Can You Get Arthritis From A Car Accident?
A car crash can lead to catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, disability, and more. However, a type of injury that sometimes goes unnoticed is arthritis from car accidents.
The problem may persist and if not treated may lead to post-traumatic arthritis. There may be certain cases in which the symptoms of aggravating joint pain may appear later.
Which arthritis is caused by a car crash?
Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joints. Furthermore, it can affect multiple joints. Some of the symptoms that this disorder may cause are pain, swelling, and joint stiffness. Two fundamental joint issues that can be caused due to car crashes are post-traumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
How to prove that a car accident caused arthritis
Yes, a car crash can lead to arthritis. For instance, there may be cartilage loss. This causes difficulty as the cartilage does not grow back in most cases. It can even lead to problems in the movement of the joints. Many people may recover quickly, while others continue to face issues for years.
Post-traumatic arthritis from an injury can also occur even when the cartilage is not damaged. Breaking of bones or fractures is the most common injury due to car collisions. The trauma can last a long time and may even show symptoms of arthritis after years. Ankles, elbows, knees, and hips are the most commonly impacted joints. Some of the symptoms that an injured victim may face due to post-traumatic arthritis are:
- Persistent joint pain
- Swollen joints
- Fluid buildup in the joints
- The joint may become incapable of movement
If you are experiencing such symptoms, you may want to ask your San Antonio car accident lawyer and your healthcare professional what to do. This becomes especially important after an accident, because symptoms may fail to surface at first. Tests that can be used to diagnose this problem include x-rays, CT scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
How can an auto crash magnify the impact on the injured victim?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one type of joint problem that tends to increase with age. Furthermore, it can also be the result of a severe car accident.
Researchers have diagnosed that after trauma, the inflammatory disorder magnifies and can even spread to other joints as well. So even if you have been experiencing this disorder, you may apply for compensation after a car accident.
Some of the treatments that you can get include physical therapy, steroid injections, or Hylamer injections. These injections are used to lubricate the joints, reduce pain, and can combat the effects of car crash injuries.
Can I file an accident claim based on arthritis?
The short answer is yes. However, you need to present strong evidence in court that inflammation in joints was caused, or made much worse by, a car wreck. This can be proven by consulting your doctor and showing the medical records proving the origin of your problem.
When you sustain a catastrophic injury after facing a traumatic event like a car collision, your body functions may get affected. In extreme cases, it can lead to the deterioration of cartilage and bones.
All these can ultimately affect your body and lead to post-traumatic arthritis. In such circumstances, you may file a lawsuit and can get reimbursement for pain and suffering and other additional costs associated with your accident.
Can you obtain reimbursement for your injuries?
The damages that an injured victim faces depends on the impact and severity of the accident. Other parameters that may affect compensation are the behavior of the at-fault driver, whether they have breached their duty of care, and other factors.
The economic damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of employment benefits, and other losses. Non-economic losses may comprise loss of earning capacity, emotional stress, pain, and suffering. There may be some additional damages which will vary based on the circumstances of the accident claim.
Skillful negotiation with the insurance company is also essential, as they may try to provide you with a lower settlement. Therefore, you must be smart enough to have an estimate of all your medical records and other documents to have an estimate of your actual expenses spent on your treatment.
To get the help you deserve and learn more, call Khattar Law, PC at 210-660-4924 for a totally free consultation.