Modern vehicles feature numerous integrated systems designed to protect occupants in the event of a collision. However, many crashes still cause severe injuries. Collisions that occur at high speeds or between vehicles of vastly different sizes can easily lead to catastrophic injuries, for example. A semi-truck collision involving a smaller vehicle is a perfect example of a crash that may exceed a vehicle’s structural ability to protect its occupants.
One of the most debilitating types of injuries that may occur as a result of a wreck is a crushing injury. Arms and legs can easily suffer severe injuries in a collision because of how vehicles crumple during a crash. Crushing injuries can become debilitating and may be incredibly painful for the affected party. What makes a crushing injury so costly?
They require extreme medical interventions
If a car crash causes a crushing injury to someone’s limbs or extremities, they are likely to experience comminuted fractures. The bone will break into many, small pieces. Doctors then only have a few options for treating those injuries. The best-case outcome might involve surgical procedures. Instead of just setting a bone in a cast, doctors will need to operate. They will likely need to reinforce the affected body part with implanted medical devices, like rods or plates. Such treatment can cost tens of thousands of dollars. In the worst cases, crushing injuries may not respond to standard medical interventions. They may force doctors to surgically amputate the affected body part because it is too risky to try to treat the trauma itself.
Severe injuries often affect earning potential
When an individual loses a body part or has suffered severe trauma to it, they may no longer be able to use it the way they did before. Particularly when someone has a blue-collar career, a comminuted fracture or amputation could significantly decrease their earning potential. Some people need to change professions and will earn a fraction of their former wages. Others may not be able to return to work at all because of their physical limitations. Those with catastrophic injuries caused by car crashes need to have an understanding of how those injuries will affect their future finances.
Pursuing an appropriate amount of compensation can be a challenge for those with crushing injuries caused by a recent wreck and may require litigation. As a result, seeking legal guidance as proactively as possible after a crash is generally wise.