When you take Interstate 376 or 279 through Pittsburgh, you may see many crazy drivers. You do your best to avoid them, but sometimes you can’t do anything. And with everyone moving at high speed, you may not be able to prevent getting into a serious accident.
A severe car crash on a Pennsylvania highway can leave you with many different injuries. But if the accident damages one of your limbs enough, you may need an amputation. The injury can have long-lasting effects.
You may need to stay in a hospital bed for a while after an amputation
If you have a serious injury on one of your limbs, you will likely go straight to the hospital. If doctors can’t save it, they may need to take it off to prevent any further damage to your body.
This procedure requires an extended hospital stay to recover. According to WebMD, people who go through amputations may need to stay up to two weeks in a medical facility. But recovery outside of the hospital can take much longer.
Learning how to be independent again will require months of physical therapy
After an amputation, you will need physical therapy to relearn how to do daily activities. You might also need to learn how to use a prosthetic limb. This rehabilitation can take you months or even years. As you adjust to the physical setbacks, you will need to learn how to be independent.
You may need to speak with a mental health professional
In addition to the physical issues you may face, you may also need counseling for your grief. Between being in a life-threatening crash and losing a limb, you may have trouble dealing with the changes to your body. If you have difficulty accepting the amputation, you may need to work with a therapist.
Medical bills for rehabilitation and surgery can add up
After your car crash, you will need to rely on your car insurance to help you out with your medical bills. But with the high cost of surgery and rehabilitation, you may not have enough coverage for it.
However, even if you have no-fault insurance, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Pennsylvania allows you to sue the driver that caused the accident if you suffered severe injuries. A lawsuit against the driver that caused the accident can make sure you have enough money for your bills.
As you drive down Pennsylvania roads, you don’t expect to lose any of your limbs. But if you do, the injury can affect you for the rest of your life.
