Hand Pain After a Car Accident: What You Need to Know
When people think of car accident injuries, what typically comes to mind is back, neck, head, or leg injuries. However, other less obvious injuries, such as those to the hands, can also be serious if not taken care of promptly.
If you’re experiencing hand pain after a car accident—don’t ignore it—visit a doctor immediately. Early medical attention is crucial for properly treating hand injuries. The last thing you should do is ignore pain, swelling, numbness, or tenderness, as these can signify deeper problems and even lead to you losing your hand mobility altogether.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Alabama and are at all concerned about an injury to your hands or wrists, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll take a look at common signs of these injuries, how they occur, and how a car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and investigate whether you’re entitled to compensation.
Signs of hand and wrist injury after an accident
Hands are vulnerable in car accidents. People typically have their hands on the steering wheel when the impact takes place, leading to significant trauma, such as absorbing the force of collision through the steering wheel, getting stuck at an awkward angle, or suffering injuries from broken glass piercing through the skin.
Some common signs of hand injury:
- Deformity
- Swelling
- Numbness
- Discoloration
- Bleeding
- Decreased range of motion
- Tenderness
- Weakness
- Pain
Types of hand injuries you can get in a car accident:
- Fractures
- Dislocation of joints and/or knuckles
- Soft tissue injuries
- Wrist injuries
Treat your hand immediately after a car crash
The 24 hours after hand injury are crucial to reduce the risk of long-term movement. Moreover, it’s key to try to regain hand and wrist movement within 72 hours of injury to prevent loss of strength, movement, and function.
No one wants to immediately jump to the conclusion that their injury is serious and drive to the nearest emergency room. However, taking proper precautions is key, and you need to reduce swelling and pain as quickly as you can. Thankfully, you can do initial treatment on your own by following the RICE protocol, as recommended by Hull University Teaching Hospitals. It is a standard procedure for dealing with hand and wrist injuries directly after they occur.
RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. After completing the RICE process, be aware of signs of lost feeling in your hand or weakness when you try to hold objects. These could signify a larger issue that you need professional medical intervention to properly treat.
Recovery time for hand injuries
Recovering from a hand injury takes time, usually between two weeks to three months, depending on the severity of the impact or circumstances of the car accident. Follow your doctor’s advice for full recovery, especially in cases where a cast or surgery is necessary.
Don’t consume alcohol during this time, as it can impair your body’s natural healing process. Avoid massaging the injured area, as applying heat can cause increased swelling and possible tissue damage. Smoking also slows down your healing process, so it’s best to avoid it during your recovery.
The aftereffects of car accident hand injuries
Hand injuries can sometimes be subtle and do not surface immediately. Therefore, it is essential you get yourself checked right after a car accident, because only a doctor can examine you properly for internal injuries.
Hand injuries can significantly interfere with daily activities. You may not be able to properly handle a car’s steering wheel, exercise, type, or, if you’re a parent, hold an infant. The injury may need physiotherapy, or even surgery, depending upon the severity. This means that you’ll likely need someone to help you in your day-to-day life.
Emotional trauma and financial losses often compound with the burden of physical injury after a car accident. Some common examples include:
- Cost of medical bills
- Cost of hiring someone to help you with your tasks
- Property damage
- Lost wages, or losing a job entirely since you are unable to use your hand
- Physiotherapy
- Anxiety
- Depression
Understanding fault, compensation, and legal support
It’s important to understand that you may not be at-fault in your situation. The other driver may be responsible for the accident, potentially making them liable for not only the damage to your vehicle but possibly the attendant medical and emotional fallout as well.
Understanding the complexities of your case while dealing with the accident’s aftereffects can be difficult to manage alone, however. That’s why it’s crucial to consider hiring an experienced car accident lawyer who can investigate whether you’re entitled to compensation, break down the process for you, handle documentation, and advocate for you in court. Typically, a car accident lawyer manages the following aspects of your case:
- Investigating the circumstances of the accident
- Collecting paperwork such as a police report, medical reports, and bills
- Evaluating your damages correctly
- Filing the claim against the at-fault party or parties, since there could be multiple factors contributing to the accident, including driver negligence, faulty parts, improper maintenance, etc.
- Negotiating with the insurance companies
- Going to trial
Finding legal representation after a car accident in Alabama
If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident in Alabama, you may be entitled to compensation. However, as noted, suing the negligent party on your own can be challenging. That’s where having a compassionate and experienced advocate such as Prince Glover Hayescan make all the difference.
For 45 years, we’ve been providing dedicated representation to car accident victims across Alabama. Our committed team handles the paperwork, claim process, and insurance company negotiations on your behalf so you can focus on what matters most—your recovery. Call our law offices at (205) 345-1234 or fill out our online contact form for a free evaluation today.