Suppose you have injured your heel in a motorcycle accident or slip, trip and fall. Let’s say hypothetically; the accident was not your fault. In that case, you should seek legal representation from an experienced personal injury attorney from Ehline Law Firm in Los Angeles. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims and can help you hold all liable parties accountable. Contact Ehline Law Firm for a free consultation and case review today! So before we discuss some ways you may avoid being stuck with a heel injury, let’s look at most personal injury claims our law office deals with as part of the legal process.

Understanding the Heel of the Foot: What Functions Does It Serve?

The human foot is the lower part of the leg that connects to the ankle. It assists the body in standing upright and walking by bearing its weight. The foot is a dynamic, complicated portion of the body that consists of 33 joints, 26 bones, 42 muscles, over 50 tendons and ligaments, and numerous blood vessels and nerves.

With all of these components, the foot has developed to assist the toes, ball, and heel in moving together while also withstanding massive amounts of force. It also means that it is easily prone to damage when exposed to high-impact accidents. A fractured heel can occur in various ways, all involving serious accidents. One of the most critical components of the foot is the calcaneus, the prominent bone that makes up the heel of the foot. The heel has several vital roles.

These include bearing the body’s weight, providing a place for the Achilles tendon to attach, allowing for even weight distribution by forming the foot arch, and providing stability and flexibility to the ankle joint. When there is an injury to the calcaneus bone, these functions are jeopardized, preventing accident victims from carrying out their daily tasks.

These personal injuries are often serious because it may take several weeks or even months for the calcaneus bone to recover and regain its function. Occasionally, a heel injury can lead to permanent disabilities, so receiving fair compensation becomes a lifeline rather than just an option.

What Is a Heel Injury?

The calcaneus is a bone located on the back of the heel of your foot. While this bone is often taken for granted, significant impact to the heel can cause the bone to be fractured. A calcaneus fracture is a crippling and life-changing event for personal injury victims.

Inflammation, pain, bruises, and difficulty walking are all indications of a calcaneus fracture. The truth is that heel injuries can be excruciatingly painful and can result in a victim being unable to walk for a long time. Calcaneus fractures affecting the subtalar joint are especially troublesome. This is because they always appear to result in arthritis.

Intra-articular fractures (fractures extending from the bone into a nearby joint) are the most prevalent heel fracture in personal injury cases. High-impact motor vehicle crashes and serious slip-and-fall incidents are the most common causes of this type of fracture. Surprisingly, the majority of calcaneus fractures occur when individuals land on their two feet.

How Do Heel Injuries Occur?

As mentioned before, heel injuries occur as a result of high-impact accidents. These include car accidents, falls from a height, or crush injuries. In the section below, we take a closer look at how some of these accidents can cause catastrophic injuries to the heel of the foot.

1. The High-impact Car Accident or Truck Accident

The calcaneus bone is one of the body’s most prominent and strongest bones. As a result, a high-energy occurrence, such as an auto accident, is required for a heel fracture or broken bone to occur. In certain types of car crashes, the heel might be directly impacted.

Car accident victims extend their feet to apply the brakes when they encounter an obstacle and have to stop quickly. Should the front of the vehicle become smashed during the accident, the heel of the foot may take the bulk of the stress. A serious heel fracture can result from this high-energy event.

Truck accidents account for more than 130,000 personal injuries in the United States. Because of the sheer weight and size of a truck, it is a lot easier for serious injuries to occur. These truck accidents can cause a motorist’s foot to become crushed along with the front of the vehicle during a collision, causing bones to break or become fractured.

Laws in Los Angeles Regarding Car Accidents

California state laws apply in Los Angeles, and California is a no-fault state when it comes to car crashes. Following a collision, all harmed individuals seek financial compensation from the insurance company of the party responsible for causing the accident. Before filing a Los Angeles personal injury claim, your lawyer must determine the cause of the collision and who the offender is.

Pure comparative negligence laws may apply when it comes to car accidents. According to legislation, even if a plaintiff contributes to their own car crash, they are still awarded compensation for their damages. However, the compensation is determined by the percentage of fault attributed to the plaintiff.

If you were wounded in an auto accident and want to pursue a personal injury claim against the person or people who caused it, you only have two years in which to do so. All Loss Angeles personal injury claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the collision.

However, if you want to make a simple property damage claim, you have three years to do so. Act swiftly to ensure that you reach your filing deadline. Courts in Los Angeles do not consider personal injury cases filed after the statute of limitations has expired.

A Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Determining liability when a car accident occurs can be difficult for a novice. This is why it is essential to contact a veteran car accident lawyer with experience from Ehline Law Firm as soon as possible.

Your aggressive Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can help you gather evidence in the form of witness statements, police reports, medical bills, and surveillance footage to build your truck or car accident case. Book your free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer without delay to discuss your personal injury claim today!

2. Falling from a Height

A fall from a considerable height is another high-energy or high-impact incident that can result in a heel fracture or broken bone. If you attempt to land on your feet when falling from a great height, your heel bears the brunt of the fall, resulting in a heel injury.

Here are a few common examples of scenarios where people fall from a height:

• Falling out the window of a tall building
• Accidents that result in a person falling from a rooftop
• Falling off a balcony
• Working unsafely at a height.

Contacting a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney for Your Slip and Fall Accident

Suppose you have been the victim of a slip-and-fall accident resulting from someone else’s negligent actions. In that case, you may be entitled to compensation. We suggest you contact a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer from Ehline Law Firm as soon as possible.

Personal injury lawyers can help you determine who is responsible for your injuries and file a personal injury claim on your behalf, so you can receive the compensation you deserve for the damages you suffered as a result of your slip and fall accident.

3. Heel-crushing Injuries

Heel-crushing injuries can result in a number of significant complications. When a bone is crushed, it is usually broken in several places, often causing damage to nearby soft tissue, making the rehabilitation process significantly more difficult.

This type of injury can occur anywhere and for a number of reasons. Suppose you are in a building that has been poorly built, and the ceiling collapses, crushing your foot.

In that case, you should hold the property owner or building company responsible for your injury. Here are a few examples of how heel-crushing accidents can occur:

• Having a heavy object fall on your foot
• If a ceiling or roof falls in, a crush injury to the heel might occur
• Heavy machinery can trap a person’s foot in moving parts, resulting in a fracture or broken heel bone.

The Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers at Ehline Law Firm Have Experience Dealing with Heel Crushing Injuries

Experienced personal injury attorneys at Ehline Law Firm in Los Angeles could help you obtain the maximum compensation if you were injured in a heel-crushing incident. When a heavy object falls onto a person’s foot, the result is often catastrophic and irreversible. In some cases, victims may lose the use of their feet entirely, which can alter their lives significantly.

Personal injury lawyers can help you by fighting for your legal rights, so you can pay for your medical expenses and be compensated for the pain and suffering you experienced because of someone else’s negligence.

Every heel-crushing accident is different and includes its own set of facts, so be sure to discuss the unique details of your personal injury case during your free consultation with an Ehline Law personal injury attorney.

4. Los Angeles Motorcycle Accidents

When a person is injured in a motorcycle accident, it isn’t just painful; it may also limit her movement for the rest of her life. As a result of foot injuries, some motorcyclists must deal with permanent ramifications in their professional and personal lives.

It is not unusual for an injury to result in several broken or fractured bones in the foot. This is because, unlike a car accident, nothing protects the driver from the impact when a motorcycle is involved in a collision.

Therefore, motorcycle accidents are more serious than other motor vehicle accidents. A metatarsal fracture (a fracture of one of the bones that form the toes) is one of the most common foot injuries sustained in a motorcycle collision. However, heel injuries may also be sustained during a motorcycle accident.

If a rider sustains numerous metatarsal fractures, they almost certainly require surgery to repair these damages. They may face persistent discomfort, pain, and limited mobility for the rest of their lives.

Why It Is Essential to Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm When a Motorcycle Accident Occurs

As already mentioned, the effects of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. Those who sustain heel and foot injuries during a serious accident should contact one of the experienced personal injury lawyers from Ehline Law Firm. A personal injury attorney can help motorcycle accident victims obtain the compensation they need to cover past medical and future expenses that victims may not have considered.

An insurance company often offers personal injury victims a low settlement amount to wrap the case up quickly and prevent them from pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. The good news is that Ehline Law attorneys in Los Angeles have experience dealing with some of the toughest insurance companies in the city, so you can rest assured that you have the best chance of receiving fair compensation for your damages.

Diagnosing a Calcaneus Fracture or Broken Heel Bone

Here are some things physicians look for when assessing a heel injury.

Fracture Lines

Los Angeles orthopedic physicians search for fracture lines where the impact to the bone has occurred. Doctors typically search for a Bohler’s angle by examining the position of the bones in the foot.

Foot Misalignment

Another indication of a calcaneus fracture is damage to the bone’s cortex or its trabecular pattern, essentially checking whether the foot is misaligned. An x-ray taken from three or four distinct angles is the best method to determine the severity of the injury.

Bone Tissue Deposits

The reality is that an X-ray may not detect the stress heel fracture during the first few days following a traumatic heel injury. However, as the bone begins to heal by depositing bone tissue into the fracture region, an x-ray can detect this new tissue. Therefore, victims should not assume they do not have a heel fracture just because an X-ray did not pick up any irregularities.

Blistering, Swelling, and Nerve Damage

Blistering under the foot and severe swelling are common with heel injuries, especially during the first few days. The fracture’s neurovascular condition (the nerves) should be assessed, and compartment syndrome must be considered a possible complication, as it occurs in 10 percent of heel injury cases. Compartment syndrome can lead to clawing of the toes if left unchecked.

Other injuries are present in almost half of all heel injury cases. These include spinal cord injury in the lumbar region, lower extremity fractures, and injuries to soft tissue are all possible.

Treating a Los Angeles Heel Injury

Casting

Casting or splints may be used to repair calcaneal fractures in specific cases. If your doctor tells you that you can treat your heel injury by getting a cast, your odds of a successful recovery are high.

Orthopedic products such as splints and casts are commonly used to safeguard and promote the healing of fractured or damaged joints and bones. They assist in immobilizing the wounded limb to keep the bone firmly in place until it heals completely and is typically made from fiberglass or plaster.

Surgical Intervention

However, the reality is that several heel fractures require surgical intervention since the calcaneus tends to lose its form and alignment following a high-impact injury.

These surgeries are often tricky procedures. To achieve adequate alignment, surgeons must insert screws and a metal plate in the calcaneus. If you have a clean break, you may be able to do without the metal plate.

We typically see comminuted displaced fractures in truck and auto accident personal injury cases, implying that the heel bone tends to break into numerous pieces and become displaced from its normal location.

Complications

Often, broken or fractured bones can affect surrounding areas, leading to posttraumatic complications. This is why it is essential to hold all negligent parties liable for their part in causing the accident.

A personal injury attorney from Ehline Law Firm can help you get the maximum compensation to allow you to cover past and future damages. Below are some of the complications that are commonly associated with heel injuries.

Wound Dehiscence and Infections

The most common complications are wound dehiscence (a rupture of the incision area following surgery) and the cut angle. Muscle flap closure or skin grafting may be required to repair the dehiscence.

Calcaneal osteomyelitis (an infection of the calcaneus bone) is another complication typically associated with heel fractures. This deep infection is incredibly difficult to treat, and in extreme cases, amputation is required.

Posttraumatic Arthritis

It is also possible to develop posttraumatic arthritis. This form of arthritis occurs when there is an injury to the ankle joint, and it can be treated surgically or with shots administered into the joint.

A common consequence of a heel injury is a widening of the heel, and both operative and non-operative calcaneus fractures can lead to a loss of subtalar mobility.

As you may have noticed, heel injuries resulting from a serious accident can be excruciating and life-changing, which is why it is essential to contact a Los Angeles personal injury law firm to pursue compensation.

The Aftermath of Heel Injuries

The consequences of heel injuries are often experienced months or even years after the accident.

Loss of Movement

The movement limitations that an accident victim experiences in the short and long term are one of the most challenging parts of incurring a personal injury in an accident resulting from someone else’s carelessness.

Based on the extent of the injury, a heel injury almost always results in the accident victim being unable to walk for several days, weeks, or even months. Surgery, casts, and braces may be necessary, which can increase the time that a victim is off their feet.

Long-term Effects

After medical treatment, you may suffer long-term movement difficulties, chronic pain, loss of feeling, nerve damage, and even arthritis. Additionally, you may require physical therapy following a heel injury to help you walk again.

Emotional and Financial Implications

It isn’t uncommon for heel injury victims to experience significant emotional distress as a result of sustaining an injury in a crash or accident.

The injury takes away their ability to do things they used to take for granted, such as walking their dog, going dancing, and playing in the garden with their children.

In addition to this, victims often must take time off work, which can result in lost wages and even the loss of their jobs, which adds financial insecurity to the growing distress that accompanies a personal injury.

How Negligence Is Proved in Personal Injury Cases

When you have been injured in an accident, you must prove that another party caused the accident. However, if you choose a qualified lawyer to oversee your case, the lawyer can assist you in determining who is to blame.

Your lawyer knows how to prove carelessness and persuade a jury to side with you by offering reliable evidence. To achieve a settlement or win a lawsuit, your attorney must prove four significant elements.

These are:

• Duty of care. The defendant must have owed you a duty of care. This means that they were responsible for ensuring that their actions did not cause you harm.
• Breach of duty. Next, your lawyer must prove that the defendant neglected to provide this duty of care, which led to your being injured.
• Causation. For the claim to be valid, the defendant’s breach of duty must have caused the accident.
• Damages. Finally, your attorney must prove that the accident resulted in you suffering damages in the form of personal injury and financial and emotional damages.

A personal injury attorney with years of industry experience handling personal injury cases can guide you on how to build your case for the best potential outcome.

Los Angeles Wrongful Death Claims

The reality is that many of the accidents that cause heel injuries can result in fatal injuries. Often, serious personal injuries such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injuries, and other such injuries result in the loss of life.

If you have lost a loved one in Los Angeles, Southern California, contact Ehline Law Firm for a free consultation to seek compensation by filing a wrongful death claim against the liable parties.

In Los Angeles, you have two years to file a claim starting from when your family member died. Only the deceased’s surviving spouse, parent, child, domestic partner, or the estate manager, as assigned by the court, may file a claim for wrongful death.

Like personal injury claims, wrongful death cases in Los Angeles serve to hold negligent parties liable for causing an accident. The decedent’s family members can claim for the medical costs, lost wages, and funeral expenses that they had to pay as a result of the loss of a loved one.

When your family member passes away unexpectedly, it can cause significant financial strain. A wrongful death settlement can help relieve this strain, giving you the freedom to grieve your loss.

What Do Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys Do?

Suppose you have never enlisted the help of a personal injury law firm before. In that case, you may be wondering what precisely a Los Angeles, personal injury lawyer can do for you.

Personal Injury Attorneys Do More than Defend You in Court

You shouldn’t just contact a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer in Southern California, taking your personal injury case to court. On your side, personal injury attorneys can manage every legal process your individual claim entails.

The truth is that most personal injury cases do not require a trial. Instead, your personal injury lawyer works with the relevant insurance company to reach a fair compensation agreement.

Taking Care of Los Angeles Personal Injury Claims

When you engage personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles, you don’t have to worry about the coverage the relevant insurance company offers, benefit restrictions, or dealing with claims adjusters. Your personal injury lawyer can handle these and other related duties on your behalf.

Providing Legal Representation in Court

Suppose your injury case or wrongful death case goes to trial. In that case, your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can defend you in court and seek the maximum amount of compensation for your losses. While you recover from your heel injuries, your lawyer can battle for a favorable outcome in your case.

Covering a Range of Cases in Los Angeles

The experienced personal injury attorneys at the Ehline Law personal injury law offices in Los Angeles cover a wide range of personal injury claims, including:

• Car accidents
• Truck, bus, and train accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Premises liability personal injury claims
• Los Angeles slip and fall accidents
• Construction accidents
• Dog bites
• Wrongful death claims.

What Does It Cost to Hire a Heel Injury Lawyer?

When you choose an attorney from Ehline Law Firm, you do not need to pay until we successfully get a cash award for you. We handle all Los Angeles claims on a contingency fee basis, which means that we only charge for our legal services if we successfully obtain a settlement for our clients.

Rather than paying our legal fees out of your pocket, your attorney is delivered straight from your settlement award. You can discuss the amount that your attorney receives before the settlement is paid out.

Why Choose Ehline Law Firm in Los Angeles for Your Heel Injury Personal Injury Claim

When choosing a personal injury law firm to handle your heel injury case, there are several factors to consider. A firm’s experience in personal injury law is essential, as is its tenacity and ability to take on the most challenging insurance company.

Here are a few reasons to choose Ehline Law Firm:

• We are committed to providing service of the highest standard
• Our firm has a proven track record with several accolades and acknowledgments
• We are not swayed by complex insurance companies or major corporations
• There are many law offices across the country, so you do not need to travel far to receive excellent legal counsel
• Contingency fees mean that you never have to pay legal fees upfront, and your attorney is only paid when you are
• Ehline Law attorneys have access to a wealth of resources that enable them to fight for maximum client compensation.
• You have access to an attorney at any time of the day or night, thanks to a 24/7 legal hotline, so you can talk about the concerns that are keeping you up at night when you need to.

Book Your Free Consultation with a Personal Injury Lawyer Today!

A broken or fractured heel can cause long-term issues such as chronic pain, arthritis, and a loss of movement and almost always requires surgery to repair. This can put much pressure on families financially. It is always wise to talk with a Los Angeles heel injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident caused by another’s negligence. An attorney reviews your case and advised you over your legal options for recovering compensation from the person, business, or government agency who caused your heel trauma. If you have questions about opening a damages claim, our Los Angeles, California, heel injury law firm’s talented legal team can provide the answers. We can tell you everything you need to know so you can protect your family and yourself.

A skilled personal injury attorney can assist families in assessing the accident, examining the injuries, and pursuing damages to aid in rehabilitation. Whether you need to file a wrongful death claim or a personal injury claim, our Los Angeles, personal injury attorneys can help you relieve the financial strain that often accompanies injuries of this nature. Contact Ehline Law Firm in Los Angeles by dialing (213) 596-9642 or completing the online form.