Every year millions of Americans are injured in car accidents. As recently as 2019, 4.4 million people were injured in an accident to the point that they needed medical attention. While those numbers include individuals who suffered cuts and bruises and required minimal care, it also includes those with more serious injuries.
In fact, some of the most common serious injuries people suffer in car accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Injuries to the shoulder or collar bone
- Fractured bones, especially in the arm or leg
These injuries and others like them affect a person’s musculoskeletal system and might require the attention of a skilled orthopedic specialist. Orthopedics is the type of medicine that focuses on the musculoskeletal system and includes injuries and diseases to bones, nerves, joints, and muscles.
What Orthopedic Specialists Do
A doctor who specializes in orthopedic injuries and diseases has a variety of roles and jobs they might perform. In addition to helping car accident victims, they might also work a great deal with those who are suffering from injuries incurred while playing a sport or while at work.
Orthopedic specialists are often known for performing surgery to repair an injured bone, joint, muscle, or other part of the musculoskeletal system. While surgery is an important tool in an orthopedic specialist’s arsenal, there are other treatments they can perform to help people recover from injuries.
In addition to surgery, an orthopedic specialist might examine the affected area for signs of deterioration or injury as well as offer nonsurgical remedies such as medication or physical therapy.
When Is it Time To See an Orthopedic Specialist?
If you have been injured in a car accident, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. However, not every injury will be identified right away. It is possible for emergency physicians to miss something during an initial examination.
If you are experiencing lingering issues, you might want to consider getting a second opinion. Any pain you are experiencing that might be related to your musculoskeletal system will need the attention of a skilled orthopedic specialist. In order to properly diagnose your injuries, you might also need to undergo an MRI.
Once your injuries are identified, you and your doctor can develop a treatment plan that can meet your needs and help you get back to normal as soon as possible.
The Cost of Seeing an Orthopedic Specialist
Unfortunately, being treated by a qualified orthopedic specialist can be expensive. Simply treating broken bones can cost thousands of dollars. If you have a complex injury that requires surgery, the bill could be even higher.
While the cost might be high, the cost of forgoing treatment will often be even higher as injuries that don’t heal properly could nag you for years and cost even more to fix later on. That is why you should meet with an orthopedic specialist as soon as possible if you have been injured in a car accident.
Qualified Legal Representation
In addition to seeking medical attention for your injuries, you might also want to consider hiring a skilled personal injury lawyer after a car accident. If you were injured in an accident due to another person’s negligence you should not be left paying costly medical bills on your own.
A good lawyer will be able to examine your case and determine whether or not you are eligible for compensation from a third party. In addition to money to help cover the cost of medical bills, your lawyer can also help you seek damages for things like missed work, physical therapy, and even pain and suffering.
