Types of Car Accident Injuries That Require Surgery
Car accidents can have devastating effects on the lives of those involved. There are many types of car accident injuries that require surgery to repair. Such surgical procedures can be extensive, and the injured party may need long-term medical treatment. This can create an emotional, physical, and financial strain on not only the injured person but for their family as well.
What Injuries Require Surgery After a Car Accident?
Many injuries sustained in an auto accident can be treated with simple measures such as rehabilitation and bracing exercises. However, others may require surgical procedures to correct. Following are some of the injuries that often require surgical intervention after a car crash:
- Brain Injuries: Trauma to the head and brain are injuries commonly suffered in car wrecks. They can be mild in nature with symptoms lasting a few weeks. In other cases, they can result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with devastating long-term disabilities and medical conditions. The estimated cost of a TBI in the United States is $48.3 billion annually, according to BrainandSpinalCord.org. Approximately $16.6 billion of that is spent to cover expenses related to death. The additional $31.7 billion goes toward hospitalization and surgical procedure costs.
- Internal Trauma: Punctured organs, crushed lungs, and internal bleeding are some of the most life-threatening complications of auto accidents. Internal bleeding can occur in the abdomen, brain, or chest. A brain bleed can result in increased intracranial herniation and pressure. Chest trauma can lead to a collapsed lung. The abdominal cavity can store adequate blood from internal bleeding to result in death. Any of these may be considered medical emergencies that require surgery to repair.
- Knee Injuries: A knee injury is frequently sustained in a motor vehicle accident, especially a head-on collision. The front of the vehicle may crush or collapse into the driver or passenger, causing severe leg trauma. This includes bone fractures and torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL). Surgical knee replacement may also be needed to resurface a damaged knee.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can occur in an auto accident due to the impact involved. The force may displace discs and vertebrae, causing herniated discs, compression fractures, or spondylolisthesis. Such injuries may require injections and physical therapy after the surgery has been performed. In some cases, a spinal cord injury may require emergency surgical procedures to prevent partial or complete paralysis.
Why Is Anesthesia Needed for Surgery?
The safe and effective delivery of anesthesia is considered one of the most essential achievements of modern medicine. General anesthesia is used to interrupt nerve signals in the body and brain to prevent the sensation of pain during surgery. However, it must be administered with skill, precision, and care to the patient. This is why we have anesthesiologists. They are specialists who are trained to work with surgeons to administer and manage anesthesia given during surgical procedures. For information on how anesthesia works, watch the below video.
What Are the Surgical Risks of Anesthesia?
Anesthesia can carry significant risks despite the precaution of a specialist whose duty is to monitor the patient during the surgery. Such risks can involve error on the part of the anesthesiologist. This includes failure in patient monitoring practices, not measuring the patient’s blood oxygen level, dosage errors, and not providing the patient with clear and thorough instructions on how to prepare for the surgical procedure. This can lead to traumatic consequences or even wrongful death in some extreme cases.
Medical Malpractice Cases Involving Anesthesia Error
When a patient is undergoing surgery for car accident injuries, their life is in the hands of those performing and monitoring the surgical procedure. Whenever a health care provider fails in his or her duty of care to the patient, this can result in injury or death. Under these circumstances, a medical malpractice claim may be filed against the medical professional for damages incurred. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice is three years from the date of the incident or one year after the discovery of the injury, whichever happens first. This is by California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.5. Failing to meet the time limit for medical malpractice can affect an injured person’s right to pursue compensation.
Compensation for a Sacramento Car Accident
A driver or passenger may be entitled to compensation for serious injuries they have suffered in a car accident caused by the fault of another. Since auto accidents can involve strict criteria and deadlines, it is essential for an injured person to discuss the details of their case with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. An attorney with years of experience can build a strong case by using accident reconstruction to prove liability and enlist expert witnesses to support a bodily injury claim. With such evidence, the attorney can negotiate with the insurance company on an injured person’s behalf and present their case in civil court, if necessary.
Car Accident Lawyers in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. A car accident can be stressful no matter how minor or severe it may appear. Added to that stress, you have to deal with injuries, damages, and insurance companies who may make low offers for your claim or deny it altogether. If this has happened to you or a loved one, I am here to provide you with free, friendly case advice. Please give me a call at (916) 921-6400 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
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