Hip pain after a crash is one of those things that could be short-lived muscle soreness or something more severe. So when could this type of pain indicate a more serious injury?
Anderson & Cummings talk about hip pain after a crash, including common injuries that may cause it and when you may need medical treatment. We also discuss when you may have a legal claim to recover compensation. If someone else caused the crash that resulted in your hip injury, you should not have to foot the costly medical bills that follow.
Do you have hip pain after a car crash? Is another driver responsible? If you live in the Fort Worth, Texas area, call our law offices to see if we may be able to help.
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Sometimes Car Crash Injuries Are Delayed
The shock of a motor vehicle collision is well-known for masking pain. Once the adrenaline begins to wear off, however, crash victims may have more pain than they expected. We cannot stress enough how important it is to seek medical care right away, even if you think you are uninjured. Car crash injuries, including any damage to your hip, could be internal. Waiting to seek treatment will often cause your injuries to worsen.
While hip pain is not likely to be fatal, seeking treatment in the first hours and days after any severe injury increases your chances of an optimum recovery. Delaying treatment also makes it harder to link your injuries to the car crash.
When Should I Be Concerned About Hip Pain After a Crash?
The only way to know what type of hip injury you have is to get a medical examination. Be sure to discuss all the pain symptoms you are having with your treating physician. Doctors may order an MRI, CT scan and X-rays to determine what type of injury is causing your hip pain.
Certain signs and symptoms that may indicate a more severe injury, include:
- Immediate or delayed hip pain
- Difficulty moving the hip joint
- Pain when bearing weight or walking
- Numbness and tingling
- Lower abdominal pain
- Burning pain in the upper legs and knees
- Generalized pain in the back, groin area or legs
- Pinched nerves in the lower back
- Limping
- Pain in the coccyx (tailbone) or ischium (lower hip area)
Letting hip pain go and assuming it will heal on its own is a bad idea. The impact of a crash may have caused significant damage. Not getting your hip pain diagnosed could leave you suffering from chronic, long-term pain, mobility issues and other complications.
What is Causing My Hip Pain After a Car Crash?
Hip pain can be bad enough to impact your daily life. The injury may cause you debilitating pain, even if you do not try to walk. Simple daily tasks, like dressing yourself, bathing or going to the toilet can become difficult to do without help.
The hip pain you are experiencing after a car crash could be due to a number of common hip problems. Your hip joint is an amazing example of human machinery. The ball and socket joint is protected and surrounded by soft tissue, including muscles, ligaments and tendons. The cartilage in the joint acts as a protective cushion, separating the two bone segments (the ball and socket) and allowing you to walk without pain.
When a crash victim suffers a hip injury, just putting weight on the joint can be incredibly painful. Some of the most common hip injuries crash victims may suffer include:
Dislocated Hip Joint
The impact of a car crash could knock the ball of the hip joint out of its socket. When treated within hours of the injury, it will likely heal fully. However, long-term issues can result if a dislocated hip does not receive emergency treatment. Your hip will need to be either manually or surgically manipulated back into the socket. This procedure is called a reduction and will require sedatives or general anesthesia to reduce the patient’s pain.
Hip Fractures
There are different fractures that can occur in your hip bones. Regardless of what part of your hip bone breaks, it can be excruciatingly painful. Your hip is your body’s largest weight-bearing joint, so when you sustain any damage to that area, it is going to have an impact on your mobility during your recovery.
Tendonitis
The tendons connect and support your hip bones. If they get injured, they may become inflamed and swollen. The pain from this type of hip injury may develop more slowly, but it is not something you should ignore. Early treatment may include rest, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy.
Bursitis
There are two fluid-filled cushions in your hip, called bursae. These cushions cover two areas of your hip bone – the boney point of the hip and the inner area of your hip (in the groin area). These jelly-like sacs are located in other areas of the body too. Their function is to help to reduce friction between the bones. When these pads become inflamed, it can cause sharp pain that feels like it spreads across a larger area of your hip. The pain is often worse at night, especially if you try to lie on that part of your hip. Walking, squatting and climbing stairs can also intensify the pain.
Hip Ligament Sprain and Strain
A car crash could cause the ligaments in your hip to get stretched or torn. This type of hip injury could impact the flexibility and overall muscle strength of your hip joint. Pain from this injury is generally felt over the hip. As you do more activity, the pain from this injury will typically feel worse. This injury could also cause swelling, stiffness, tenderness, and bruising. The joint may feel stiff, making walking and running more difficult.
How Long Could Hip Pain Last After a Car Accident?
This question is a difficult one to answer. The answer is unique and based on several contributing factors, including:
- The type and severity of your hip injury
- How quickly you received treatment
- Your genetic ability to heal
- Weight, age and general health at the time of the injury
- Whether you follow your doctor’s plan of care
How Much Can You Get for a Hip Injury?
The value of a hip injury is based on many determining factors. The severity of your injury, as mentioned above, has an impact on the value of your hip injury claim. The type and length of medical treatment you require are additional factors.
For instance, if you have a fractured hip and require surgery, that will raise the value of your claim. If you have surgery, you may also need additional physical therapy. Depending on your age, you may require a stay in a rehabilitation facility to ensure you have the daily care you need. Another factor that can impact the overall value of your hip injury claim is whether you experience chronic, long-term pain, whether you make a full recovery or lose some mobility. If you are unable to do activities you once enjoyed, that is another component that could add value to your claim.
To help ensure you recover the full and fair compensation you need, be sure any attorney you are considering has handled, and been successful, in cases similar to yours.
What Evidence Could Help to Link My Hip Injury to My Car Crash?
At the end of the day, the burden of proof falls on the victim. This is one major reason why you should consider involving an experienced auto accident lawyer in Fort Worth. Our legal team has been representing crash victims for decades, and we know what evidence is needed to help prove negligence and build a strong case on your behalf.
Contact Our Law Firm to Discuss Your Car Crash Claim
Call our law offices today to discuss whether you may have legal options. An initial case review is free. At Anderson & Cummings, we have the resources and staff to thoroughly investigate your crash and determine how it led to your injuries.
If you have a case and we represent you, there are no upfront fees or costs to pay. We do not receive payment for our services unless we win compensation for you.
Experienced Lawyers. Millions Recovered. (817) 920-9000