The hip bone is one of the strongest in your body, but that doesn’t mean that it cannot be injured. Every year, over 300,000 people in the U.S. suffer some sort of hip fracture. The severity of this injury can vary, but a hip fracture often requires surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
If your hip was fractured in a car crash, what can you expect in terms of symptoms? Are there avenues you can pursue for legal compensation?
Common symptoms associated with hip fractures
Sometimes, it can be obvious that your hip has been fractured, but this isn’t always the case immediately after an accident. In the aftermath of the crash, you may still have an adrenaline rush, which can mask pain. If you have severe pain coming from the groin area, swelling and bruising or you are unable to put weight on the affected leg, then your hip may have been damaged.
Risk factors
Anyone can break their hip, but some people are more likely to suffer this injury than others. For example, women are three times more likely to fracture their hips than men. Additionally, if you are elderly, then you are much more likely to fracture this area.
Treatment options
Surgery is usually required to repair a severely damaged hip, and a full recovery is often possible. Obviously, this depends on a number of factors such as the extent of the fracture, its precise locations and whether or not there is soft tissue damage.
If the negligence of another road user has caused you serious injuries, then you may be able to hold them to account. Seeking legal guidance will give you a much better idea of personal injury laws within Alaska.