Some car accident injuries might require surgery

Severe Car Accident Injuries Are Costly

Car accident injuries are common. In fact, nearly 5 million people suffered car accident injuries severe enough to require medical care in 2020 alone. If you are a victim of a car accident caused the negligence of another party, an Allentown personal injury attorney may be able to review your case.

Common Accident Injuries Requiring Surgery

Injuries that result from an auto accident can be severe. Those that require emergency care may require an extended recovery period, causing you to miss a significant amount of work. There is also a chance of complications. Often, car accidents cause serious financial as well as physical damage to the victims. Injuries that require advanced medical care such as surgery affect your present and future earning capacity. Your condition may require an extended recovery period during which you can't work. In some cases, paid sick leave won't be adequate to cover your absence. An Allentown personal injury attorney can help calculate the immediate and longer-term costs of:

• Broken bones that require surgery
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Severe back and spinal cord damage
• Soft tissue injuries such as torn ligaments and pulled tendons
• Internal injury including organ damage and bleeding
• Damage to teeth and mouth that requires oral surgery
• Disfigurement, such as a lost limb, third-degree burns, and scarring

When you've sustained a significant injury, it's possible that you may need more than one surgery to address the issue. For example, many burn grafts and restorative cosmetic surgeries must be done in stages. Some spinal injuries could require multiple surgeries. For example, if you experience nerve damage in your spine, you may need decompression surgery to restore nerve function. Sometimes, further surgical procedures will be necessary if the nerves have sustained extensive damage.

The Financial Toll of Severe Car Accident Injuries

Because of all the variables, the damages of an auto accident that requires surgery are difficult to calculate in dollars and cents. Pain, recovery time, and the loss to your family when you are laid up all figure into the cost. The resulting total expense adds up to more than just your medical bills. The average cost per person for car accident injuries in 2020 was in the thousands of dollars. Disabling injuries were the most expensive. Seeking compensation from the at-fault party is one way to offset these costs.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury is one of the most unpredictable and potentially most expensive car accident injuries. It may involve the brain, skull, and neck. The cause of a TBI is often a violent jolt such as the impact of a crash. In severe cases, the jolt may injure the brain tissue, causing bruises, tissue tears, and bleeding. Diagnosing a TBI is tricky because sometimes symptoms don't appear until later, in the weeks following the crash. You may feel fine directly afterward, but it is important to get a medical evaluation. You may have injuries that aren't immediately apparent. Be aware of the symptoms of TBI, and if you experience any, seek medical help immediately:

• Headache
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Loss of consciouness
• Seizures
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Sleepiness or inability to stay awake
• Excessive confusion

Anytime that you have sustained a blow to the head, it’s important to seek a doctor’s care. Even if you consider your injury mild, you still need to stop by the ER, just in case. To accurately diagnose the extent of your injury, your doctor may order a CT scan, PET scan, or an MRI. You may need an intracranial pressure monitor. You may need surgery. All of these procedures constitute added expense. While your insurance may cover these initial expenses, it typically won't cover the years of behavioral therapy that some TBI victims require. It may not address long-term disability, job loss, or extended medical care.

Seeking Legal Assistance

If you have been injured in an accident, get in touch with us at Metzger & Kleiner today. In the Lehigh Valley, call (610) 435-7400, or in Philadelphia, reach us at (215} 567-6616. We would be happy to review your case.