Some injuries are far more serious and debilitating than others. For example, a spinal cord injury could leave someone incapable of walking or living on their own without support. Brain injuries could leave people incapable of continuing their careers.
Compared with those catastrophic injuries, broken bones may not seem particularly serious. The average fracture responds well to medical treatment. People can expect to make a full recovery if they receive the right care.
Car crashes can very easily break bones in the human body. Occasionally, those broken bones might leave someone unable to continue working. The risk is particularly high for those in physical blue-collar professions. How could a fracture affect someone’s ability to work and support themselves?
The fracture could be severe
The broken bones possible in a car crash are often far worse than the fractures people might experience if they get hurt by falling off of a step ladder. Fractures where the bones break into small pieces are possible. People may require surgery and may forever have pain or limitations on their functional abilities after breaking a bone in a car crash.
The fracture might heal poorly
Occasionally, a broken bone could potentially cause a more serious and even permanent medical challenge for the injured person. Broken bones are one of the physical traumas known to cause the onset of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
CRPS sometimes begins with a minor to moderate physical trauma, like a fracture. The body responds improperly to the injury while healing, leading to permanent nerve damage as the fracture knits. Although the bone itself is no longer broken, the injured person may feel ongoing or even worsening pain in the affected body part. They may notice changes in the appearance of the injured body part and issues with their overall strength or flexibility. Particularly if employees perform blue-collar jobs, the lingering consequences of a severe fracture or CRPS could leave them unable to continue their current line of employment.
Someone coping with the aftermath of car crash injuries may need to file an insurance claim. If collision injuries cause long-term reductions in their earning potential, insurance may not be enough to cover someone’s losses. Either way, recognizing that a broken bone could lead to lasting economic challenges can help people handle the aftermath of a recent car wreck. Holding a driver at fault accountable for the economic impact of injuries can help people rebuild their lives after an injurious, preventable wreck.