Hip pain after a car accident is likely to cause discomfort and concern. The pain may come immediately after the car accident or appear in the days after. The hips are one of the most load-bearing joints within the body, and if they have been damaged as a result of a car accident, it can drastically reduce mobility and prevent someone from doing their day-to-day activities. Whether you’re a keen sportsman, an avid walker, or a parent, it is extremely difficult to continue with your normal life when experiencing hip pain.
If you or someone you love has experienced hip pain after a car accident in Florida, contact The Law Place today on (941) 444-4444 for a free consultation. Our phone lines are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, so you can discuss your case with us at a time that’s reasonable for you. With over 75 years of combined experience in car accident and personal injury claims, our lawyers can focus on your case whilst you focus on recovery.
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Anatomy of the Hip
Understanding the anatomy of the hip can help to understand the hip pain, the type of injury, and how it can be treated. The hip is a ball and socket joint, much like the shoulder but a lot more stable due to a deep socket and the surrounding muscles and ligaments. The layer of ligaments encompasses the hip, forming a joint capsule.
This joint is where the thigh bone meets the pelvis, so any damage to the hip can impact the important surrounding bones like the thigh or pelvis. In addition, there are many muscles within the hip that control movement, such as bending, straightening, and rotating. Any damage to these muscles can drastically reduce movement and impact walking.
There are also many important nerves and blood vessels within the hip that impact other areas of the body. For example, the Sciatic nerve supplies the muscles of the leg and foot. This nerve is most commonly damaged when the hip is dislocated.
In addition, there is a large artery that supplies blood to the leg, which is positioned at the top of the thigh. This artery can be damaged in a hip fracture or dislocation, leading to extreme blood loss and the potential for death. In the event of this injury being caused by a car accident that wasn’t the injured party’s fault, the family could pursue a wrongful death claim with a personal injury lawyer.
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Symptoms of Hip Pain
Alongside the obvious pain in the hips, there are additional signs you may have a serious hip injury.
- Pain in the groin.
- Pain in the thigh.
- Pain in the buttocks.
- Pain inside the hip joint.
- Pain radiating to the lower back.
- Bruising.
- Difficulty bending from the waist.
- Difficulty weight bearing.
- Discomfort when walking.
If your hip pain has been caused by a car accident, it is important to be thoroughly examined by medical experts and then seek legal advice. Knowing the extent of the personal injury and how it impacts day-to-day life will assist your lawyer in a potential claim. In addition, it is important to find the route of the hip pain and not rely on pain killers to mask the discomfort because hip pain after a car accident could be a serious injury and require extensive medical attention.
Causes of Hip Pain After a Car Accident
Depending on the severity of the car accident, hip injuries will vary from person to person. In addition, the more serious hip injuries will result in a more complex recovery, for example, a long recovery time or surgery. If you are dealing with any of the following types of hip pain after a car accident, you deserve legal representation to be awarded the compensation you may deserve.
Hip Dislocation
A hip dislocation is one of the most serious hip injuries caused by a car accident. This type of injury is usually a result of a high-speed collision leading to the person’s knee hitting the dashboard and forcing the hip out of position. Hip dislocation is an extremely painful injury and must be relocated as soon as possible to reduce long-term injury. In most cases, rest and physiotherapy will return the hip to working order, but in some cases, surgery may be needed. A dislocated hip can be identified by it being visibly out of place or deformed, swollen, painful, or immobility.
Tendonitis
This is inflammation of the tendons that hold the hip together. Commonly tendonitis causes swelling, pain and distorts how the tendon moves. This type of hip pain can be healed at home with rest, ice, and support with a brace. Anti-inflammatory medication is also recommended to ease the pain and reduce swelling.
Stress Fracture
This is a serious injury to the ball within the ball and socket joint of the hip as a result of micro-trauma to the bone. A stress fracture can feel like an ache which eases with rest. In the early days of a stress fracture, it can be difficult to see on an x-ray but the longer left untreated, these types of fractures can actually cause the bone to weaken and come out of alignment. In many cases, rest will allow the fracture to repair.
Muscle Strain
Whilst this type of hip injury is less serious. It can still be extremely painful. A muscle strain relates to any trauma to the tendons, ligaments, and muscles. A decreased level of mobility, swelling, bruising, and pain can indicate a muscle strain, however, left untreated, it can lead to further mobility problems in the future. In most cases, this type of hip injury can repair within 2-6 weeks and may require anti-inflammation medication, rest, and physiotherapy
Bursitis
This is defined as inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joint. The common symptoms of this condition after a serious trauma are pain, tender or warm skin surrounding the area, and swelling. There are some remedies you can do at home to ease the hip pain, such as taking pain medication, using ice on the area, and resting. However, if the pain is still present 1-2 weeks later, then seek further medical attention as you may need a course of antibiotics or a steroid injection.
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Treatment for a Hip Injury After a Car Accident
If you have sustained an injury after a car accident, it is important to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. By avoiding medical help, the pain could worsen and lead to chronic pain or disability. The best chance of a full recovery is to seek medical help immediately and follow your doctor’s recommendations.
In less serious cases, many types of hip pain have an easy recovery journey at home with little input from doctors. However, in more serious cases of hip pain after a car accident, some people may require surgery, extensive physiotherapy, and pain medication. Surgery for hip pain can include partial or complete hip replacement.
During treatment, it is important to document all paperwork, doctor’s meetings, and surgery to pass onto your lawyer. In the event of pursuing a personal injury claim, this documentation can be used to accurately determine how much compensation you may be entitled to.
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What Can I Claim Damages For?
A car accident can occur when you are least expecting it, and in many cases, it will be caused by one person’s negligence. In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, it’s important to take a copy of a highway patrol accident form, usually completed by a police officer. This will provide your lawyer with a formal document confirming the time and location of the accident.
If you have suffered hip pain after a car accident, a personal injury lawyer can investigate your case to see if you can claim any damages. You can claim damages for property damage, such as damage to your car or possessions within the car.
You can also claim damages for medical bills. This can include immediate medical assistance such as the ambulance, healthcare expenses, and prescription medication. Future medical bills can also be included in your final compensation award. This includes physiotherapy, any additional surgeries, and any home improvements needed. This type of claim is cover under the pain and suffering non-economic damages.
Further economic compensation can cover loss of earnings for the immediate recovery but also future loss of earnings if you’re unable to return to your place of work or have to take a lower-paying position. A loss of services claim can also be made if you’re unable to do your daily tasks around your home, such as mowing the lawn or cleaning. Your lawyer can claim for the cost of someone else providing these services to you if you are no longer able to. In addition, you can claim for childcare costs if your child has to attend more childcare sessions as you’re unable to care for them at home after a car accident.
By showing a clear link between the car accident, the hip pain caused, and then the injury diagnosed, your lawyer can confirm the car accident caused the hip injury and, from there, help you claim the compensation you may deserve.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer From The Law Place Today
If you are suffering from persistent hip pain or injury after a car accident, then you should seek legal representation from an experienced personal injury and car accident lawyer. It can be difficult to recover physically and mentally following a car accident, especially if your hip pain has led to a reduction in your ability to complete day-to-day tasks, or in extreme cases, immobility.
Our lawyers at The Law Place have over 75 years of combined experience in dealing with personal injury and car accident claims across Florida. Car accidents can be complex to investigate, so our team will focus on your case so you can focus on your recovery.
For a free consultation in regards to injury after a car accident, please contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation.
Call or text 941-444-4444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form