Some people consider themselves lucky when they leave the scene of a crash with a fracture or broken bone. There are many potentially catastrophic injuries that people can incur in a motor vehicle collision.
Fractures typically respond well to treatment and often lead to a full recovery. They are far less expensive than brain injuries or spinal cord injuries in most cases. Unfortunately, the potential for recovery might make people inappropriately dismissive about the risk created by fractures in a crash scenario. Yet, despite what people might assume, fractures can actually put people’s lives at risk or can change their future forever.
How can fractures lead to life-altering consequences for those affected?
Open fractures can lead to death
An open or compound fracture almost always causes panic at the scene of a crash. The injured person and anyone else present may have a visceral reaction to seeing bone protruding from an open wound. Not only is an open fracture visually upsetting, but it can endanger an individual’s life. The blood loss possible after sustaining an open fracture can prove fatal in extreme cases. People can also develop severe infections even with medical care that includes surgery to set and disinfect the open fracture. They may also sustain nerve damage that can affect their function and day-to-day life even after the fracture heals.
Comminuted fractures create many challenges
There are different types of comminuted fractures where the bone breaks into many pieces. Some people are familiar with the term spiral fracture, which refers to a comminuted fracture caused by twisting force applied to the affected body part.
Comminuted fractures typically require surgery to set. Doctors may have to use pins or rods to reinforce the affected body part. In some cases, such as crush injury scenarios, doctors may not be able to set or repair a fracture where the bone breaks into many tiny pieces. Instead, they may reach the conclusion that surgical amputation is the only viable form of treatment. Even if doctors can set a bone, those with comminuted fractures may find that they suffer a long-term reduction in their strength and range of motion in the affected body part. The fracture can forever compromise the overall integrity of the bone.
Those who suffer severe fractures may require more compensation than they can obtain through insurance alone. Filing a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary for those who sustain more severe car crash injuries, including broken bones. People who understand that fractures aren’t always simple and affordable to treat can more effectively avoid making mistakes, such as settling a crash claim too early and for too little.