Post-traumatic osteoarthritis is a common car accident injury, and almost 12% of cases of osteoarthritis in America are caused by accidents or trauma.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the erosion or wearing of the cartilage at the end of bones. The cartilage prevents the bones from rubbing against each other, and hence when the cartilage wears down, the bones start rubbing together, causing pain in the joints. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint of the body. However, it occurs most commonly in the joints of the hands, spine, hips, and knees. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis is a common car accident injury, and almost 12% of cases of osteoarthritis in America are caused by accidents or trauma.
The common symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and tenderness in joints, inflammation, stiffness, reduced movement of affected joints, loss of flexibility, and grinding of joints. These symptoms alone can determine osteoarthritis. However, certain other diagnostics like blood tests, x-rays, and MRIs are done to confirm the diagnosis.
Osteoarthritis After a Car Accident
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis after an accident is a common condition. According to statistics available, about 12 percent of cases of osteoarthritis of knee, hip, and ankle are caused by an accident or trauma.
Filing an Accident Claim for Osteoarthritis After a Car Accident
In a car accident case, your claim should generally be based on the medical treatment you received for the injuries caused due to the accident. This means to make a compensation claim for osteoarthritis following a car accident, it is essential that your treating doctor has diagnosed you with osteoarthritis and should have mentioned in your medical reports that the condition is a result of the car accident.
The mere fact that you never had osteoarthritis before the accident does not entitle you to compensation. You will have to prove that the condition was caused by the car accident.
Compensation for Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis
Damages for post-traumatic osteoarthritis are similar to the ones that you can receive for any other injury or illness. You may receive compensation for all the losses that you have suffered as a result of the condition, not just the medical expenses.
Depending on the severity of the condition, post-traumatic osteoarthritis may limit your ability to do work and may cause substantial pain and suffering. As long as you can prove that the damages are in some way related to the car accident, you can seek compensation.
St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
If you have become a victim of a car accident, it is highly recommended that you speak with an experienced St Louis car accident attorney as soon as possible.
At The Hoffmann Law Firm, we have 25 years of experience and can actively work to protect your legal rights after an accident. Call us today at (314) 361-4242 for a free consultation.
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