Car accidents are terrifying experiences. Naturally, the first thing most people do after a crash is inspect themselves and anyone else in the vehicle for injuries.
All kinds of injuries are possible in a collision, including traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Compared to these severe possibilities, a broken bone may seem like a minor problem. However, broken bones can cost you thousands of dollars and require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Just healing the bone can take a full six weeks
While you may feel lucky to have escaped a serious motor vehicle accident with only a broken bone, it’s still a serious injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may have required surgery to set. Sometimes pins or metal rods are necessary. Once the bone is set, your body can start healing. Often, you have to spend days or weeks in a cast or even in traction.
It usually takes about six weeks for a bone to heal, depending on the bone. Some, like lower leg fractures, could take up to 24 weeks to fully heal. Others, like toes or the collarbone, could heal in as little as three weeks. However, the bone knitting is only the first stage. Next, you have to undergo physical therapy to regain strength, flexibility and range of motion in the affected limb or extremity.
The costs from a broken bone add up quickly
The first and most obvious expense from a crash involving broken bones is trauma care. You likely received urgent or emergency care at a local medical facility. In some cases, surgery is necessary. Other times, X-rays and manual setting of the bone are the major expenses. There will be additional medical costs for physical therapy as your recovery progresses.
You will also likely miss out on a lot of wages while you recover. In fact, depending on your job, you may not have the ability to work at all during your recovery and rehabilitation. For some people, simple accommodations by employers, like a new desk or a stool, could make returning to work an option. For others, there will be no work until recovery is complete.
When looking at an insurance settlement or considering a personal injury lawsuit, it’s important to account for all the costs of your crash. Especially in situations where the accident was the result of drunk driving, texting while driving or another form of negligence, it is wise to have an experienced legal advocate on your side to help you get the maximum available compensation. After all, you shouldn’t have to pay medical bills and other costs resulting from someone else’s negligent or reckless actions.
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