If you’ve been the victim of an automobile accident, we know that you’re likely afraid, overwhelmed by the potential legal process, and above all, in pain.

While all levels and types of discomfort are possible, hip pain after a car accident is one of the most common results of this trauma.

If you’ve noticed that your hip hurts, or that you’re faced with limited mobility, you need to act quickly.

But why?

Keep on reading this post to understand why hip pain after a car accident is something you need to take seriously.

We’ll also tell you why this isn’t a legal battle you should fight alone.

What Hip Pain After A Car Accident Could Mean

Before we get into any legal settlements that you may be entitled to pursue as a result of an injury, let’s first make sure you understand the potential medical issues behind hip pain after a car accident.

Keep in mind that, regardless of your current insurance coverage, you should seek immediate medical attention if you’ve noticed that you’re dealing with hip pain after a car accident.

Ignoring the problem will only make it worse — and it may mean that you end up paying higher medical bills than you would have if you’d acted quickly.

A Fractured Hip

When you were in your car accident, did your knees or any other part of your body collide with your steering wheel, dashboard, or any other part of your car?

Even if the impact wasn’t directly on your hip, you could still be dealing with a hip fracture due to the high amount of pressure and stress the trauma caused throughout your body.

You’re especially vulnerable to a hip fracture if your car was hit at a side angle.

These fractures can happen in any of the three sections of your hip — the lower part, the crest of your pelvis, or even your ischium bone.

If you’ve noticed that you’re struggling to move, are experiencing severe and unrelenting hip pain after a car accident, or if you’ve realized that you can’t put any weight on one hip, you may have a fracture.

The same goes if you’ve encountered moderate to severe bruising and swelling in your hip and leg area.

If you ignore your hip fracture, you’re at risk for developing a UTI, additional loss of muscles, and even an increased risk of falling again in the future. You may also develop blood clots as a result of injury and immobility.

This certainly entitles you to potential compensation.

A Hip Dislocation

Another potential injury that could be signaled by hip pain after a car accident?

A dislocated hip.

This means that the hip bone has actually dislocated from the joint. This makes it much easier for you to be susceptible to ligament damage, problems with your nervous systems, or even potential permanent damage to the blood vessels in your body.

Because these dislocations happen after a sudden and severe impact, they’re one of the most common injuries after a car accident. They’re especially common in accidents where you’ve been rear-ended.

Sometimes, it will be quite clear to you that you’ve suffered from a hip dislocation — because you’ll be able to see it. In some cases, the injury may also result in swelling and bruising.

If you’ve noticed that you have pain when you move, a tingling or numb sensation around your hip, or that you’re unable to walk or even stretch, you need to seek medical attention immediately.

Your medical professional will likely take an x-ray of your hip, or potentially even order an MRI. You may be able to fix the dislocation by the “RICE” method.

This is short for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. You may also be prescribed certain pain management medications. In rare occasions, however, you may need to have surgery to correct the problem — and enter into physical rehab afterwards.

A Hip Sprain

Another common cause of hip pain after a car accident?

You may have sprained or even strained your hip in the impact of the crash.

When you’ve sprained your hip, the ligaments that connect and cushion your hip joint have suffered from a serious tear. This is because the muscles surrounding your hip, which are usually stretched out, have suddenly had to contract and recoil.

This is, in a sense, your body’s natural reaction to the high and sudden impact of a car accident.

You’re more likely to deal with a hip sprain after a car accident if you’re older, or if you’ve suffered from other injuries in the past.

Though the RICE method may work for some hip sprains, you should expect to have to deal with a limited range of motion and mobility in general for several weeks.

Now that you understand the types of injuries that hip pain after a car accident can signal, let’s take a look at why you should consider getting professional legal representation.

Why Legal Representation Matters After a Car Accident

We fully understand that dealing with hip pain after a car accident can be just as emotionally frustrating as it is physically uncomfortable.

However, in addition to the pain, there are some very real financial and/or legal consequences that you’ll be faced with after a car accident.

You don’t want to have to fight those battles alone.

You also don’t want to run the risk of not getting the compensation you’re so clearly entitled to.

Read on to learn why you need to seek legal representation if you’re dealing with injuries or complications from hip pain after a car accident.

Lost Wages

When you’re faced with hip pain after a car accident, you’re likely going to be diagnosed with some sort of an injury.

Especially if you have to end up having surgery to treat this hip injury, you should expect to deal with a lengthy recovery time. And if that injury is especially severe? That recovery time could last for months.

This means that you may be unable to work.

You need to work with a legal professional who has experience in fighting employers or simply suing the responsible party when it comes to compensation for lost wages.

You cannot and should not suffer serious financial consequences — or face discrimination from your employer — because of an accident that was not your fault.

Car Insurance Claims

When you’re uncomfortable because of hip pain after a car accident, the last thing that you want to deal with is fighting with your car insurance company.

You also don’t want to end up driving around in a car that will put your safety — and that of others out on the road with you — in jeopardy.

Remember, car insurance companies can and will use any possible reason not to give you the compensation you deserve. They’ll even likely comb through your social media posts and look for ways to prove that they don’t need to cover the cost of your car repairs.

This is yet another reason why having a legal professional on your side after a car accident is the right idea.

Plus, a lawyer may also be able to help you to speed up the claims process. This means that you’ll be able to be reimbursed for any repairs and car damage much more quickly than if you were handling the problem on your own.

Getting Medical Bills Covered

Unfortunately, one of the most common consequences of hip pain after a car accident ends up being serious medical surgery or care.

And while we all wish we could have those expenses covered without a fight?

More often than not, that’s just not what ends up happening.

With medical care costs going through the roof, you don’t want to be left with a mountain of debt from an accident where you weren’t even at fault. This is, far and away, the number one reason why working with a legal professional is the right choice for you.

Not only will they help to push your insurance claims to the front of the line. A legal professional also has experience in dealing with shoddy insurance companies. They’ll do everything in their power to prevent you from being taken advantage of by dishonest insurance companies.

Always make sure that you save all of your medical bills, and have copies of your medical records on hand when you meet with your car accident lawyer.

Professional Expertise

Last but not least, the consequences of hip pain after a car accident can often lead to lengthy and complicated legal battles.

While you might think you’re capable of accurately representing yourself, the reality is that you’re likely not.

Remember that the person you’re up against may have more resources than you do to devote to the case. You also may not know the proper documentation you need to file, the evidence you need to collect, or even just the ins and outs of courtroom proceedings.

A lawyer, however, does.

Plus, working with a legal professional also ensures that, if you do end up winning that settlement, it will likely be much higher than the amount you’d be able to get on your own.

What to do After a Car Accident

In the immediate aftermath of your car accident, we understand that you’re likely not going to be able to think especially clearly.

However, remember that when it comes to both your medical and car insurance, the more information you’re able to gather at the scene, the better.

First of all, be sure to take any photographs of injuries you’ve sustained as a result of the collision. The same goes for any sort of damage that’s been done to your vehicle, and that of any other vehicles out on the road.

Next, be sure that you take down the information of anyone who you think witnessed the crash. Ask them if they would help to testify on your behalf if the case does end up going to court.

Of course, it’s also important that you contact the authorities and collect the contact information of any officers who were present at the scene.

It may be a challenge, but we also want to remind you that it’s essential for you to get the contact information of the other drivers involved in the crash. Even if they attempt to blame you, never admit guilt.

Try to limit the interactions you have with the other drivers on the scene. Remember that they’ll be only too happy to twist and turn your words against you, trying to make it look like the accident was your fault.

Don’t let them get away with it.

Hip Pain After a Car Accident? Let us Fight for You

In addition to helping you to understand more about the potential injuries that are often the result of hip pain after a car accident, we also hope that this post has helped you to understand why getting legal representation is a smart idea.

Whether you’re dealing with a hip fracture, sprain, or another injury altogether, you shouldn’t have to fight this battle alone, when you’re already in pain.

Instead, you need to be able to rely on a dedicated and experienced legal professional to be on your side.

That’s where we want to help.

If you’ve been in a car accident, we urge you to spend some time on our page to learn more about the services we offer.

When you’re ready, feel free to reach out to us to schedule a consultation.