New Jersey construction workers face many unique dangers. One possible risk a worker can face on the job is that of a crush injury, which can cause huge amounts of damage to the entire body and result in a long and potentially painful recovery period.
FindLaw takes a look at some of the injuries most commonly seen among construction workers. Two of them are called “backovers” and “crushed-betweens”. These injuries typically relate to being backed over by a large vehicle, or pinned between two vehicles or a vehicle and a solid object. This can be the result of negligence on behalf of any site overseer or supervisor. It may also be the fault of a driver.
Medline Plus examines some of the physical damage that crush injuries can cause. This may include:
- Compartment syndrome
- Bruising and bleeding
- Laceration
- Bone breaks or fractures
- Nerve injury
- Secondary infections
Almost all crush injuries come with the risk of severe damage, both in the short term and in the long term. If a victim is crushed for a long period of time, they risk troubles with circulation or compartment syndrome, which can cause irreversible and crucial harm to blood vessels, soft tissue, and nerves. Even if the victim is removed quickly, they could face broken bones, nerve damage and intense internal bleeding which can be difficult to treat.
Crush injuries can easily land a victim in the hospital for quite a while. Because of this, it is important for victims to understand their compensation options.