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Many people wonder: Can a car accident cause arthritis? The answer is yes. If you suffered traumatic injuries to your wrists, knees, hips, or other joints, the impact may trigger the onset of arthritis. The discomfort and reduced functionality can affect all aspects of your life and may persist for years after the collision.
The good news is that your car accident settlement can cover future medical damages, as well, but it’s critical to work with an experienced Palm Beach Gardens car accident lawyer to make sure your personal injury claim includes damages for treatment you’ll need for this debilitating condition.
How do car accidents cause arthritis?
The trauma and tissue damage to the delicate ligaments, tendons, and cartilage that comprise your joints make developing arthritis more likely. When the surface of cartilage is uneven or torn, the body’s repair process can cause bone spurs, scar tissue, and other irregularities to develop. Over time, these changes accelerate the wear and tear on the affected joints, leading to limited mobility, stiffness, and chronic pain that worsens with use.
A sudden stop can compress your joints, or the impact of another car hitting yours may directly injure your joints, causing minute damage that accumulates over time. Years later, you may have debilitating arthritis stemming from the crash.
Prompt medical attention after a car accident can help diagnose these small injuries, so you can benefit from early intervention, treatment, and targeted physical therapy to reduce the chances of developing arthritis.
Securing fair compensation for car accident arthritis treatment
If you didn’t cause the crash, and you have serious injuries, you have the right to file a personal injury suit for damages against the at-fault driver. Your damages can include the post-crash medical care you need, as well as future damages to cover complications and ongoing care you need to address the crash-induced arthritis, like physical and occupational therapy, targeted massage, joint fusion, arthrodesis, or a joint replacement.
To win your claim, you and your attorney must prove causation, or link the car accident to your arthritis.
Your medical history and post-crash medical records form an integral part of your case. Insurance companies commonly deny car crash arthritis claims, citing the development of the disease as a normal part of aging.
Your lawyer can work with medical experts to review your X-rays, ER visit, and doctors’ notes to prove that your joints were damaged in the wreck. You may see a specialist who can confirm that the onset of arthritis is due to the tissue tears and the inflammation of your joints.
The strength of your medical evidence will often make a difference in the amount of compensation you receive (if any). It’s important to work with an experienced car accident attorney who can properly build the case.
However, it’s important to act fast. Florida’s statute of limitations to file a car accident suit is just two years. Arthritis complicates this timeline because symptoms may not appear until long after the crash. It’s better to get a full medical checkup, including your joints, and talk to a local car accident attorney soon after the crash, for the best chance of securing a settlement to cover future medical needs.
What to do if you develop arthritis after a car accident
Are you suffering from painful arthritis after a car crash? You may be entitled to compensation for current and future medical bills, and our experienced attorneys can help you get it. Call Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath today at (561) 655-1990 for a free consultation. Even if your symptoms developed years after the accident, you may still have a valid claim. We’ll help you file a personal injury case supported by strong medical evidence