Car crash victims often suffer injuries to the hands and wrists, ranging from dislocations to sprains and fractures. When a wrist injury is visible on an X-ray, it is generally easier to link to injury to a car crash.

However, wrist injuries do not always manifest symptoms immediately and a fracture may not show up on an imaging test. The insurance company may say that your wrist injury is not as serious as you claim or that your injury is not related to the crash. They may also argue that your injury is preexisting, which means that your auto insurance policy would not apply.

Our licensed auto accident attorneys in Bloomington discuss what it takes to validate a car crash claim for wrist-related injuries.

We are prepared to answer any questions you may have during a risk-free, zero-obligation consultation. It costs nothing up front to use our services. Our firm only receives payment if you are compensated.

Learn if you have a case: (612) TSR-TIME.

Wrist Injuries Often Caused by Car Crashes

Car crashes can cause serious wrist-related injuries. A victim’s wrist can be injured by holding onto the steering wheel upon impact.  The wrist could also hit objects in the car’s interior during the crash, such as the steering wheel, air bags, window, dashboard or windshield. Damage to any part of the wrist can cause serious pain and swelling and affect your ability to use your wrist and hand.

Common wrist injuries after a car crash include:

Dislocations

The joints in the wrist can become dislocated due to the impact of the crash. When the joints are dislocated, your wrists and hands are unable to move properly. Dislocations can be very painful and may result in permanent damage if medical treatment is delayed, or the injury is left untreated.

Sprains

A wrist sprain is an injury where the ligaments in the wrist stretch or tear. Ligaments are connective tissues that attach bones to joints. If your wrist hits a hard object in a car crash, your ligaments can become damaged, which is also called a sprain. Wrist sprains are painful and can become a chronic injury.

There are three levels of sprain:

• A Grade 1 sprain (mild) where the wrist’s ligaments are stretched but not torn.
• A Grade 2 sprain (moderate) where some wrist ligaments may be partially torn.
• A Grade 3 sprain (severe) where one or more wrist ligaments are completely torn.

Fractures

Each of your wrists has 13 bones extending into your hands, which then connect to the 14 bones in your fingers. These bones are fragile and have a greater risk of being fractured or crushed from blunt force impact, such as in a car crash.

Damage to Tendons

The wrist tendons connect your forearm muscles to the hand and finger bones. The tendons can become inflamed due to blunt force impact. This inflammation – known as tendonitis of the wrist – can cause a great deal of pain when you grip and lift objects or move your wrists or fingers.

Importance of Medical Treatment After a Crash

It is important to seek immediate medical treatment after a car crash to check for wrist injuries. These types of injuries can get worse and may cause chronic issues if you are not seen by a doctor right away.

Additionally, since so many factors can lead to wrist pain, diagnosing the exact cause can be difficult. An accurate diagnosis is critical for proper treatment. A doctor can take diagnostic and imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs to determine the extent and severity of your wrist injury. Based on these results, he or she will be able to put a plan together to best treat your injury.

Your medical record can help to directly link your wrist injury to the car crash. By getting medical treatment and following your doctor’s orders, the insurance company will have a harder time arguing the existence and severity of your injuries in an attempt to deny your car crash claim.

Learn How Our Attorneys May Be Able to Help

It is never too soon to call an attorney for help after a crash. TSR Injury Law offers a free initial consultation with no legal obligation to hire our firm. This meeting is an opportunity to let us know what happened so we can determine how we may be able to assist you during this difficult time.

If you have a viable claim, there are zero upfront fees to get started. We only get paid for the services we provide if we help you obtain compensation. Our intake staff is ready to take your call anytime 24/7.

Call (612) TSR-TIME for Trusted Legal Help.