What do I need to know if my wrist has been injured in a collision?
Vehicular accidents usually cause injuries to hands and wrists. Typically, they occur when the victims’ hands or wrists hit objects in the car’s interior during the collision, such as the windshield, steering wheel, window, airbags, or dashboard. Wrist injuries may cause severe side effects and you may be able to get compensation for your treatment and recovery. Let’s discuss the most common hand and wrist injuries caused by car accidents:
Wrist Injury Symptoms after a car accident:
Should you experience any of the following symptoms after a car crash, then you may have a wrist injury:
- Swelling of the hands or wrists
- Inability to hold or grasp things
- Numbness in the hands, fingers, or wrists
- Difficulty flexing or straightening the fingers/ wrists
- Pain in the fingers, wrists, or palms
- Discoloration and bruising near the wrist
Do note that wrist injuries don’t always manifest symptoms immediately. You must seek medical care right away following a car crash to check if you have a wrist or hand injury. Car accident wrist injuries can become worse and may cause chronic problems if left untreated.
Common wrist injuries after a vehicle accident:
Dislocations
The wrist joints can become dislocated due to accidental impact. When your joints are dislocated, your hands and wrists can’t move properly. Dislocations are extremely painful, and if left untreated, they may cause permanent damage.
Sprains
The bones of your wrist are connected by sturdy tissues called ligaments. When your wrist hits a hard object during a crash, your ligaments can be damaged, causing a sprain. Wrist sprains are not only painful, but they can also lead to chronic instability in your hands and wrists. Not to mention, they can also cause chronic arthritis.
Wrist sprains are ranked according to the severity of damage to the ligaments:
- Grade 1 Sprain
This is the least severe wrist sprain resulting from a car crash. Grade 1 sprains occur when the ligaments in your wrist become stretched, yet remain intact and don’t tear at all.
- Grade 2 Sprain
Partial tears to wrist ligaments are classified as grade 2 sprains. When you have torn ligaments, you may lose function in your affected hand or wrist.
- Grade 3 Sprain
Grade 3 is the highest level of sprain you may suffer in a vehicular accident. The ligaments that connect your wrist bones are completely torn through. You’ll need to undergo surgery to fix a grade 3 sprain. A grade 3 sprain can also cause an avulsion fracture, which occurs when a portion of your bone is broken off as your ligament tears.
Fractures
Your wrist is composed of 13 bones extending into your hand. These connect to the 14 bones in your fingers. These fragile bones may be easily crushed or fractured when blunt force trauma occurs in an auto accident, such as when your wrists or hands hit things inside the car, like the steering wheel or dashboard.
Damage To The Tendons
The tendons in your wrists connect the wrist muscles to your bones. They can become swollen when impacted by blunt trauma. You may also develop tendonitis in the affected area and you may experience mild to severe pain.
Wrist Injury Symptoms after a car accident:
Should you experience any of the following symptoms after a car crash, then you may have a wrist injury:
- Swelling of the hands or wrists
- Inability to hold or grasp things
- Numbness in the hands, fingers, or wrists
- Difficulty flexing or straightening the fingers/ wrists
- Pain in the fingers, wrists, or palms
- Discoloration and bruising near the wrist
Do note that wrist injuries don’t always manifest symptoms immediately. You must seek medical care right away following a car crash to check if you have a wrist or hand injury. Car accident wrist injuries can become worse and may cause chronic problems if left untreated.
If you need help with your insurance claim or help to gain compensation for injuries that were not your fault, please call our office for a free consultation today. 3o4-594-1800
Jeffery Robinette was admitted to practice law in 1991 and is licensed in all levels of state and federal trial courts in West Virginia. Mr. Robinette is also licensed in all state and federal appeals courts in West Virginia and the United States Supreme Court. As a National Board Certified Trial Attorney who has handled hundreds of motor vehicle, injury, and construction defect claims and a leading author on insurance claims settlement issues and difficulties in West Virginia, Jeff Robinette is uniquely qualified to represent your best interest.
