Car accidents are often associated with life-threatening physical harm, such as severe traumatic brain injuries. However, even non-life-threatening injuries can pose substantial hardships, often requiring multiple expensive surgeries.
Take, for example, hand crush injuries. Imagine your hand’s intricate network of bones, tendons and nerves. A car accident can crush this delicate system between the steering wheel, dashboard or other objects. Simple fractures may mend with minimal intervention, but crushing hand injuries typically require multiple surgeries to reconstruct bones and mend torn tendons and ligaments. Despite these efforts, regaining full hand function is often a long and arduous journey.
Internal organ damage
The sudden impact of a crash can cause blunt force trauma to vulnerable internal organs like the spleen or liver. While internal bleeding might not be immediately apparent, it can be life-threatening. Emergency surgery may be necessary to stop the bleeding and repair the organ damage. Unfortunately, follow-up surgeries are sometimes required if complications arise from the initial injuries.
Spinal cord injuries
Injuries involving the spinal cord are some of the most devastating. The force of the impact can damage the vertebrae, nerves, and spinal cord itself – leading to paralysis, weakness and loss of sensation. Surgery may be necessary to stabilize the spine and relieve pressure on the spinal cord. Many spinal cord injuries are permanent, and recovery may involve additional procedures to manage pain, prevent complications and improve quality of life.
The takeaway
If you have recently been injured in a wreck caused by another’s negligence, do not discount the possibility that you may require future medical procedures for your car accident injuries. A thorough medical assessment documenting the potential need for future care can strengthen your claim.