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An open fracture could pose considerable health risks

On Behalf of | Dec 27, 2017 | Wrongful Death

Most people find themselves suffering serious injuries unexpectedly. Though some individuals may be thrill-seekers who understand that their actions come with considerable risk for injury, this title may not apply to you. As a result, you are more likely to suffer injuries due to an accident, and possibly one caused by the negligence of another individual.

Car accidents commonly cause considerable suffering. In some cases, you may suffer broken bones that can prove complicated to set and from which to recover. In particular, if you suffer an open fracture, you could face substantial risks of infection and other issues that could cause you to need extensive medical attention and treatments.

Open fractures

Many people also hear open fractures referred to as compound fractures. These injuries result when an incident causes a bone to break and pierce through the skin. Car crashes fall among the most common incidents that can result in such injuries. While all open fractures have a serious nature, the levels of severity can differ from injury to injury. Medical professionals often use a classification system to determine the severity of an open fracture.

Risk of infection

One of the most serious risks associated with this type of injury relates to infection. Because the bone penetrates the skin, bacteria could easily enter the wound and lead to complications. Even though medical professionals deem all compound fractures as contaminated, the potential chance of infection may depend on the severity of the injury itself. For instance, if substantial soft tissue damage occurs with a large open wound, a greater likelihood of bacteria entering the wound may exist.

Fracture treatment

In order to better reduce the chances of infection, open fractures often require surgical cleansing. Additional surgical procedures may also prove necessary when it comes to setting the bone and preparing it for healing. In the event that infection does occur, you could face a substantial recovery time along with medications and treatments to attend to the resulting complications.

Compensation for injuries

If a car accident caused by another driver resulted in your suffering this type of injury, you may wonder whether that person could hold liability for damages. Depending on the circumstances, the answer to that inquiry could very well be yes. Victims of car accident injuries may have the ability to file a personal injury claim against a driver deemed at fault in order to seek compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, and other damages permitted under West Virginia state law. Skilled lawyers can provide crash victims with guidance on whether this would be a route available to them.  

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