Comprised of large bones, cartilage, and many different types of muscle, tissue, and fiber, your hips are incredibly strong and among the most durable parts of the body. However, the hip joint is complex—and like any complex system, any weakness could have far-reaching repercussions, impacting almost every facet of your day-to-day life.
Making Sense of Hip Injuries
Your hips are where the femur meets the pelvis.
Healthy hips have two main components: the rounded, ball-like fixture at the end of each femur, and two corresponding sockets. Medical professionals refer to this type of joint as a ball-and-socket joint.
Ball-and-socket joints, particularly those in the hips, are usually very stable. Since it takes a lot to hurt the hips, most related injuries fall into one of the following categories:
- Overuse injuries. Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive motion, which can inflict limited damage to bone, tissue, and muscle. Over time, these minor injuries can worsen, leading to a tear or strain.
- Acute injuries. Acute injuries are typically caused by physical trauma, such as a car crash, motorcycle collision, or slip-and-fall accident. Many acute hip injuries are debilitating and accompanied by injuries to other parts of the body.
- Chronic injuries. Chronic injuries can be caused by overuse, physical trauma, or age-related diseases like osteoarthritis.
In New York, any hip injury caused by another person’s negligence could give you, or a loved one, standing to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, hip injuries aren’t just physically complex; they can raise significant legal questions and concerns, too.
3 Reasons Hip Injuries Are Often More Serious
Any serious hip injury can be life-altering in more ways than one.
For most accident victims, the best outcome for a seriously injured hip is a period of limited mobility. Losing your ability to walk unassisted for a few days, weeks, or months may not sound like a great outcome. Still, hip injuries are associated with a higher-than-average chance of medical complications. This is because:
- Age Can Make Hip Injuries Worse
As a general rule, your body’s ability to repair itself grows worse with age. Between decreased bone density and pre-existing medical conditions, older adults often face a long and uphill battle to recovery. Hip injuries also introduce a slew of other potential complications and can lead to infection, clots, and other life-threatening conditions.
- Mobility-related Issues Could Impact Your Independence
A hip injury at any age can make walking painful, if not outright impossible. Even if you’re young, healthy, and confident in your ability to bounce back, healing may necessitate taking time away from work, leaving you without an income and making it difficult to keep a roof over your head.
- Most Hip Injuries Take a Long Time to Heal
The complexity of the hip joint means that traumatic injuries and chronic pain can be very, very difficult to treat. A simple hip fracture, for instance, usually needs at least a few months to heal. In some cases, treatment for non-life-threatening hip injuries can take a year or more.
Asserting Your Right to a Fair Recovery
You shouldn’t feel stuck paying for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
If you, or a loved one, were injured in an accident that was not your fault, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you explore your options for recovery. Please call us today at 716-839-3939 to speak to a hip injury lawyer near Buffalo, New York, and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.