Have you considered how a simple car accident can change your life physically, emotionally, and financially? The most common type of injuries are injuries that are caused by mere car accidents and most of these are presumably orthopedic injuries. Such injuries affect the skeletal framework of the body, including bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons, and can lead to simple fractures, or become complicated life-altering afflictions.
Accident survivors should be aware of what orthopedic injuries are, the implications they have, and what legal and medical services to seek. There are a couple of general orthopedic injuries likely to occur due to car accidents, which is why one should seek immediate medical attention, and hire an orthopedic injury attorney who can help victims receive compensation for their pain and damage.
- Understanding Orthopedic Injuries Related to Car Accidents
- The Importance of Medical Help in Car Accidents
- Why You Need an Orthopedic Injury Attorney?
- Hire a Car Accident Attorney Today
Understanding Orthopedic Injuries Related to Car Accidents
This stress is usually very high in car accidents since the impact experienced usually has many effects on the body especially on the musculoskeletal system. This is especially because orthopedic injuries are very common and their impact on the quality of life of the victims depends on the type of accident occurred. Below are the most frequent types of orthopedic injuries:
1. Bone Fractures
Most fractures and injuries happen when a bone is subjected to a force that exceeds its capacity to bend or withstand impact. Common fractures from car accidents include:
- Arm and Leg Fractures: These occur from getting a direct blow or from preparing to take a blow.
- Rib Fractures: This mostly results from the exerting force exerted by the seat belts or when hitting the wheel.
- Skull Fractures: Head injuries are the worst kind of injury as they can cause skull fractures and may also involve brain damage.
Fractures can be classified as:
- Simple Fractures: It cracks but it does not penetrate the skin.
- Compound Fractures: The bone penetrates the skin and increases the chances of getting an infection.
2. Joint Dislocations
A collision generally dislodges joints due to the force involved in the crash, especially in high-energy crashes.
- Shoulder Dislocations: These usually happen when passengers brace themselves in a car crash.
- Hip Dislocations: Hip dislocation often occurs in side collision accidents.
- Knee Dislocations: Most often caused by dashboard impacts.
These dislocations may lead to strain injuries of ligaments, tendons, and muscles; in some cases, surgery may be needed to regain the function of these joints.
3. Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
The spine, or back, is the area most susceptible to harm in car accidents which range from mild sprain to serious orthopedic injuries.
- Herniated Discs: The jerks that occur between bones in your back can alter or tear the spacing, which then puts pressure on nerves — causing pain.
- Spinal Fractures: These can lead to paralysis or backache that may be chronic.
- Whiplash: A frequent soft tissue injury that happens when the neck snaps and extends violently.
4. Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries may be an injury, which affect the muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
- Sprains and Strains: These impact mobility and the majority of them demand the service of physical therapy.
- Rotator Cuff Tears: Common in collisions where the shoulder absorbs significant force.
5. Crush Injuries
There can be severe accidents that lead to crush injuries where the body parts are squeezed/crushed under a force. These injuries can cause:
- Compartment Syndrome: An ailment characterized by the occurrence of swelling, capable of impeding blood supply to tissues and thus causing tissue death.
- Amputations: In extreme cases, sometimes, there is significant harm that results in part amputation.
The Importance of Medical Help in Car Accidents
Individuals should rush to the hospital as soon as possible if they have experienced a car accident even in cases when they have no severe pain. Delayed care of these injuries can worsen them and also slow down the rehabilitation process. Below are the main reasons why prompt treatment is crucial:
1. The Evaluation of Hidden Injuries
Sometimes people who are part of an accident may not be externally injured and may feel alright, however, one must seek immediate medical help. Oftentimes adrenaline can dull pains, and this may mean that such things as fractures or tendons and ligament tears may not be apparent for hours or days. The use of diagnostic equipment such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans can help detect injuries early and this will facilitate early treatment.
2. Preventing Long-Term Complications
Delayed treatment can lead to severe complications:
- Chronic Pain: Part and parcel of every injury is the constant pain that it brings if left without treatment.
- Arthritis: If joint injuries are not treated, then complications such as arthritis are very likely to occur.
- Reduced Mobility: Accidents, if not handled well, may cause some people to develop long-term disabilities.
3. Legal Implications
Any personal injury claim cannot go without proper medical records. Early medical attention helps to develop a direct correlation between the incident and your condition in a lawsuit. Delaying medical help can affect your case when hiring an orthopedic injury attorney for negotiating with insurance companies, as insurance companies will be able to reject your claim stating the injury was not treated after the accident and may be a pre-existing one.
Why You Need an Orthopedic Injury Attorney?
Car accidents can be confusing and hard to handle. Every individual who has been involved in a car accident will admit that the situation becomes complex to manage. Dealing with medication, treatments, and legalities can become stressful. An experienced orthopedic injury attorney can provide the required support by:
1. Evaluating Your Case
Attorneys assess the full scope of your damages, including:
- Medical Costs: A car accident attorney will help you to evaluate the expenditure of your accident; stuff including medical bills, OPD visits, physiotherapy sessions, and future medication costs.
- Lost Wages: Orthopedic injury attorneys understand the impact of an accident and are aware that in some cases, you may not be able to work for a prolonged time so they calculate your lost wages during your period of absence from work and ensure to include in the compensation list.
- Pain and Suffering: It often becomes difficult to go back to your old ways after an accident, and the emotional, physical, and mental pain and suffering that come along with it are hidden from no one. An orthopedic injury attorney will see to it that you receive your rightful compensation for your pain and suffering.
2. Gathering Evidence
Car accident attorneys listen, understand, and analyze your case thoroughly, gathering every bit of evidence, to develop your claim.
- Accident Reports: A car accident attorney will ensure to attain copies of police reports and all official documents relating to your accident.
- Witness Statements: The statements of bystanders and passengers during the time of the incident are of utmost importance, and an orthopedic injury attorney understands that.
- Medical Records: Photographs documenting your injuries and medical treatment that has been administered to you.
3. Dealing with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies will do everything in their power to ensure you receive as little compensation as possible. An orthopedic injury attorney can counter these tactics by:
- Presenting a Strong Case: Orthopedic injury attorneys bring forward factual evidence and expert opinions about your case.
- Demanding Fair Compensation: Making sure that the compensation provided covers all damages from start to finish.
4. Representing You in Court
If your case is not resolved outside of court and the compensation you are being given is mediocre and unfair, then a car accident attorney will make sure you’re represented fairly in court by:
- Presenting Evidence: Employ the analyses of car accident reconstructions together with the witnesses’ statements to justify your demand.
- Arguing Your Case: Demand the highest compensation from a judge or a jury.
Hire a Car Accident Attorney Today
Fractures and broken bones are common orthopedic injuries during a car accident, but the repercussions faced after are unique to each and every case. And when you’re at a crossroads and don’t know what to do, it is then that you should seek the advice of experts. Experts in the medical and legal fields. While one treats your injury and focuses on your physical, emotional, and mental rejuvenation, the other fights for your rights and ensures you receive a fair and just compensation.
Seeking legal help is as important as treating your post-accident wounds. An orthopedic injury attorney helps you through the entire process of law and makes sure you’re getting your fair share of reimbursement for your medical expenses, lost wages, and all the other related damages. It is high time you reached out to a professional orthopedic injury attorney to protect your legal claims and get you the right amount of compensation. This means while you are nursing your wounds, a professional works on your case to ensure that you get justice.
