Some car crash injuries are obviously expensive. Injuries that have permanent consequences, such as brain or spinal cord injuries, can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical care alone. They can also have a profound impact on the injured person’s future earning potential.
Treatable injuries, such as fractures, may not seem so serious in comparison. Broken bones generally respond well to modern trauma care. People can recover within weeks with the right support. Most people expect insurance to cover the costs of a fracture after a car wreck. Yet, in some cases, injured people may actually need to file lawsuits.
When a fracture is severe
There are several types of fractures that are particularly severe. Open or compound fractures cause tissue damage and blood loss. The bone pushes through the nearby tissue. The injured person is at risk of severe infection and complications related to blood loss. Other times, a crash could cause a comminuted fracture. The bone may break into multiple small pieces. Both overall treatment expenses and the timeline for recovery are greater when fractures are severe.
Injured people have to consider the cost of surgery and also the wages they cannot earn until they recover. Especially if the driver at fault is uninsured or only carries the minimum insurance required by law, an insurance settlement may not fully cover all of the expenses generated by the fracture.
Reviewing medical records and employment issues with a personal injury attorney can help people address car crash expenses. Even treatable injuries, such as fractures, may require litigation due to associated expenses.