3 Common Leg Injuries from Car Accidents and What to Do Next

Every year, 20 to 50 million people suffer from non-fatal injuries on the road. Often, these injuries lead to long-term disabilities, which can be devastating and difficult to deal with.

Of course, you can drive as carefully as you can to decrease the chances of these injuries happening to you. But you can’t prevent them 100%. In this case, it’s best to learn about what can potentially happen and what actions to take.

Here are 3 common leg injuries from car accidents and what you should do next if you sustain them.

1. Broken Bones

Did you know that there are over 60 bones that connect with each other in your lower body? This means that when you’re in a high-impact crash, it’s very possible to break or fracture any of these 60 connections. One of the most commonly broken bones is the femur.

A major sign of broken or fractured bones are bone fragments sticking out through the skin. You might also have difficulty walking.

Broken bones will typically need some sort of medical attention, with many requiring surgery.

2. Torn Ligaments

Your ligaments are connective tissues that hold your bones together. They’re fibrous and stretchy to allow good range of motion.

In a car crash, the sudden force and speed of impact can overwork your ligaments, causing them to tear.

In your knees, you have 4 ligaments, although the most commonly injured ones are the ACL and MCL. Tearing these ligaments will require surgery, which can take up to 9 months to heal from. Not to mention, you’ll need to go through significant physical therapy as well.

3. Torn Meniscus

The meniscus is the piece of cartilage in your kneecap; you’ll find it between the femur and tibia. Its job is to cushion movement and decrease painful friction. You can tear it from a sudden jerking movement.

A torn meniscus can be extremely painful, meaning you probably won’t be able to walk properly. Physical therapy is the first resort, with surgery behind the second if physical therapy doesn’t work out.

What to Do After Sustaining These Most Common Car Accident Injuries

If you’ve sustained the above injuries, or any other types of leg injuries, the best thing you can do is see a doctor. They can thoroughly examine you and give you a personalized treatment plan moving forward.

You should also contact a car accident personal injury attorney like those at Sweet Lawyers. They can help you gather documentation and then get compensation for your medical bills and lost wages.

Know What to Do If You Get Leg Injuries From Car Accidents

Leg injuries from car accidents can be as small as some scratches and bruises, or as big as splintered bones and ligament injuries. If you’re in a car crash and are hurt, make sure you get prompt medical attention and get in touch with a good personal injury lawyer too. Together, you can navigate the tricky legal system and get fair compensation for your pain and suffering.

If you want to learn more about bad car accident injuries, please take a look at our other blog posts now.