Motorcycle accidents can injure many body parts, from your foot to your skull. However, the most likely injury suffered in a motorcycle accident is a leg injury — strains, sprains, and fractures can cause your legs to swell.
But you do not need to injure your legs to experience leg swelling. Blood clots and poor circulation can also allow fluid to build up in the legs, making your recovery painful and lengthy. One reason for that is a physical therapist might not work with your legs until the swelling goes down.
Here’s what else might impact swelling and how it can affect your claim for compensation in Las Vegas, NV.
How Battle Born Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Accident in Las Vegas, NV
Battle Born Injury Lawyers has represented Las Vegas, Nevada, accident victims since 2010. Our Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyers have over 85 years of combined experience fighting at-fault entities and their insurers for our clients, and we have recovered over $100 million for people injured by the actions of others.
Every client of Battle Born Injury Lawyers receives compassionate and aggressive representation with:
- A free initial consultation to discuss your injuries and legal options
- Skilled negotiation to try to settle your case without resorting to litigation
- Extensive experience working for and against insurance companies in court
A motorcycle crash can disable an accident victim’s legs, preventing them from lifting, walking, or even standing. Contact our Battle Born Injury Lawyers at (702) 570-9000 for a free consultation to discuss your motorcycle crash injuries and the accident compensation you can pursue.
How Many Motorcycle Accidents Cause Leg Swelling?
Nevada does not release information about specific injuries. But you can use the information Nevada does release to estimate the number of motorcyclists who suffered leg injuries.
According to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Crash Data map, you can search for motorcycle crashes in Las Vegas and the surrounding area. Between 2016 and 2020, this area had 3,686 total motorcycle accidents.
These crashes caused:
- 259 fatal injuries
- 559 serious injuries that required an ambulance
- 1,270 minor injuries that had visible wounds but did not require an ambulance
- 1,098 suspected injuries that produced symptoms (like pain) but no visible wound
In total, 3,186 Las Vegas motorcyclists suffered a fatal or non-fatal injury in the five years between 2016 and 2020.
A study found that between 55% and 60% of injured motorcyclists suffered a leg injury. Therefore, you can estimate that between 1,752 and 1,911 of these injured motorcyclists suffered a leg injury. This works out to approximately 350 to 382 motorcyclists per year with injured legs from a Las Vegas motorcycle crash.
Causes of Leg Swelling After a Motorcycle Accident
Some reasons you might experience leg swelling after a Las Vegas motorcycle accident include:
Soft Tissue Injury
An injury to the soft tissues of your leg can cause it to swell. Some examples of soft tissue injuries include:
- Strained leg muscles or tendons
- Sprained ligaments in your leg joints
- Torn joint cartilage
When you damage soft tissues, the body reacts to the damaged cells by triggering inflammation. Inflammation causes swelling to trap repair cells in the injured area.
This type of swelling might go down with rest, ice packs, and anti-inflammatory medication. The swelling will go away when the soft tissue injury heals in the weeks or months after the accident.
Fractured Bone
Fractured bones can cause leg swelling in two ways. First, when bones fracture, the injury will swell to stop any bleeding. Swelling constricts blood vessels to prevent blood loss and causes the body to retain fluids near the injury.
Second, bones heal when the blood clot forms over the fracture. If a piece of the clot breaks off, it can get trapped in your veins, and the blocked veins will swell.
Infection
Infections happen when microorganisms enter the body through an open wound, after which your body triggers an inflammatory response to stop them before they multiply. Inflammation traps and destroys harmful microorganisms, swelling squeezes blood vessels shut, and fevers kill them.
However, infections and the inflammatory response can make you very sick. Antibiotics will kill the microorganisms and prompt your body to stop swelling and fever.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) happens when poor circulation causes blood clots to form in the deep veins of your legs or arms. This can happen when you cannot move after an accident. The lack of movement slows your circulation and promotes clot formation.
Recent Surgery
Surgery causes your body to increase the volume of clotting factors in your blood. These proteins stick to each other to stop any bleeding from your surgery. But they can also form clots that block your veins and cause swelling.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Las Vegas Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Leg swelling can interfere with your ability to work, perform household tasks, or even care for yourself. Contact Battle Born Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your injuries and the compensation you can seek for them. Our Las Vegas motorcycle accident attorneys work for a contingency fee, so you’ll only pay us attorney’s fees if we settle or win your case.
