Even with all the safety features that are now standard in most newer-model vehicles, a serious car crash can still cause catastrophic injuries that can affect someone for the rest of their lives if they’re fortunate enough to survive.
Many crashes cause what is known as “orthopedic trauma.” If a loved one has suffered orthopedic trauma, it’s important to understand what that means and what may lie ahead when it comes to treatment, therapy and changes to the way they live. The term is usually used to describe bone, joint and nerve injuries.
Complex polytrauma and other types of orthopedic trauma
You might also hear the term “complex polytrauma.” That’s considered a type of orthopedic trauma. It’s a scary sounding name – with good reason.
With complex polytrauma, multiple parts of the body suffer various types of injuries. For example, a person involved in a serious crash may suffer numerous broken bones, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), severe burns that cause nerve damage and/or spinal injuries that result in paralysis.
Other types of orthopedic trauma include:
- Pelvic and hip fractures
- Axial skeletal fractures (affecting the head through the back)
- Deformities that occur when bones don’t heal properly
All of these can require multiple reconstructive and other surgeries.
Focusing on the future is crucial for getting needed compensation
Emergency treatment typically begins immediately in a Level 1 trauma center with surgery and other interventions aimed at saving a person’s life. That’s just the start of a long road ahead. The good news is that people have a better chance of surviving and healing after orthopedic trauma than in the past. However, you can never know what lies ahead and what the overall financial toll will be – not to mention the physical and emotional toll.
This is one of the reasons why it’s crucial not to agree to a settlement from an at-fault driver or their insurer – no matter how pressing the immediate medical bills may be – until you have a better idea of what kind of compensation is appropriate. Under such difficult circumstances, it’s generally smart to hand this worry over to an experienced legal team that can work to ensure that you receive the compensation you’ll need not just now but also in the future.