Many common injuries from motorcycle crashes affect the limbs. Leg swelling after a motorcycle accident in Lake County, Illinois, is not uncommon. However, this symptom can be a sign of a life-threatening condition.
Crash victims can generally pursue compensation for motorcycle accidents from the driver who hit them. A motorcycle accident attorney in Lake County, IL from Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers stands up to negligent drivers and their insurance carriers to seek injury compensation.
Contact our Lake County motorcycle accident lawyers today at (847) 513-9582 for a free initial consultation.
How Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Lake County, IL
At Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers have 68 years of combined experience helping injured people in Lake County and throughout Illinois. We have recovered over $125 million in financial compensation for our injured clients.
We can help you in the following ways after a motorcycle collision in Lake County, IL:
- Educate you about personal injury law and explain your legal rights and options for seeking compensation
- Gather information from you about your accident
- Investigate your crash and collect records for your insurance claim
- Negotiate with the opposing insurance carrier for a claim settlement
- File a lawsuit against the other driver if their insurer refuses to pay for your losses
Motorcycle accident injuries can cause hardships ranging from temporary pain to long-term disability. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Lake County personal injury lawyer to discuss the compensation you may be entitled to seek for your injuries.
What Injuries May Cause Leg Swelling After a Motorcycle Crash?
Motorcycle riders often injure their limbs when they crash. Since motorcyclists have no passenger compartment to protect their bodies, they may suffer serious injuries during a collision with another vehicle or a secondary impact with the ground.
Soft Tissue Injuries
The body’s soft tissues can be damaged in the following ways:
- Muscle and tendon strains
- Joint sprains
- Torn cartilage
- Burns
These injuries trigger the body’s inflammation response to protect it during healing. The body restricts circulation to trap pathogens that may have entered through any open wounds. The body also rushes immune cells and healing factors to the injured area to kill those pathogens and start the rebuilding process.
However, with fluid flowing in but not out, the area swells. Additionally, the body increases the local temperature to weaken any bacteria or viruses that have infected the injured part. As a result, these soft tissue injuries may trigger localized fever, redness, and swelling.
Blood Clots
The body’s natural response to bleeding is to release platelets that encourage clotting. Lacerations, internal injuries, and surgeries can lead to severe bleeding that causes the blood to thicken and form blood clots.
The veins in the legs have lower pressure because they are further from the heart. Moreover, blood flowing from the legs to the heart usually travels against gravity. The leg veins have valves that prevent blood from flowing backward due to gravity. Blood can collect and form clots at the valves.
The likelihood of clot formation increases with inactivity and pressure on the legs. Thus, lying in bed while you recover from a motorcycle accident creates the conditions for potential blood clot formation. This is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and one of its key symptoms is leg swelling. DVT can cause death if the clot breaks loose and reaches the lungs.
Fractured Bones
The body also initiates an inflammatory response when you break a bone. Bone fragments can tear muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels, triggering soft tissue inflammation.
However, even if the soft tissues surrounding the fracture are undamaged, the body may still trigger inflammation to protect and heal the break. Thus, leg swelling is a symptom of a fractured bone in the leg, ankle, foot, or knee.
Fractures can also produce blood clots. A blood clot can form naturally during the healing process. If part of the clot breaks off, it can become lodged in the leg veins, leading to fluid accumulation in the legs or feet. It’s important to note that this leg swelling might not be due to a leg fracture but may also be from a clot that traveled from a fracture elsewhere.
Our Lake County motorcycle accident attorneys often work with medical professionals to diagnose the exact cause of their clients’ swelling and seek appropriate compensation.
Liability for Crash-Related Leg Swelling
A negligent driver is generally liable for all losses caused by their negligence, including rare complications. For example, if a collision breaks the rider’s arm, the driver is responsible for the medical bills for the fracture.
The driver is typically also responsible for medical bills if DVT develops in a rider’s leg while they heal from a crash-related injury. This liability generally extends to any economic and non-economic losses caused by the driver’s negligence.
Economic damages can include:
- Medical expenses (hospitalization, surgery, medication, physical therapy, etc.)
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Costs associated with necessary medical equipment (crutches, wheelchairs, braces)
- Transportation costs to and from medical appointments
- Costs for in-home care or assistance
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are more subjective and harder to quantify.
They often encompass:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Non-economic losses can include physical pain in the legs from swelling and mental suffering from the inability to stand or walk, all of which can be significant consequences of a serious injury.
Our Lake County personal injury attorneys can help you pursue compensation for these extensive damages.
Contact Our Lake County Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation
Lake County motorcycle accidents can have serious health-related and financial consequences. At Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the unique challenges riders face and are dedicated to seeking the full compensation you deserve.
Contact our firm for a free consultation to discuss your accident. Our Lake County motorcycle accident attorneys are available today to explain how we can help you seek compensation under Illinois law.
