Leading crash injuries that result in surgery and disfigurement

If you were involved in a collision, your injuries may need more than pain medication, physical therapy and rest to recover. Severe injuries often occur in head-on collisions, T-bone (side-impact) crashes at intersections, high-speed rear-end collisions, rollover accidents and truck crashes. Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists are especially at risk of sustaining severe injuries because they are unprotected by the frame or shell of car which can absorb a large portion of the impact.

Never put off seeking medical attention after a crash. If necessary, your doctor will identify the source of your injury through a physical examination, CT scan, X-ray or MRI. If your injury does not get better over time with other treatments, surgery or pain injections may be required, and if not then, then surgery may be necessary.  However, surgery is always a last resort and should be considered only if there is a good chance of positive outcome.  In addition, you may be in for a long healing process, even after having surgery. However, keep in mind, surgery comes with greater risks and is an individual choice. It’s not for every victim of a traumatic accident. Instead, the risks and benefits have to be carefully considered, and keep in mind you should never have a medical procedure simply in order to enhance your personal injury recovery.

Severe injuries that require surgery

The leading types of crash-related injuries that often require surgery include:

• Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI). These include skull fractures, open head injuries, hematomas (blood clotting) hemorrhages (internal bleeding), and diffuse axonal injury (twisting and tearing of brain cells or tissue).
• Injuries to the neck, back and spine. The worst types of injuries that effect the neck, back and spine include:
  • Spondylolisthesis— slipped or fractured vertebrae
  • Cervical radiculopathy— nerve damage in the neck caused by compression of the nerve roots near the cervical vertebrae
  • Herniated disc— when the gel-like substance/cushion between the vertebrae ruptures or due to trauma to the spine
  • Whiplash— usually this condition goes away with minimal treatment, but rarely requires surgery
• Facial injuries. Broken bones in the face, as well as burns, abrasions, and lacerations, can cause permanent scarring, disfigurement and loss of facial functions. Plastic surgery and/or reconstructive surgery are often needed to fix facial injuries.
• Internal injuries. Internal injuries to the heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys can be deadly. Emergency surgery is often required.
• Bone fractures. Bones can be broken during a crash. Surgery is often required to piece them back together. Broken bones are then held in place by screws, pins and metal plates until they fully heal. In some cases, the hardware will be left in permanently and not removed.
• Soft tissue tears. These are tears to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments e.g. the rotator cuff. In many cases, these types of injuries will not heal on their own. This is when surgery is necessary.
• Amputations and Crush Injuries. This is the loss of a body part, such as a limb or finger, or when the trauma includes crushing of bone or some aspect of the body. Small body parts, such as fingers may be re-attached in many cases.
• Scars and Disfigurement. In many instances, where there is surgery, there will be a visible scar, which also allows for additional compensation. Depending on the location of a scar, the severity or cringe factor and the sex of the victim, the value of the scar, will vary. For example, an accident victim who is female is likely to recover more money than a male with the same scar. Why; because our society deems that the emotional impact and effect on self-esteem of women (as to their appearance) is greater than that on a man, particularly if the scar is somewhere that society would think makes the appear woman less attractive to the opposite sex. The same logic applies to any type of injury that results in any form of permanent disfigurement.

Worried about the cost of your recovery? Contact a Maryland attorney today.

It can be devastating to find out that you need to undergo surgery in order to recover from your injuries. In addition to that, you may be faced with costly medical expenses while you're out of work and unable to earn a paycheck.

In ideal circumstances, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will compensate you for your losses. Unfortunately, insurance companies are more concerned with protecting their bottom line than they are reimbursing crash victims. That's why it's important that you speak to an experienced Maryland car accident attorney who can help you recover every penny owed to you.

The Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick, LLC has been serving Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia for nearly two decades. We know how to investigate crashes like yours that lead to severe injuries. We also know how to negotiate for fair financial settlements on behalf of our clients and their families. Contact us online today to schedule your free legal consultation.