Glendale Jaw Injury (TMJ) Lawyer
If you suffered TMJ or other jaw injuries in Glendale, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries. You will need the assistance of an experienced Glendale car accident injury attorney. Call (818) 550-1111 now for a free consultation.
Representing Glendale Jaw Injury Victims
A temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located on each side of your face. It functions like a sliding hinge, connecting the jawbone to the skull. TMJ and other jaw injuries caused by trauma can be both painful and long-lasting. If you have suffered TMJ or a jaw injury in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, it is in your best interests to consult with an experienced Glendale car accident injury attorney regarding legal action to recover compensation.
What Are the Common Causes of TMJ or Jaw Injuries?
TMJ and jaw injuries are frequently sustained by victims of motor vehicle collisions and other traumatic accidents. Common causes include:
- Car and truck accidents: A rear-end collision can cause whiplash and a dislocated jaw. The force of impact in a crash involving a large commercial truck is even greater. When a driver or passenger’s jaw is struck against the interior of the vehicle in a crash, it can lead to TMJ disorder.
- Motorcycle collisions: Damage to the jaw and temporomandibular joints is common in motorcycle accidents, whether or not the rider is wearing a helmet. When the TMJ bones are fractured in a crash, it may lead to chronic pain in the head and face and other TMJ disorder symptoms.
- Workplace accidents: Industrial accidents rank among the most common causes of a broken or dislocated jaw. This can happen if a worker gets hit in the face with a shovel, injures the jaw in a slip and fall accident, or gets hit by an item falling off a shelf.
- Sports injuries: Injuries to the head, neck, or jaw in different sports can result in temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) when the joint is torn, pulled, stretched, misaligned, or degraded. TMJ damage can occur, for example, when a player falls down on the court or is hit in the face by a ball.
- Assaults: The most common cause of a dislocated or broken jaw is injury to the face, as stated by Mount Sinai. Assault crimes are one of the main causes of facial injury.
What Are the Different Types of TMJ or Jaw Injuries?
Trauma to the face can cause different types of TMJ and jaw injuries, including:
- Fractures: The mandible (lower jawbone) can be fractured in any of several locations. Symptoms may include bleeding from the mouth or nose, bruising in the jaw or cheek area, facial numbness, and difficulty breathing, swallowing, eating, or talking.
- Dislocation: Jaw dislocation occurs when the mandible moves out of either of the two temporomandibular joints connecting it to the skull. A dislocated jaw can make eating or speaking difficult and painful.
- Sprains: The trauma of an accident can stretch the ligaments surrounding the jaw, causing a sprain. Symptoms may include pain and stiffness in the jaw, decreased range of motion, neck pain, headache, earache, and jaw clicking or locking.
- TMJ disorders: TMJ dysfunction can lead to pain and discomfort, difficulty chewing, and clicking locking of the jaw joint.
Who Can Be Held Liable for TMJ or Jaw Injuries?
If you have suffered TMJ or jaw injury in a Glendale accident that was someone else’s fault, the responsible party may be held liable for your injuries. You may be entitled to recover damages such as medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. Evidence to support your claim may include the accident or police report, medical records of the treatment you received, eyewitness testimony, camera footage, etc.
Our Glendale TMJ lawyer can investigate your accident to determine fault and liability and assess the full extent of your losses. Call Aratta Law Firm at (818) 550-1111.