Leg injuries, including abrasions, contusions, and fractures, are among the most common injuries in motorcycle accidents.
It’s normal for inflammation and swelling to set in after an injury, but swelling can sometimes signify a more dangerous problem. If left untreated, chronic swelling could even lead to amputation.
Here are a few eye-opening facts about leg swelling after a motorcycle accident in Miami, Florida, and what you can do to recover injury compensation for such an injury. Call a motorcycle accident lawyer today at (305) 937-0191 to schedule a free initial consultation.
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How Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Accident in Miami, Florida
Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers was founded in 2007. Over the past 15 years, the firm has helped accident victims recover hundreds of millions of dollars in injury compensation.
The firm’s Miami motorcycle accident lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience and have received many honors and recognitions, including:
- Awarded board certification in civil trial law by the Florida Board of Legal Specialization
- Listed among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association
- Rated 10.0 Superb by Avvo, the company’s highest possible rating
The firm can help you after a motorcycle accident in the following ways, to name a few examples:
- Determining the full extent of your damages via an internal investigation into your accident
- Handling all of the paperwork and negotiations with the other side while you focus on your recovery
- Bringing your case before a Miami-Dade County jury if necessary
After a motorcycle accident in Miami, FL, you may face mounting medical expenses with no way to pay them. Contact Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your injuries and the compensation you can seek to cover your mounting costs.
How Common Is Leg Swelling After a Motorcycle Accident in Miami, Florida?
More often than not, motorcycle accidents injure or kill the rider. Roughly 80% of motorcycle accidents across the U.S. result in a fatal or non-fatal injury.
According to Florida’s Crash Facts report from 2020, motorcyclists in Miami have an even higher injury rate. In 2020, Miami had 904 motorcycle crashes. These accidents caused 52 fatal injuries and 702 non-fatal injuries, which means that 85.4% of Miami’s motorcycle crashes injured or killed a motorcyclist.
The most common injuries in motorcycle accidents affect the legs. According to one study, 47% of motorcycle accident victims suffer leg injuries. Over 60% of these injuries affect the lower leg, pelvis, or knee. The remaining 40% affects the thigh, foot, or ankle.
Swelling is one of the most common symptoms of any injury. Almost all motorcyclists who suffer a leg injury experience leg swelling at some point.
Overview of Leg Swelling After a Motorcycle Accident in Miami, Florida
Leg swelling is usually a minor symptom arising from tissue damage. When a part of your body is injured, it reacts by producing an inflammatory response. Inflammation protects the body from infection by causing the injury to swell and increase in temperature.
Swelling squeezes the blood vessels, trapping bacteria and other microorganisms at the injury site, while fever makes the body inhospitable to these organisms, killing them before they can multiply and spread.
Possible Causes of Leg Swelling After a Motorcycle Accident
Many leg injuries can cause swelling, including:
- Strained leg muscles or tendons
- Sprained ligaments in the ankle, knee, or hip
- Leg bruises
- Fractured bones
Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication for these injuries to reduce swelling and promote faster healing.
Leg swelling can also result from an infected laceration, abrasion, or burn. Swelling around open wounds often signifies infection. Doctors treat swelling by prescribing antibiotics to kill the microorganisms causing the infection.
In rare cases, leg swelling can arise from more serious problems, such as sepsis. Sepsis is an extreme reaction to infection. The condition causes swelling in the form of large, fluid-filled abscesses. Without immediate treatment, sepsis can be fatal.
Leg swelling can also sometimes result from a vascular injury. If the injured blood vessels can’t supply blood to the area, doctors might need to amputate the leg.
Complications of Leg Swelling
Uncontrolled swelling can cause compartment syndrome, which happens when severe swelling cuts off circulation completely. As a result, tissue downstream from the swollen injury dies from a lack of blood. Compartment syndrome can cause necrosis, gangrene, and amputation if not properly treated.
Liability for Leg Swelling
You can seek compensation for any injury caused by someone else’s negligence, including leg injuries. Even if your injury was a secondary effect of the accident, you could successfully pursue a compensation claim so long as you can show that the accident directly led to the injury.
Suppose that you suffer a broken leg in a motorcycle accident and that during your recovery, the blood clot that formed over the fracture breaks off and lodges in a vein in your leg. The swelling from the trapped clot then causes compartment syndrome, leaving you no choice but to have your leg amputated.
This long sequence of events resulted from the original motorcycle accident. Even though your leg wasn’t amputated in the actual accident, the eventual removal was a direct result, meaning you could seek compensation for it.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Miami Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Leg swelling after a motorcycle accident can cause pain and discomfort, but it can also point to serious health issues and even lead to a loss of your leg. To discuss the compensation you can seek for leg swelling and its various complications, contact Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with an experienced Miami motorcycle accident attorney.