Some injuries sustained during motor vehicle collisions have permanent consequences. A spinal cord injury or brain injury is unlikely to respond to treatment. People may develop permanent functional limitations because of the traumatic injuries that result from a wreck.
Other injuries are typically easy to treat. Fractures or broken bones generally respond to treatment. Doctors can easily diagnose these injuries, and patients make a full recovery most of the time. Individuals with broken bones caused by car crashes may assume that insurance can fully cover their expenses and losses. They might learn the hard way that broken bones are often far more costly than people realize.
Bones take time to heal
People who receive immediate medical intervention can begin healing from a fracture as quickly as a few hours after the initial trauma. Health care professionals can set the bone and immobilize the affected body part. The body then begins healing automatically.
Unfortunately, fractures generally take at least eight weeks to heal. More severe fractures can take longer to heal. Underlying medical conditions can also increase the timeline for recovery.
People may have to address not just the costs of their treatment and the physical therapy that they require to regain lost function but also the wages they cannot earn after getting hurt. Insurance coverage may not be enough to replace two months or more of lost income in addition to paying hospital bills.
Some fractures are worse than others
In some cases, broken bones may require surgery to treat. If the bone breaks into many small pieces or tears the skin, surgical treatment is likely necessary.
Other times, the fracture may not be particularly severe, but it may cause secondary medical complications. Nerve damage, extensive scarring and other complications can make a fracture a more costly and debilitating injury than people expect.
Recognizing that a fracture can be financially devastating could help those hoping to pursue compensation after a car crash. It’s important to know the long-term prognosis for any crash-related injuries before addressing financial concerns. People with broken bones may need to evaluate their circumstances carefully with a skilled legal team before settling an insurance claim or declining to take legal action as a result.