Ankle and foot injuries are not the most serious type of injury resulting from car accidents, but these types of injuries are very common. In many cases, victims of accidents suffer from a foot or ankle sprain, an ankle fracture, or a broken ankle or foot due to the impact and pressure of a collision. Once treated by a doctor, the healing process for these types of injuries is usually a couple of weeks or months. However, if your foot or ankle injury was serious, it can have a long-lasting impact on your mobility.
If you have been injured in a car accident and are unsure what to do, you should call us at The Law Place Today. We have a team of personal injury lawyers who can offer you legal assistance on how to receive compensation for your foot and ankle injuries. We offer a free case evaluation meaning you can receive the highest standard of legal advice with no strings attached. If you decide to proceed with us as your representatives, we will take on your case on your behalf and fight to ensure that you get the compensation you are owed for your foot and ankle injuries.
Call today for a free consultation at (941) 444-4444. Our phone lines are open 24/7.
Our team can help you seek compensation for ankle and foot pain after a car accident.
Causes of Foot and Ankle Injuries in Car Accidents
Due to the physical design of motor vehicles, when an accident happens, victims often suffer serious injuries to their knees, feet, and ankles. This is because the steering wheel, dashboard, and pedals are in close proximity to the driver at all times. Additionally, if you are a passenger in a vehicle, your knees, feet, and ankles are close to either the dashboard, the side door, or the car seats in front. Rear-end collisions and head-on crashes are more likely to cause serious ankle and foot injuries
If a vehicle is traveling at a fast speed, it can cause severe ankle or foot injuries upon the impact of a crash. Even if the impact is not too severe, a person’s foot or ankle can still be seriously injured by bending the wrong way or twisting too far to one side. In many cases, this can result in fractures, broken bones, or serious sprains.
In addition to the bones that can be injured, a person can suffer injuries to their tendons, ligaments, soft tissue, or muscles, which can cause a huge amount of pain. This is because it is common for people to either slam on the pedal or bang their feet off the floor of the car upon the impact of a crash.
Common Ankle and Foot Injuries Resulting From Crashes
There are a number of factors that will impact the severity of your injuries in a car accident, including the weight and size of the vehicles involved, the speed at which the vehicles were traveling, and the number of vehicles involved in the collision. Listed below are some of the most common ankle and foot injuries seen by our law firm:
Ankle Injuries
There are two main types of injuries that can happen to the ankle bones when a car accident happens; fractures and sprains. The main difference between a sprain and an ankle fracture is whether or not you have broken a bone. If you have an ankle sprain, you have most likely torn or stretched out your tendons, ligaments, or muscles. Ankle sprains are extremely common in car accidents as they can easily happen when an ankle has been bent the wrong way.
The difference between a sprain and a fracture is that fractures result from a broken bone. Some common symptoms of this type of ankle injury include swelling, bruising, throbbing pain, tenderness, and more pain upon walking. The symptoms of a sprained and fractured bone can be quite similar at the beginning, which is why you should always see a doctor as soon as possible.
Foot Injuries
Car crashes can cause a wide range of foot injuries, ranging from a sprain to a fracture of one or more of the 26 bones in a human foot. Due to the crushing of two vehicles when a car happens, it is common for feet to bend the wrong way and break. If you have fractures in your feet, some symptoms you may be feeling, as noted by Mayo Clinic, could include:
- Instant throbbing pain.
- Bruising.
- Swelling.
- Foot deformity.
- Difficulty when body weight is applied.
- Tenderness.
It is recommended that you seek medical treatment if you have any of the above symptoms, as failure to take care of fractures can have a life-long impact, such as arthritis, damage to your blood vessels or nerves, or bone infection.
If you have sprained your foot, you will most likely experience the same or similar symptoms as fractures at the beginning. The only way to know whether you have a sprain or a fracture is to speak with a doctor who can examine your injuries.
When Should I See a Doctor Following a Car Crash?
If you have been injured in a car crash, it is important that you seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Ankle and foot injuries have the potential to cause serious, long-lasting harm if they are left untreated. A doctor can give you advice on how to heal your injuries, including medical treatment and physical therapy. If your ankle or foot injury is in any way severe or life-threatening, they can perform surgery and provide you with long-lasting care to ensure that your injuries heal correctly. Further, they can help restore your range of motion through physical therapy.
In addition to this, if you want to file a personal injury claim to receive compensation for your injuries, Florida Statute 627.736 requires that you speak with a medical practitioner within 14 days of the car accident. Failure to do this can result in you being left out of pocket and having to foot the medical bills on your own. Further, your insurance company won’t allow you to make a personal injury claim to cover your medical costs if you do not seek medical treatment within this time period.
Should I Seek Legal Assistance Following a Car Accident?
Many car accident victims are unsure whether they should seek legal assistance in order to receive compensation for an ankle or foot injury. Our law firm recommends that you always speak with a lawyer following any type of road accident, as it increases your chances of receiving a payout substantially. We offer a free case evaluation, so even if you are reluctant about the costs of legal assistance, you can receive initial advice on your personal injury claim at no cost.
Dealing with insurance companies in Florida can be quite difficult, and they are often reluctant to pay out victims for their pain and suffering. A lawyer can do all of the communication with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure that you receive compensation. If your insurance company doesn’t pay you enough, we can help you file an injury claim against the at-fault driver to ensure that you receive justice.
Florida Statute 95.11 requires that you file a personal injury claim for any foot or ankle injury resulting from a car accident within 4 years. However, we recommend that you act fast, as these types of cases can be lengthy and stressful. In addition, the longer you leave it, the less likely you are to receive a high settlement.
What Type of Damages Are Available to Me for a Foot or Ankle Injury?
A lawyer can help you claim the following damages for your foot or ankle injury following a car accident:
- Medical bills – You can receive compensation to cover the costs of hospital bills, surgery costs, and any long-term treatment.
- Lost wages – If you have been left unable to work due to the accident, a lawyer can help you recover any wages you’ve lost as a result.
- Pain and suffering – It is possible to recover costs for any emotional or physical distress you’ve suffered in a car accident. These damages can be difficult to quantify, so it is recommended that you speak with an accident attorney who can help you claim these.
Regardless of what harm you’ve suffered in a car accident, it is important that you receive the compensation you are owed. Medical costs in the US can be expensive, and the healing process can take a long time. If you have to pay for all of these costs on your own, you may be left completely out of pocket. This is why you should contact us as soon as possible as we can help ensure that you are compensated for the harm you’ve suffered.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you have suffered fractures, sprains, or damage to your ankle or foot tendons, muscles, bones, or ligaments due to a car accident, you should call us at The Law Place today. Suffering from severe injuries can be extremely stressful, and trying to foot the costs on your own can provide you with added, avoidable stress.
Our law firm offers a free consultation for you to receive legal advice regarding your injuries with no strings attached. Our team of lawyers will help ensure that the person at fault for the accident is held accountable for the harm they have caused you. We have built up a strong attorney-client relationship over our 75 years of practice, and we always achieve the best possible results for our clients.
Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation at (941) 444-4444. Our phone lines are always open.
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