Motor vehicle collisions have a known association with many of the worst catastrophic injuries. People can injure their brains or damage their spinal cords during collisions. Compared with those life-altering injuries, a broken bone may not seem particularly severe.
Fractures often respond to appropriate medical intervention. Many people with broken bones eventually make a full recovery. Unfortunately, the successes of modern medical care may result in people underestimating their losses after a car wreck. They may fail to file an insurance claim or settle for less compensation than they actually require.
When people understand the true economic impact of a fracture, they may recognize that they need help negotiating with insurance or that insurance may not sufficiently cover all of their losses. What may make a fracture more expensive than people expect?
Time away from work
The more demanding a professional’s career is, the more likely they are to struggle to complete the same work tasks with a broken bone. Blue-collar professionals and service workers may require light-duty job functions that result in lower hourly wages. Other times, professionals cannot work at all for the eight weeks or longer it takes the broken bone to heal. Insurance or a personal injury lawsuit can help people cover not just medical expenses but also lost wages. Broken bones can easily generate thousands of dollars in lost income.
Significant medical expenses
Even a simple, stable fracture requires an X-ray and a cast. The cost of diagnosing and treating the fracture can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on insurance coverage and other considerations. People may also require physical therapy to regain their strength and range of motion after a fracture affects their health. In some cases, fractures might require surgery to treat. In such cases, the costs increase substantially, as does the recovery timeline for the individual with the fracture.
Those dealing with broken bones may need help estimating their total losses and evaluating their options for compensation. Insurance and litigation can both help people cover the cost of a recent car wreck. Recognizing that some car crash injuries cost more than people might initially anticipate can help them respond appropriately after a collision.
