Although ankle and foot injuries are not the most severe injuries, these are quite common after car accidents. The impact from a car accident can leave a victim with an ankle sprain, ankle fracture, broken bones, and more, resulting in uncomfortable ankle and foot pain.
A quick visit to the doctor can set you on the path of recovery, which can take a few days or even months, depending on the severity of the ankle injury.
Compared to other types of serious injuries, recovery from ankle and foot injuries can be quite fast. Still, the main concern with a foot or ankle injury is immobility, which can result in lost wages.
Do You Have Pain After a Car Accident Due to a Foot Injury or Ankle Sprain?
If you or your loved one got injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact Ehline Law and our Los Angeles car accident attorneys today, as you might be eligible for compensation for your injuries.
How Do Foot and Ankle Injuries Occur During a Car Accident?
The steering wheel, pedals, and dashboard are all nearby of the driver, while the dashboard and car seats (front and side) for the passengers are the points of impact. During a car accident, the legs are severely exposed due to the design of the vehicle leading to car accident foot injuries and ankle injuries.
Crashes head-on and at high speeds are the major causes of foot/ankle injuries delivering throbbing ankle or foot pain upon collision. However, there can be incidents where victims get foot/ankle injuries even if the impact is not so severe. This is because the shock may result in a twist or a bend in the muscles or tendons.
Broken bones are joint in a car accident, but many often fail to diagnose the soft tissue injuries that come with a car accident.
Types of Ankle Injuries
A victim can face two main types of ankle injuries after a car accident: an ankle sprain and an ankle fracture. Torn tendons, muscles, or ligaments are the leading cause of an ankle sprain. These are pretty common and can happen when a car accident delivers a shock to the body affecting the soft tissues. A bend or a twist in soft tissues can also lead to a sprained ankle.
Fractures are different from having your ankle sprained as it involves a broken bone and needs casts to support and promote healing. Symptoms of ankle fractures include swelling, bruising, pain, and tenderness in the affected region.
Although these symptoms last longer in a fracture, and more pain can follow if the victim starts to put weight on the injury, the symptoms are typically the same for both injuries at the initial stages. This can make it hard to distinguish whether it is a sprained ankle requiring massage or a fracture requiring a cast.
We recommend heading to the hospital for an immediate diagnosis to help you start the treatment and healing process.
Types of Foot Injuries
There are 26 bones in a foot, and an injury can fracture any of these bones requiring medical attention. Besides fractures, a foot can also develop a sprain in a car accident, as the impact can bend the foot incorrectly.
Symptoms
The symptoms for the two types of foot injuries remain the same as victims develop swelling, bruising, tenderness, and pain.
Should You Seek Medical Attention Immediately?
A sprain or fracture is often difficult to detect in its earliest stages, which is why many car accident victims undergo home care and massages to fix their “sprain.” However, if it is not a sprain but a fracture, this can cause long-term complications and lead to blood vessel damage, arthritis, and even bone infection if not treated immediately.
It would help if you got the required tests, like X-rays, to identify broken bones and start treatment without delays.
Call Our Injury Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation for Your Ankle or Foot Injury
Contact us at (213) 596-9642 and get a free consultation with our expert personal injury lawyers. Our lawyers can help evaluate the damages to you in the car crash and fight to protect your rights so that you can get the compensation you deserve.
We understand that money can not undo what you’ve gone through, but it can help pay for physical therapy or medical bills and get your life back on track. Contact a passionate personal injury lawyer for more information on how we can help you with your injury claim.