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Post-Traumatic Car Accident Related Arthritis

woman rubbing an aching wrist | Car Accident Related Arthritis

Post-traumatic car accident related arthritis can be debilitating, and result in a loss of enjoyment in everyday activities and the inability to work. Here’s what you need to know.

After a car accident, injured accident victims are often left to handle their injuries and insurance companies all on their own.

While some of their injuries are obvious to insurance adjusters and claims representatives, others are not so apparent.

These injuries may even be met with skepticism and the claims denied outright.

One such injury is post-traumatic car accident related arthritis.

Post-traumatic arthritis is the deterioration of joint cartilage that often occurs after a major injury or trauma to the joint.

Knees, ankles, shoulders, and hips are most affected by arthritis.

After a car accident, injuries can occur that damage the delicate cartilage in the joint tissue.

Long after the injury heals however, the accident victim could be left dealing with painful and debilitating arthritis in that joint.

What are the Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Car Accident Related Arthritis?

It takes time for the cartilage in the injured joint to erode and deteriorate. Thus, post-traumatic arthritis is not an immediate injury.

At first, accident victims may notice pain and stiffness after long periods of inactivity – such as early in the morning or after long car trips.

Over time, this pain and stiffness will begin to prevent them from living a full life, and enjoying the daily activities they love.

Symptoms of post-traumatic arthritis include:

  • Pain in the joint,
  • Tenderness of the joint area,
  • Stiffness,
  • Instability of the joint,
  • Loss of motion,
  • Loss of flexibility,
  • Bone-on-bone grating sensation in the joint.

Arthritis can Have Long Term Consequences

Because it takes years for arthritis to rear its head, the majority of accident victims don’t consider it as a possible long-term complication of their injury.

By the time they begin exhibiting symptoms of arthritis, most accident victims have already reached a settlement with the insurance company.

Sadly, that settlement is usually inadequate to cover a lifetime of arthritis pain and suffering.

It’s Important to Work with an Attorney

If you have been injured in a car accident, it is important to understand all of the long-term complications you may face.

Any settlement you reach with an insurance company MUST include compensation for possible arthritic changes in future years.

Once a settlement is reached, you cannot go back and ask for more compensation in later years.

An experienced attorney can help determine how much compensation you will actually need for your injury, and for any future complications that may arise.

Practice Areas Colorado Springs Car Accident Attorney Post-Traumatic Car Accident Related Arthritis