When the body is subjected to excessive pressure, such as in a severe car accident or building collapse, victims may suffer catastrophic harm. The resulting injury can cause severe damage to the body and lead to serious complications that can become life-threatening if not effectively treated.
If you have suffered a crush injury in the Dallas area, you could be entitled to compensation from whoever caused it. However, getting them to pay you fairly might not be as easy as it should be. They might try to shift the blame onto you, question the extent of the treatment you received, or downplay the long-term consequences you’re facing.
Don’t let them frame the debate. Instead, get help from the team at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. We’ve been standing up for accident victims in North Texas since 1971. Not only do we know how insurance companies try to fight these claims, but we know how to fight back – and how to win.
Contact Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. today at at (214) 999-9999 for a free consultation with a crush injury attorney, and we’ll tell you more about what our firm can do for you.
Why Choose Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. for Your Dallas Crush Injury Claim?
Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. wants to be your trusted ally after a crush injury in the Dallas area. Here’s why we think we’re the right choice for you:
- We’re an established law firm in the Dallas area that’s been taking and winning serious injury cases for over half a century.
- We prioritize excellent client service, with friendly lawyers who are easy to talk to and will answer your questions politely and promptly.
- Our attorneys are members of prestigious legal organizations, and our support staff has an average tenure of 25 years.
- We are committed to demanding maximum compensation for you, whether that’s during settlement negotiations or at trial.
Here’s how one of our clients described their experience with us:
“I have had the utmost professional Law Firm, Kraft and Associates, represent me. They heard my issues and concerns about all the medical conditions that I will be dealing with for the rest of my life. The entire law office handled my case and myself with total respect, dignity, and integrity. I could not ask for anything more.
My respect for the Kraft law firm, my Attorney Mr Stewart, and his team. I would and will refer to my family and friends, and anyone to their law office.” – Irene R.
Consultations are free, and we won’t charge you a fee unless we win your case, so contact us today to get started.
What to Do Immediately After a Crush Accident
Crush injuries are often traumatic and require immediate medical treatment. If you can, call 911 and tell the emergency responder what happened so they can better treat your injuries. You can start thinking about your next steps once your condition has stabilized.
When that happens, consider doing the following:
- Attend every follow-up appointment to improve your prognosis and show that you’re working to get better.
- Start a pain journal describing the severity of your symptoms over time and how they affect your everyday life.
- Gather any evidence you were able to get at the scene. This might include pictures of the area, the names and contact info of anyone who witnessed the accident, and an incident report from the police or property manager.
- Build on this evidence with documentation of your ongoing costs, such as medical bills and pay stubs or tax returns showing lost wages.
- Avoid discussing the accident publicly, and stay off social media for now.
- Be particularly cautious if the at-fault party or their insurance provider contacts you. Do not give them a recorded statement or sign a settlement contract they offer you.
- Contact a crush injury lawyer in Dallas, TX. Bring along the evidence you’ve gathered so the attorney can review it with you.
What Is a Crush Injury?
A crush injury results from an object compressing the body. The force of this pressure can damage muscles, blood vessels, organs, and other tissues, causing significant trauma.
Historically, crush injuries are most associated with mass casualty events, including natural disasters and human-made catastrophes. However, motor vehicle accidents, explosions, and falls are increasingly common sources of these life-threatening injuries.
Severe Medical Complications: Compartment Syndrome and Crush Syndrome
One of the most concerning aspects of crush injuries is that they can lead to secondary injuries extending far beyond the damaged limb, including:
Compartment Syndrome
Compartment syndrome happens when swelling or bleeding raises pressure within a confined muscle compartment. The restricted circulation damages nerves and muscles in the area. Without prompt treatment, the reduced blood flow can cause tissue death.
Crush Syndrome
Crush syndrome is a systemic reaction that begins when pressure is eventually released and blood flow is restored to the injured tissue, a process called reperfusion. This can release toxic metabolites into the bloodstream, in turn causing conditions like:
- Rhabdomyolysis, or the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue
- Hyperkalemia, or elevated levels of potassium that can damage the heart
- Acute kidney injury, as the body attempts to process the toxins
- Hypovolemic shock, which starves the organs of blood
Together, these complications can cause abnormal heart rhythms, widespread organ damage, multi-organ failure, and death.
Common Causes of Crush Injuries in Dallas
Crush injuries in Dallas commonly result from:
- Car collisions, especially rollovers and pileups
- Commercial truck accidents involving underride or trapped occupants
- Construction collapses and trench cave-ins
- Forklift and heavy machinery accidents
- Falling building materials, equipment, or unsecured cargo
- Industrial accidents involving presses, conveyors, and compactors
- Defective equipment or machinery lacking proper safety guards
- Building, parking garage, or scaffolding collapses
Who Can Be Liable in a Crush Injury Claim?
Examples of potential liable parties in a crush injury claim include:
- Drivers who negligently cause collisions, such as by running red lights or failing to signal lane changes
- Trucking companies that hire unqualified drivers, pressure them to violate safety rules, or fail to maintain their vehicles
- Construction companies that cut corners on a job site and put workers and passersby at risk of falling objects
- Property owners who fail to maintain their premises and cause a building collapse
- Event organizers or security contractors who fail to manage crowds or maintain safe entry and exit routes
An experienced crush injuries attorney can investigate what happened to identify everyone responsible for what you have suffered.
What Compensation Can You Seek in a Crush Injury Claim?
Depending on the circumstances, your Dallas crush accident compensation could include money for your:
- Past and future medical care, including emergency transport and treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, therapy, rehab, medications, medical devices, and ongoing care
- Lost income you missed out on earning while you were injured
- Reduced earning potential if long-term impairment affects your career
- Pain and suffering, a legal term describing the physical and emotional discomfort your injuries cause you
- Reduced quality of life if your injuries affect your ability to live independently and take part in favorite activities
How Long Do You Have to File a Crush Injury Lawsuit in Texas?
Crush injuries in Texas are subject to the state’s statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits.
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 16.003 gives you two (2) years from the date you suffered the crush injury to file suit under most circumstances. However, some cases require earlier filing or allow for extensions. Either way, if you file after the deadline, the court will dismiss your claim as untimely.
Don’t let a time delay cost you your right to compensation. Instead, contact us as soon as possible to speak with a Dallas compartment syndrome lawyer.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dallas Crush Injury Attorney?
Crush injuries are expensive, so you might be worried about how much it costs to hire a Dallas personal injury attorney to help with your claim. Don’t be.
The team at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. works on contingency, which means we will not charge you any upfront fees or retainers to start work on your personal injury claim. Instead, you pay us a portion of what we recover on your behalf if and when we win your case. That way, you don’t have to pay out of pocket to seek compensation for an injury that wasn’t your fault.
Contact an Experienced Dallas Crush Injury Lawyer Today
Whether you’re looking for a construction site crush injury attorney or a traumatic amputation lawyer, you’ve come to the right place. Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. has been a trusted ally for accident victims across the Dallas area for more than 50 years. We want to help you demand the compensation you are owed.
Contact us today at (214) 999-9999 or contact us online for your free case review to find out what our Dallas personal injury lawyers can do for you.