A severe car crash will alter a victim’s life in many ways. One of the consequences of a severe car crash can include broken bones. The severity of those broken bones will vary based on the severity of the impact of the car crash and the victim.
When it comes to broken bones, a person’s best hope is that they can be set with a cast and allowed to heal over time. However, many times broken bones, especially those caused by a car crash, have far greater complications.
Complicated fractures often require surgery to place plates, screws, and pins to put the bones back together appropriately to allow for the best outcomes after healing. All surgery comes with a certain amount of risk that a patient could experience. Pain, swelling, blood clots, discomfort, hospital stays, and follow-up doctor visits all cause suffering and inconvenience to the victim of car crash.
The healing process post-surgery will include pain, limited or no mobility in the affected joints, physical therapy or occupational therapy, and the possibility of long-term complications as a result of the broken bones or the surgery.
Whether a person breaks an arm or a leg, the long-term risks are similar and can include joint pain, infection, nerve or blood vessel damage, compartment syndrome, arthritis, or uneven bone length change after healing. If a person who has experienced broken bones has any numbness or circulation problems accompanied with the pain, he or she should seek medical attention immediately. This could be a sign of infection, nerve or blood vessel damage, or possibly compartment syndrome. “Excessive swelling of the injured arm can cut off the blood supply to part of the arm, causing pain and numbness. Typically occurring 24 to 48 hours after the injury, compartment syndrome is a medical emergency that requires surgery.”
Complications such as joint pain and arthritis may not be experienced until after the healing process. Recovery of 100% of joint mobility likely will not be determined until after the healing process is done and physical or occupational therapy has been started. Arthritis is a condition that causes pain long after the broken bones have healed.
Being in a severe car crash is a traumatic event in and of itself. Suffering broken bones as a result can lead to weeks and months of painful recovery, and even years of long-term complications after the bones have healed.
If you or someone you know suffered a serious injury in a severe car crash, please contact Alexander Law Group, LLP immediately to discuss your rights. Call 888.777.1776 right now, for a free, confidential, and personal consultation with one of our attorneys or contact us online.
