When they think of car accidents, people often think first about head injuries, broken bones, and whiplash. However, there are many other kinds of injuries that you can suffer, including vascular injuries.
Hand injuries are common in car accidents, especially if the driver was gripping the steering wheel tightly or the crash involved steering wheel damage. Even if you manage to avoid broken bones in your hands, you could still suffer from broken blood vessels in your fingers. Some people will experience both broken bones and broken blood vessels.
These vascular injuries may seem minor, but they can cause severe pain, loss of function, and even long-term disability if they are not properly treated.
If your injuries in an accident include vascular damage to your fingers, a car accident attorney can answer your questions and help you determine the next best course of action. You may be eligible for compensation for your injuries if another driver or party was responsible for the injuries to your fingers.
What causes broken blood vessels in fingers?
There are several ways that the hands and fingers often sustain vascular damage in auto collisions:
- When you tightly grip the steering wheel as you brace for impact, your hands absorb more of the forces that can burst small blood vessels.
- Your hands could hit or smack against interior surfaces such as the dashboard, windows, or gear shift.
- When deployed, airbags can strike the hands with intense pressure that can break bones and rupture the blood vessels.
- Your fingers may also jam into small spaces and bend at strange, extreme angles, pinching the blood vessels and causing damage.
Types of Vascular Injuries to Fingers
Some of the common types of injuries to the hands and fingers include:
- Broken bones and joints
- Tissue damage
- Bruising and contusions
- Lacerations
- Avulsions
- Amputations
Symptoms of Blood Vessel Injuries to the Fingers
Watch for the following symptoms after an accident. They may be noticeable immediately or show up in the hours and days after the crash.
- Discoloration of the fingers, including bruising and redness
- Any numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation
- Severe pain that throbs and aches, especially when moving your fingers
- Limited joint mobility
- Loss of dexterity, strength, and/or grip
- Unnatural bends in your fingers
How is a vascular injury diagnosed?
To address the severity of a vascular injury, your medical providers will conduct a physical exam of your hands, looking for visible trauma. They will take note of your pain and any loss of function since the accident.
You may need to undergo imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, or an MRI. This will allow your doctors to see any tissue and bone damage. You can expect to have your range of motion and grip strength tested as well. This will measure the degree of disability caused by your injuries.
Treatments for Broken Blood Vessels in Fingers
Your treatment will be dependent upon the severity of your injuries. Treatment may include:
- Simple splinting or bracing to immobilize your fingers as you heal
- Surgery or stitches to repair lacerations
- Reattachment surgery for any complete avulsions
- Physical therapy
- Pain medication
Your Legal Options After Suffering Broken Blood Vessels in Car Accident
Any injuries from an accident that was caused by another party’s negligence may make you eligible for legal compensation. That is because the Maryland legal system understands that you deserve to be compensated for damages that were caused by a negligent driver, municipality, manufacturer, or other entity. That includes both financial and non-financial damages.
The process of getting compensation for broken blood vessels in fingers from a car accident is somewhat complicated, but a qualified and experienced attorney can help.
The process will include:
- Retaining the services of a personal injury attorney who knows all of the ins and outs of the process of negotiating with insurance companies and defendants
- Using evidence like police reports, medical records, and witness statements to prove who was responsible for the accident
- Demonstrating the severity of your injuries through medical evidence
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit before Maryland’s statute of limitations expires (3 years from the date of the accident)
- Documenting the extent of your financial and non-financial losses to calculate a fair compensation amount
- Negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurer or attorney in hopes of avoiding a court trial
- Preparing to go to trial to present your case to a judge or jury
What kind of compensation can you get for blood vessel injuries?
You may be able to claim compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses related to your treatment
- Lost income from any missed work
- Loss of future earnings if you were unable to return to your job because of your injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium if your injuries affected your relationship with your family
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
If the vascular trauma is severe and not properly treated, some of the potential long-term consequences can include:
- Loss of dexterity, grip strength, and range of motion in your hands and fingers
- Chronic aching, stiffness, and arthritis in fingers
- Permanent numbness or nerve damage and all of the accompanying symptoms
- Disability preventing the return to normal work activities
Zirkin & Schmerling: Personal Injury Attorneys in Maryland
Broken blood vessels in your fingers can have long-lasting impacts on your health, finances, and quality of life. When you seek qualified medical help from an experienced attorney, you get legal guidance and support throughout your recovery.
Zirkin & Schmerling offers services on a contingency basis, which means that our Baltimore clients don’t pay anything until we win your case for you, whether that is a negotiated settlement or a court award.
Contact us to set up a free consultation to discuss your injuries, the accident that caused them, and your next steps. Call the firm today at 410-753-4611.