Car wrecks can leave people with all kinds of serious injuries. Some people hurt their brains or injure their spinal cords. They may have permanent medical challenges that require ongoing care for the rest of their lives. Those severe injuries can also affect their earning potential and quality of life.
When compared with paralysis, a fracture or broken bone may not seem very serious. After all, modern medicine offers a variety of treatment options for broken bones. Many people simply need to undergo imaging tests to pinpoint the location of the fracture and then have medical professionals set the bone. After the bone knits, the cast comes off, and the patient undergoes physical therapy to regain lost strength and range of motion.
Some people make the mistake of rushing through insurance claims after a car crash causes a broken bone. They may fail to recognize how costly a fracture can actually be. Why are broken bones sometimes surprisingly expensive?
Treatment isn’t always simple
People who have basic fractures may only require minimal medical intervention. However, not all fractures involve a single break and stable bone placement.
Sometimes, the bone breaks in multiple places. Other times, the force of the fracture leaves the bone displaced. It might even push through the musculature and skin. More serious fractures may require surgical intervention and hospitalization. People may incur tens of thousands of dollars in treatment costs alone.
Broken bones stop people from working
The bone that someone breaks, the severity of the fracture and their underlying health issues all influence how long the bone takes to heal. Simple fractures often require between six and eight weeks of rest for the bone to knit.
Older adults, those with compromised immune systems and those with more extreme fractures may require several months of rest before they fully recover. They may not be able to work at all during that time if they have blue-collar jobs.
Those who can work may require light duty, which may mean they don’t earn their typical wages. In more extreme cases, functional limitations may persist long after the bone heals because of the severity of the injury.
The injured person may have to permanently move to a lower-paying profession because of their fracture. Understanding the long-term prognosis and career consequences of a car wreck injury is crucial for the protection of the injured party.
People may need help estimating their total losses when they pursue car crash compensation. Discussing the collision and the injuries it generated with a skilled legal team may help people optimize their economic recovery after a wreck.