by J. Neil Lanzi | Real Estate Attorney
Car accidents and their resulting injuries can vary widely in severity. Whether it’s a fender bender or a multi-car pile up, personal injuries can range from minor cuts and scratches to serious, life-threatening injuries.
Injuries to the arm and elbow are among the most common injuries after a car accident.
When it comes to common car accident injuries, many people immediately think of back, neck, and head injuries. However, arm and elbow injuries can be just as permanent and debilitating as back, neck, and head injuries. Arms and elbows are exposed, receiving little protection from a seat belt or airbag.
Mr. Lanzi represented a client who suffered serious arm and elbow injuries when a speeding vehicle on the Baltimore Washington Parkway weaved in and out of traffic and clipped the rear corner of the client’s car. This caused Mr. Lanzi’s client to lose control of the car, exit the roadway, become airborne, and end up in a tree on the side of the road.
Despite vehicles having seat-belts and shoulder-belts, serious and permanent arm injuries can occur in a collision of this nature. Fractures are one of the most serious arm injuries in a car accident. A fractured or broken arm means that one or more of the bones have been cracked. Car accidents, especially side collisions can cause multiple fractures in arms and elbows.
The following are some of the most common arm injuries in car crashes:
- Humerus Fracture – A break or crack in the upper arm often occurs when extended arms take the force of a car crash, for instance when holding the steering wheel.
- Distal Humerus Fracture – A fracture at the end of the humerus bone near the elbow can cause damage to the joint and cartilage, leading to elbow stiffness and arthritis. This personal injury usually results from severe car accidents.
- Radius or Ulna Fracture – This type of arm fracture refers to a break or crack in one or both of the bones of the forearm. Forearm fractures may happen when outstretched arms are exposed in a car accident.
- Olecranon fracture – The bony prominence at the tip of the elbow is called the olecranon. Automobile accidents can dislocate or crack this bone.
- Supracondylar Fracture – This fracture occurs when the upper arm bone breaks slightly above the elbow.
- Condylar Fracture – This fracture occurs at the elbow knob. It can cause nerve damage if not treated properly.
For more information about common car accident injuries, please contact J. Neil Lanzi at our Towson location. He has been handling personal injury cases in Towson for decades and we can help ensure you get both the treatment and compensation you need to recover.
Neil is a real estate attorney at Mid-Atlantic Law Firm: Wright, Constable & Skeen with offices in Baltimore and Towson, Maryland and Richmond, Virginia.