Hand, Wrist, and Finger Injuries After a Car Accident in Arizona

An Arizona car accident attorney can help you recover compensation

Car accidents can cause serious injuries to any part of the body, but your hands, wrists, or fingers can be especially vulnerable. These types of injuries can limit your ability to perform everyday tasks, affect your work, and reduce your overall independence. Because hands and wrists are involved in nearly every activity – from driving and typing to cooking and lifting – even minor injuries can have a major impact on daily life. Getting medical care fast is crucial not only for recovery but also to ensure any injuries are properly documented for future legal purposes.

The legal team at Browne Law Group is dedicated to helping Arizona drivers who have suffered hand, wrist, or finger injuries navigate the complicated aftermath of a car accident. We investigate every detail of your case, handle all communications with insurance companies, and fight to secure the full compensation you deserve.

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How do hand, wrist, and finger injuries happen?

In an Arizona car accident, these parts of the body can become damaged as a result of:

Airbag deployment. Airbags are designed to save lives, but the force of deployment can cause fractures or sprains in the hands and wrists, especially if your hands were on the steering wheel at the moment of impact.
Gripping the steering wheel during impact. In sudden collisions, drivers often instinctively grip the wheel tightly, which can lead to broken fingers, sprained wrists, or torn ligaments.
Contact with vehicle interiors. Hands and fingers may hit hard surfaces such as the dashboard, steering column, door panels, or windows, causing bruising, fractures, or cuts.
Seatbelt pressure or restraint injuries. While seatbelts save lives, the sudden deceleration in a crash can put stress on the wrists and fingers, sometimes leading to ligament or tendon injuries.
Ejection or partial ejection. In high-impact collisions, hands or wrists may be injured while bracing against hard surfaces or during partial ejection from the vehicle.
Rear-end or side-impact collisions. Whiplash doesn’t only affect the neck; sudden jolts can spread force to the arms and hands, leading to sprains, strains, or nerve damage.
Broken glass. Shattered windows or windshields can cause deep cuts, lacerations, or tendon damage to the hands and fingers when victims brace themselves or attempt to shield their face during impact.

Types of hand, wrist, and finger injuries

Accident victims can suffer a wide range of hand, wrist, and finger injuries in an accident, depending on the force and type of impact. Common injuries include:

Fractures and broken bones: A break or crack in one or more bones.
Sprains and strains: Stretching or tearing of ligaments, muscles, or tendons.
Dislocations: Occur when a bone is forced out of its normal position in a joint.
Nerve damage: Damage to the nerves in the hand or wrist that may affect movement or sensation.
Soft tissue injuries: Injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons, or skin that do not involve broken bones.
Chronic or long-term conditions: Injuries that, if untreated or improperly healed, can lead to lasting structural or functional problems, such as arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Crush injuries: When the hand, wrist, or fingers are compressed under a heavy object or between surfaces, it can cause severe tissue damage, fractures, or long-term functional impairment.
Amputations: Partial or complete loss of a finger, hand, or wrist, often resulting from severe trauma in high-impact collisions.

Symptoms to watch for after a car accident

It’s important to recognize signs that may indicate hand, wrist, or finger injuries. Common symptoms include:

Pain or tenderness
Swelling or inflammation around joints or bones
Bruising or discoloration
Limited range of motion or difficulty moving fingers, hands, or wrists
Numbness, tingling, or a “pins and needles” sensation
Weakness or inability to grip objects
Visible deformities, such as crooked fingers or misaligned joints

Being aware of these symptoms can help car accident victims seek medical attention quickly, supporting both recovery and any potential legal claims for compensation.

Common treatment options

Treatment for hand, wrist, and finger injuries depends on the type and severity of the injury. Common options include:

Immobilization with splints or casts: Fractures, dislocations, and severe sprains may require a cast, splint, or brace to keep the affected area stable while it heals.
Physical therapy and rehabilitation: Once initial healing occurs, therapy can help restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion to the injured hand or wrist.
Medications: Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications can help manage pain and swelling.
Surgery: Severe fractures, tendon or ligament tears, and some nerve injuries may require surgical intervention to properly repair and realign bones or tissues.
Occupational therapy: For injuries affecting fine motor skills or hand function, occupational therapy may be recommended to improve daily activities and overall function.

Early and proper treatment is crucial to maximize recovery and prevent long-term complications. Medical records from these treatments also play an important role in documenting your injuries for insurance claims or legal cases.

How hand, wrist, and finger injuries can affect your daily routine

Injuries to the hand, wrist, or fingers can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks. Because these parts of the body are involved in nearly every activity, even minor injuries can create challenges. Common ways these injuries may affect daily life include:

Difficulty with basic needs: Activities like eating, bathing, brushing teeth, or dressing can become painful or require assistance.
Challenges at work: Jobs that involve typing, lifting, gripping, or manual labor may be limited or impossible, leading to missed wages or productivity loss.
Household tasks: Cooking, cleaning, and handling objects around the home can be difficult or unsafe during recovery.
Driving limitations: Operating a vehicle may be painful or restricted, affecting commuting and independence.
Hobbies and recreational activities: Sports, exercise, playing musical instruments, and other leisure activities may be temporarily or permanently impacted.
Long-term functional limitations: Severe injuries, if not properly treated, can lead to chronic stiffness, weakness, or reduced range of motion, affecting overall quality of life.

Recognizing the potential impact of these injuries emphasizes the importance of seeking timely medical care and understanding your legal options. With a clear understanding of the injuries, their causes, and how they affect daily life, the next step is to focus on recovery and ensuring that any rights or claims related to the accident are protected.

Protect your rights with Browne Law Group

Hand, wrist, and finger injuries can have lasting consequences on your quality of life. Browne Law Group is here to hold negligent drivers accountable and fight for the full compensation you deserve. We handle the legal side of your case so you can focus on what matters most: your recovery and well-being.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Arizona, contact our law firm today. Based in Gilbert and proudly serving families across Arizona, we are ready to fight for your rights and won’t back down when it comes to protecting your future. No bull. No nonsense. Just results.

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