Understanding the 3 Types of Elbow Injuries from a Car Accident 

 There are many possible types of personal injuries that can be caused in a motor vehicle accident.  However, elbow injuries from a car accident in Staten Island are one of the most common.  Whether you are a driver or a passenger, elbows frequently get injured in a motor vehicle accident for several reasons.  This includes the obvious reason that one elbow is along the exterior door, allowing it to be impacted, crushed, or otherwise hit by another vehicle in a T-bone or sideswipe crash. Another reason is because the elbow is more vulnerable than other joints, especially in a high-impact collision.  Unfortunately, many defense lawyers and insurance adjusters will try to use that vulnerability as well as how common elbow injuries are to minimize your claim.  Do not let that happen – call an experienced car accident lawyer in Staten Island for help.

Here at the O’Connor Law Firm, our experienced car accident lawyers in Staten Island will fight back to recover the compensation that you deserve for elbow injuries from a car accident in Staten Island.  This includes compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages caused by a reckless or careless driver.  To learn more about how we can help you and your family after a motor vehicle accident in New York, call our bodily injury law firm to schedule a FREE consultation.

What are the 3 Most Common Types of Elbow Injuries in a Car Accident in Staten Island

The elbow can suffer many different types of injuries.  One of the most common is a sprain, which is where the ligaments get stretched and may even slightly tear or become damaged.  This can be painful, but it is not likely to result in a “serious injury” which is a necessary requirement to commence a car accident lawsuit in New York.

But there are 3 of the most common types of elbow injuries in a car accident in Staten Island that are likely to pass the “serious injury” threshold to allow a victim to file a lawsuit.  These three types of personal injuries and elbow injuries include the following:

Fractures or Broken Bones

An elbow fracture is an incredibly painful injury.  It occurs when there is a significant force to the elbow which causes one or more bones in the elbow to break. An elbow fracture is often requires surgical intervention and always requires a cast or sling, sometimes both.  This type of fracture is very common in trucking accidents or crashes with other vehicles which cause a high-impact collision.

Dislocated Elbows 

Also very painful and often due to a high-speed collision, a dislocated elbow is a type of elbow injury that results when the arm bone (humerus) is popped out or separated from the rest of the elbow joint (made up of the radius and ulna, the two wrist bones).  Essentially, the bones become misaligned with the joint.

This can happen in a high-impact collision or where a victim’s arm is straightened and the impact pushes the arm past the straight-plane of the arm.  This is incredibly painful and may require surgery, but often requires a cast or sling.  Sometimes the other ligaments and tendons in the elbow are damaged and most be repaired.  This is sometimes called an elbow hyperextension.

Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries (UCL)

More commonly known to baseball players, an UCL injury is a type of elbow injury to the ligaments that keep the elbow aligned.  This type of injury can happen in a car accident where the elbow is crushed or pulled at an odd angle which forces the bands keeping the joint together to pop or tear.  There are three bands which keep the humerus and the ulnar together, and all three could be injured in a high-speed crash.  All UCL tears require surgery to fix, with the only cases of non-surgery being for those who may be able to live without the ligament functioning properly (i.e., older individual).  But there is no way that the UCL ligaments will heal without surgery.

If You Suffered Any of These 3 Types of Elbow Injuries From a Car Accident in Staten Island, Call Our Personal Injury Law Firm for Help

Elbow injuries are very serious types of injuries after a motor vehicle accident.  If you or a loved one suffered any injuries from a car accident in New York, especially right here in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens, Long Island, and in surrounding areas, we can help.  Call to schedule a FREE consultation with our experienced car accident lawyer in Staten Island at the O’Connor Law Firm by dialing (718) 948-3500 or using our “Contact Us” box available here.