Catastrophic injuries that can affect the rest of your life

Serious vehicle crashes can cause catastrophic injuries. The sheer speed, size and force of a larger vehicle colliding with a smaller one or with a bicyclist or pedestrian can result in trauma to the body.

Even if people are able to survive this trauma, their lives are often changed forever. Here, we’ll look briefly at two types of trauma suffered in too many crashes.

Orthopedic trauma

Orthopedic trauma refers to the type of injury as well as the cause. This involves injuries to the musculoskeletal system. That includes the bones, muscles, joints, ligaments and more that allow our body to move as it’s intended to.

Orthopedic trauma is suffered when an injury is caused by a sudden, violent external force. Most commonly, this involves a collision. However, a steep fall or a violent assault can also cause orthopedic trauma.

These injuries can involve everything from severe fractures to amputations. Typically, these injuries require one or more surgeries to treat, followed by physical, occupational and other types of therapy.

Complex polytrauma

Those who suffer orthopedic trauma may also suffer complex polytrauma. As the name suggests, this is when a person suffers more than one type of injuries over various parts of the body. A person who’s hit by a speeding car, for example, may lose a leg and also suffer severe burns if the car catches fire.

Generally, victims of crashes and other catastrophic events that appear to be suffering from polytraumatic injuries are taken to Level 1 trauma centers. These facilities have the personnel and equipment available to provide emergency treatment.

Think long-term before accepting a settlement

People can and do survive these catastrophic injuries, thanks to advances in medicine. However, they typically have a long road ahead of them. Since the immediate medical costs can be overwhelming, it can be tempting to accept what may sound like a good offer from an insurer for the at-fault party.

It’s crucial, however, not to settle too quickly because you may have additional expenses and financial losses, and you can’t just go back and ask for more money. With experienced legal guidance from the beginning, you can better ensure that you get the compensation you need and deserve.