Indianapolis Contusions and Lacerations Attorney

A patient with a contusion on the elbow

Indianapolis accidents can cause a wide range of injuries. Lacerations and contusions tend to be two of the most common injuries that result from accidents. Although, on the surface, these types of injuries may seem less severe in comparison to more traumatic injuries like broken bones and spinal injuries, lacerations and contusions can cause significant damage and medical complications – not to mention pain and suffering.

At Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC, our experienced accident attorneys have been helping injured people seek meaningful compensation for their losses for over 30 years. We have the knowledge, resolve, and resources to build a compelling claim and pursue maximum compensation to help individuals like you rebuild their lives after suffering contusions and lacerations in an accident that was someone else’s fault.

If you suffered contusions or lacerations following an accident caused by a careless individual, you deserve to explore all your legal options for recovering the money you deserve from the insurance company. Contact our office today to schedule a free case evaluation with a skilled personal injury lawyer who can help you understand your legal rights and options.

What Are Contusions and Lacerations?

Contusions and lacerations are some of the most common and severe soft-tissue injuries that result from auto accidents and other accidents.

A contusion is a bruise or hematoma that occurs when trauma allows blood to pool or collect outside a blood vessel. Soft tissue contusions typically occur due to blunt-force trauma from a collision or fall. Contusions often cause skin discoloration, pain, and swelling of the affected area. While most contusions affect soft tissue like skin and muscles, significant force can cause bone contusions.

Lacerations are cuts typically caused by sharp objects. Unlike other open wounds, a laceration is a wound or tear where none of the skin is missing. Most lacerations lead to pain, bleeding, and potentially swelling of the affected area. The severity of the laceration depends on the wound’s length and depth.

How Contusion and Laceration Injuries Impact Your Life

Some contusions and lacerations are less severe injuries that may be painful in the short term but do not cause lasting medical complications or consequences. However, in some accidents, more serious injuries involving contusions and lacerations can cause physical deformities and scarring, in addition to significant pain.

Depending on the severity of the laceration, these wounds can leave visible scarring. Scarring can cause mental distress, especially when located in prominent areas like the face, but scarring can also cause a loss of mobility and other functional impairments. Deep lacerations can also lead to long-term complications like nerve damage, reduced mobility, numbness, and chronic pain. Significant lacerations may also increase a person’s risk of infection.

A medical professional must evaluate any laceration caused by an Indianapolis accident to assess the damage to surrounding tissues and provide treatment options. Some minor lacerations can be cleaned and bandaged and require only over-the-counter medications to manage pain. Deeper lacerations that expose muscle, fat, or other internal structures may require sutures, staples, or medical-grade adhesive to close the wound, prevent infection, and support proper healing. Your medical provider may also provide instructions for home pain, infection, and scarring management as the laceration heals.

Individuals can also treat minor contusions with over-the-counter remedies like pain medication, ice, and rest. However, more severe contusions can require medical intervention and physical therapy to help prevent serious complications such as compartment syndrome and myositis ossificans.

Compartment syndrome can occur when the pressure around muscles increases. Significant bleeding from a contusion can raise pressure near muscles, limiting blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients. The result can be severe pain, numbness, and weakness. When not treated immediately, compartment syndrome can lead to permanent tissue damage and even tissue death.

Contusions can also lead to myositis ossificans when bone forms inside of a muscle after a traumatic injury like a severe contusion.

Compensation You Can Pursue for Contusions and Lacerations

Following an accident that was someone else’s fault, you can pursue valuable compensation for contusion and laceration injuries. The value of this compensation varies depending on the specifics of your claim, like the severity of your injuries and the nature of the accident. It is in your best interests to work with our experienced personal injury attorneys, who can carefully calculate your losses and aggressively negotiate for the money you deserve.

While every soft-tissue injury case is unique, generally, Indianapolis accident victims can pursue money to cover the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced future earning potential
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering

Before you accept a settlement from anyone, discuss your situation with a personal injury attorney from Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC, who can assess your case and evaluate the fair value of your claim.

Common Causes of Contusions and Lacerations in Indianapolis Accidents

Lacerations and contusions are often the result of accidents that involve sharp objects, flying shrapnel, and blunt-force trauma. Some of the most common causes of contusions and lacerations in Indianapolis include:

These types of accidents tend to cause significant laceration and contusion injuries through:

  • Blunt-force trauma of the collision
  • Broken glass from windows and windshields 
  • Sharp and twisted metal from a wreck 
  • Pressure from a seatbelt 
  • Impact from airbag deployment 

After any accident, seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. Left untreated, contusions and lacerations can lead to significant medical complications and chronic pain.

How Our Indianapolis Attorneys Can Help You Recover Damages for Your Injuries

Seeking fair compensation for contusions and lacerations after an accident can seem overwhelming. Working with our experienced Indianapolis personal injury attorneys is the best way to remove the stress and anxiety from your shoulders and pursue maximum compensation from the liable party for contusions and lacerations. We are ready to analyze your situation, outline your legal options, manage your claim from start to finish, and assertively advocate for you during negotiations or at trial in a personal injury lawsuit.

At Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC, we are recognized as leaders in the legal field. We advocate for Indianapolis accident victims and help them pursue the maximum compensation they deserve following an accident caused by a careless individual. We put clients first and passionately fight to protect your rights in personal injury claims.

Contact our office today for a free legal consultation about your soft-tissue injury claim for lacerations and contusions.