Motor vehicle collisions, especially those that occur at high speeds, are a leading causes of injury and death in the United States. People can get hurt in many different ways in a motor vehicle collision depending on the nature of the crash and their position in the vehicle.
Broken bones, contusions and soft tissue injuries are among the most common serious injuries reported in motor vehicle collisions. These injuries require medical attention and may leave someone out of work for a few days or a couple of weeks.
Some people suffer catastrophic injuries that will forever change the course of their lives, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Amputations are also sometimes the result of a motor vehicle collision. There are two different ways in which a crash could potentially lead to someone losing a limb or extremity.
The collision severs a body part
There are many scenarios in which the trauma of a car crash could lead to someone losing a hand or a leg. If someone had their hand out a window at the time of the wreck, they might lose part of their arm. A passenger whose leg is directly in the path of the oncoming vehicle in a T-bone collision might lose their foot. The incredible force involved in a motor vehicle collision is often powerful enough to traumatically amputate a body part.
The crash does irreparable damage
Sometimes a body part ends up pinned between vehicle components. Other times, a person breaks the bone dozens of times, possibly because the vehicle rolled over. When there is severe damage to the bone, connective tissue, nerves and or musculature, doctors may eventually realize the body cannot repair that damage, even with surgical help.
Surgical amputations sometimes occur in the days after major car crashes because doctors have to make the choice that will give someone the best overall prognosis. Regardless of whether the amputation is traumatic or surgical, it will mean massive medical bills, months of recovery and likely a change in someone’s earning potential.
Those who lose a body part in a car crash made discover that car insurance is not enough to fully compensate them. Exploring all your options can help you better recover from a catastrophic injury from a car crash.