The devastation that a serious car crash can cause to the human body is immense. Even with all of the safety features that newer-model vehicles have, a person can be left with catastrophic injuries.
Even when those injuries aren’t fatal, they can affect a person’s mobility and overall health for the rest of their lives. There are a number of types of catastrophic crash injuries with names most people have never heard. Here, we’ll focus on just two.
Orthopedic trauma injuries
These are injuries to one or more parts of the musculoskeletal system that are caused by a violent external force – like a car crash. They can also be caused by a fall from a high place, a violent attack or other sudden force on a body. Anything from a torn muscle to a compound fracture to an amputated limb could be considered an orthopedic trauma injury.
Complex polytrauma
A person suffers complex polytrauma if they have multiple serious injuries to different parts of their body. Complex polytrauma can include orthopedic trauma. Someone who has been the victim of a serious crash, for example, may have musculoskeletal injuries as well as serious burns or perhaps a traumatic brain injury.
Treatment for these injuries often begins at a trauma center, where a patient is stabilized. They may then be moved to another hospital for surgery and further treatment. Rehabilitation, including physical and occupational therapy, is often necessary to help someone gain as much mobility as possible and learn to live with whatever the long-term or permanent effects of their injuries are.
Don’t agree to an early settlement offer
A patient and their family can be looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars or more in potential medical and other expenses. It can be tempting to accept an early offer from an at-fault driver’s insurance company to be able to start paying bills.
Most insurers would like that, because then they wouldn’t be responsible for the true cost of the crash. That’s why it’s critical to get experienced legal guidance as soon as possible to help ensure that you’re able to get a settlement that reflects your economic and non-economic damages.