Hip Pain After A Car Accident: Causes, Symptoms, And Legal Options In Las Vegas

Understanding The Hip Joint And How Car Accidents Cause Hip Injuries

The ball-and-socket joint that makes up your hip is made up of the femoral head, or the ball, connecting with the acetabulum, or socket, of your pelvis. This setup gives you flexibility of movement. 

The hip has bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints. There are muscles around the joint, too, and soft tissues like tendons and ligaments that make movement easier. 

During a collision, you may be thrown forward, causing your hip to strike the dashboard or steering wheel. Side-angle collisions are particularly dangerous for your hips, too, because there isn’t much to protect you from the impact. 

The force of an accident can cause hip dislocation or a full break. You can sustain soft tissue injuries that cause stiffness and pain as well. 

By understanding hip anatomy, you can have a better idea of why you may feel pain after an auto accident hip injury.

Common Hip Injuries From Motor Vehicle Accidents 

Hip Fracture

A hip fracture in a car accident can involve a break in the ischium, pubic, or ilium sections of your pelvis. You can struggle with severe pain and be unable to bear your body’s weight. 

Acetabular Fracture

An acetabular fracture refers to a break in the hip socket where the pelvis and thigh bone meet. This is a serious injury and usually requires emergency medical care. 

Hip Dislocation

Hip dislocation in a car accident occurs when the thigh bone’s ball slips out of the hip joint’s socket. You can visually spot these injuries because your hip’s shape will look deformed. 

Hip Labral Tear

Your hip socket is surrounded by cartilage. In a car accident, you can suffer a tear to this cartilage. Hip injury symptoms for labral tears include pain, clicking sensations when you move, and stiffness. 

Hip Bursitis

Another common hip injury from a car accident is hip bursitis. It occurs when the bursae swell, which happens if they sustain trauma during a collision. You can feel severe pain that gets worse with movement. 

Tendonitis and Soft Tissue Injuries

Tendons connect your muscles to your hip bones. A collision can cause these tissues to swell, resulting in pain and stiffness that doesn’t always show on X-rays. You can suffer strains and sprains, too, which involve ligaments and muscles. 

Hip Injury Symptoms: Immediate And Delayed Warning Signs

Just as with back and neck injuries or spinal cord injuries, hip injuries can also cause immediate or delayed symptoms, including:

• Dull or sharp pain 
• Inflammation
• Stiffness
• Clicks or pops 
• Bruises 
• Limp
• Inability to stand
• Loss of muscle strength

If you suffer a soft tissue injury, you may not realize you’re hurt until days later. As occurs with whiplash injuries, it’s not until the inflammation begins that you feel any pain.  

If you notice that your hip looks deformed, your hip can’t bear your weight, or you have pain that nothing seems to relieve, it’s essential to get medical assistance. Even when your hip and pelvic pain after a car accident is not severe, you will still need to have it examined by a professional.

Delayed Hip Pain After Car Accident: Why Symptoms May Appear Later 

After a crash, there could be so much adrenaline pumping through you that it dulls any sensation of pain. Additionally, soft tissue injuries and labral tears don’t tend to cause discomfort until swelling starts.

Experiencing delayed symptoms doesn’t mean the injury is any less serious. They don’t impact your compensation rights, either. Nevada law sees delayed hip pain from car accidents as a significant loss for which you can receive compensation for.

Diagnosing Hip Pain After Auto Accidents 

Hip pain treatment begins with a diagnosis. Your doctor will perform a comprehensive physical examination to get a sense of your range of motion, muscle strength, gait issues, and pain levels. 

If your doctor suspects a fracture, they may conduct X-rays and CT scans. For soft tissue injuries, MRI imaging can reveal ligament, tendon, and muscle issues. 

A proper diagnosis is vital for preparing the right treatment plan. Additionally, it helps to create a record of what you’ve suffered and how long it will take for you to recover. 

Treatment Options For Hip Pain After Car Accidents

Conservative Treatment Methods

Medical treatment after accidents typically starts with conservative options, like resting and using hot and cold packs on your hip. You may need anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy to regain your range of motion. Some people can also benefit from chiropractic care and massage therapy. 

Surgical Intervention For Severe Hip Injuries

In instances involving fractures, surgery may be necessary. You could require a partial or total hip replacement, arthroscopic repairs, or an acetabular reconstruction. These procedures require extensive recovery that can involve bed rest and physical therapy. 

Physical Therapy And Rehabilitation

After most hip injuries, you may need to undergo physical therapy. These sessions help you recover muscle strength, fix walking issues, and improve your overall movement. 

How Long Does Hip Pain Last After A Car Accident?

The type of injury you sustain will play a role in your recovery. Minor soft tissue injuries and hip or pelvic misalignment after a car accident can take between two to four weeks to heal, while tendonitis and bursitis can take up to eight weeks. 

With fractures, the process involves between 10 to 14 weeks for bone healing, but you also have to add rehabilitation time. For the most severe injuries, like those that require hip replacements, you may need up to a year to fully recover. 

What To Do Immediately After Experiencing Hip Pain From A Car Accident

Immediately after the accident, make sure you take these steps:

• Seek immediate medical care.
• Document all of your losses and injuries.
• Report symptoms to your insurance company.
• Hire a lawyer.
• Avoid accepting offers from insurers.
• Follow all medical directions.

Doing all of this can help you obtain a fair hip pain settlement. 

Compensation Available For Hip Injuries From Auto Accidents

In a car accident settlement, you can obtain compensation for medical expenses, including future care you may need. You can also recover damages for lost wages, loss of earning potential, property damage, and pain and suffering. 

To ensure that all of your losses are covered, our skilled lawyers can assist you in calculating what you deserve. In Nevada, you can obtain significant compensation for severe hip injuries. 

How Long Do I Have To File A Hip Injury Claim In Nevada?

Nevada allows you to file a claim within two years from the date of the accident, though there could be exceptions for delayed injuries. It’s crucial to consult with an attorney quickly to ensure that all evidence is still available. Acting rapidly also protects any offers you may get from an insurer. 

Why You Need A Las Vegas Hip Injury Lawyer From Adam S. Kutner 

Our team has represented injury victims with motor vehicle claims in Nevada for over 34 years, recovering millions for our clients. We understand how to counter insurance companies’ tactics to fight for fair compensation and know exactly what evidence can make the biggest difference to your claim. 

With us, you’re treated like family. We are available 24/7 to provide the personalized attention you deserve.

Get the Experienced Help You Need

Suffering a hip injury in a crash can leave you with medical expenses, pain, and a lower quality of life. Getting medical care is essential, and so is turning to seasoned Las Vegas hip injury lawyers. At Adam S. Kutner, Injury Attorneys, we can fight for the compensation you need to move forward. 

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