lawyers are always available to discuss you situation and offer tailored legal advice. Find out how we can help support you with a Crush Injury Claim. Contact a member of the team by calling us, or complete our online inquiry form on this page.
Lanyon Bowdler has offices in Shrewsbury, Bromyard, Hereford, Ludlow, Oswestry, Telford, and Conwy in North Wales.
We are one of the most recognised firms of solicitors in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Mid and North Wales, Birmingham, and the Midlands, synonymous with excellence. We are able to offer a wide range of pricing options including fixed fees and service level guarantees.
As a leading law firm, we regularly act for clients on Work Injury Claims, including those involuving crushing injuries. We can represent you wherever you live in England or Wales.
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