Statistically, the more severe the car accident injury, the more in total costs spent on medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Each year thousands of people are injured in auto accidents in St. Louis. While many walk away with minor injuries, some sustain serious injuries which require surgery. Statistically, the more severe the injury, the more in total costs spent on medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Injuries with the highest costs, with the exception of fatal injuries, are injuries that require extensive surgery and long-term care.
Injuries that Often Require Surgery
The most common types of injuries which require at least one surgical procedure include the following:
- Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
- Knee Injuries
- Brain Injuries
- Broken Bones or Fractures
- Internal Organ Injuries
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
Due to the force of the impact from a car accident, spinal cord injuries are common. Vertebrae and discs can be knocked out of place. Bulging or herniated discs may require surgery to repair and physical therapy to heal correctly. To prevent paralysis in severe spinal injuries, surgery is definitely needed. The cost of a back or spinal cord injury can amount to $150,000 or more.
Knee Injuries
The knee is a very complex joint that can sustain a variety of injuries. It could be anything from a broken bone to a torn ACL to a more serious injury that requires a knee replacement. The average cost of a knee replacement is nearly $50,000. This doesn’t include the other medical expenses and damages from the injury such as physical therapy and lost wages.
Brain Injuries
According to the CDC, the estimated economic cost of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in the U.S. was $76.5 billion in 2010. This amount includes direct and indirect medical costs. Head trauma from a car accident can be mild with symptoms lasting a few weeks to TBI that results in devastating, long-term medical disabilities and conditions. It is a common type of auto accident injury that requires surgery.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Not all broken bones or fractures require surgery, but when they do, the cost and recovery time for this type of injury can lead to high medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. For instance, bone fracture repair is a type of surgery that requires using metal screws, rods, plates, or pins to hold the bone in place. The average cost related to a broken arm is roughly $16,000, while a hip fracture may cost as much as $40,000 or more.
Internal Organ Injuries
Punctured organs, internal bleeding, crushed lungs, and other internal organ injuries are common in serious car crashes. Emergency surgery for these types of injuries is often required to save a person’s life. There is no way of estimating the cost of surgery for internal injuries because they range in severity and type. However, the cost of an internal organ surgery could be astronomical and could leave the victim unable to return to work or even live a normal life.
St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been involved in a St. Louis Auto Accident and need surgery as a result of your injuries, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We never rush to settle your case for less than its full value. We do not hesitate to take cases to court when insurers won’t treat you fairly.
Call our 24-hour call center day or night, even on the weekends, at (314) 361-4242 or fill out our online contact form.