Can Car Accidents Cause Osteoarthritis?

Nearly 32.5 million adults are living with osteoarthritis in the United States. While osteoarthritis is commonly known to affect obese and aging individuals, post traumatic osteoarthritis affects someone that has sustained a joint injury either in car accident or other type of serious accident.

Close to 5.6 million people have developed post traumatic osteoarthritis, and shockingly, about 12% of car accidents constitute post traumatic osteoarthritis cases in the ankle, spine, hip, and knee. The difficulty with personal injury claims and post traumatic osteoarthritis is that you have to present evidence showing that your osteoarthritis was triggered by your car accident. This could cause complications with your personal injury claim if your symptoms don’t appear right away.

However, even though post traumatic osteoarthritis might not manifest right after your car accident, it could still be set off by the accident, and the other party or parties responsible should be held accountable for all the injuries and damages you endure. Our best car accident lawyers will cover how to recognize post traumatic osteoarthritis and how you could recover compensation if you’re injured because of another’s negligence.

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What is Post Traumatic Osteoarthritis?

Post traumatic osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that surrounds joints in the body wears down, putting stress on the area of the body impacted during the accident. When parts of your body slam into hard surfaces, it affects the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that sustained the most force. This can cause cartilage in your joints to deteriorate. The outcome of this stress can limit your range of motion.

This type of arthritis is usually the most difficult to diagnose because the progression is slow. To make sure you’re getting an accurate diagnosis, a doctor will need to perform the following after an accident:

• Review your medical history
• Examine any current pain
• Order X-rays, CT scans, blood tests and/or MRI’s

Treatment for post traumatic osteoarthritis may be a long process involving therapy, medication, and injections. If symptoms don’t disappear within a certain amount of time, joint replacement surgery may be something your doctor recommends for some relief.

Signs and Symptoms of Post Traumatic Osteoarthritis

If you were in a car accident and you don’t feel any pain right away, pay attention to pain that may occur near your joints. Some signs and symptoms of post traumatic osteoarthritis to look for include:

• Sharp pain
• Tenderness
• Inflammation
• Grinding
• Loss of flexibility
• Stiffness
• Limited range of motion
• Fluid accumulation
• Inability to move

Even though these symptoms can be maintained with treatment, damage is irreversible. Therefore, it is important to see a physician right away so you can get the necessary documentation to support your personal injury claim and obtain substantial money for your damages.

What Compensation Can You Recover from Post Traumatic Osteoarthritis?

As you can imagine, post traumatic osteoarthritis can lead to weakness and cause your lifestyle to change completely after an accident. If another party’s negligence led to your crash, and you’re considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, consider seeking compensation for the following losses:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of future income
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages

If you believe that your post-traumatic osteoarthritis was a result of a car accident you were involved in, consult a car accident lawyer at The Barnes Firm. A determined legal team can help you understand the details of your case, determine liability, and get you the money you’re entitled to.

Speak To Our Best Car Accident Lawyers

The Barnes Firm’s skilled and qualified attorneys have decades of experience handling complex auto accident cases. If you’ve suffered debilitating or permanent injuries, such as post traumatic osteoarthritis, it is up to you to hold the liable party accountable. With the right legal representation on your side, you can recover compensation for the pain and suffering you’ve endured.

Once you reach out to us, our best car accident attorneys will immediately investigate your accident and injuries. Our goal is to help you recover a fair settlement to cover all your losses. Complete our contact form to schedule an appointment or call us anytime for your free consultation.

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Richard Barnes – President of The Barnes Firm

Richard Barnes: “As President of The Barnes Firm, I have dedicated my career to achieving justice in hundreds of cases for the victims of injuries caused through the fault of others. Additionally, I have been honored to have been elected Best Lawyer and a Super Lawyer”

Years of Experience: 30+ years
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