Open Reduction Internal Fixation Surgeries After a Car Crash
Every year, 500,000 car accidents occur in California, causing serious and debilitating injuries to those involved. Some car accident victims suffer severe injuries that require complex medical procedures.
If you’ve been involved in a San Bernardino car accident and suffered a serious bone fracture, you may need to undergo an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgery. While ORIF can help restore your body’s function and promote healing, the process can be complex and often requires significant recovery time.
At William D. Shapiro Law, Inc., our San Bernardino car accident lawyers understand how difficult and overwhelming it can be to undergo an Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery after a serious injury. We know that when you’re facing a complex recovery, the last thing you should be worrying about is dealing with the hassle of insurance companies. Let us take on the legal challenges and fight for the compensation you deserve.
From managing insurance claims to understanding your legal rights in complex personal injury cases, we can help guide you through the process and ensure you receive fair and just compensation.
What Is Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF)?
ORIF is a type of surgery used to repair broken bones. If you’ve suffered a serious injury in a car accident, particularly to your arms, legs, or other long bones, ORIF may be the solution to help stabilize and heal those fractures. The procedure involves an open surgery where the bone is “reduced” (or realigned) and “fixed” with hardware, such as metal plates, screws, or rods, to hold the bone in place while it heals.
After ORIF surgery, the recovery period can be tough. Car accident survivors who undergo this surgery often face a long road to recovery. During this time, you’ll likely need ongoing physical therapy to rebuild strength and mobility, as well as follow-up appointments to ensure the bones heal properly.
Unfortunately, the recovery process doesn’t stop with just physical therapy. You might also struggle with pain, limited movement, and the disruption of your everyday life. Tasks that once felt simple, like getting dressed or cooking, can become difficult. The emotional toll can also be heavy — dealing with pain, a slower recovery than expected, and the impact on your job and personal life.
This is where legal support can be vital. A lawyer can help ease the financial burden by ensuring that you receive the compensation you deserve for all the medical treatments and long-term care you may need. They can help you focus on getting better instead of worrying about how to pay for your recovery.
Recovering After ORIF
The recovery from ORIF surgery is not just about healing the fracture — it includes various aspects that can take weeks or even months to complete. Here’s what you can typically expect during recovery:
- Hospital Stay and Follow-up Appointments: After surgery, patients often need to stay in the hospital for several days to monitor for complications. After being discharged from the hospital, you will need to attend follow-up appointments with your doctor to make sure the bone is healing properly, and the hardware is functioning as intended. These visits, along with potential tests like X-rays or MRIs, come with additional medical bills.
- Physical Therapy (PT): A crucial part of the recovery process is physical therapy. ORIF surgeries often involve significant muscle atrophy and stiffness around the fracture site. PT helps regain strength, flexibility, and mobility. The cost of physical therapy can add up quickly, especially if the recovery is extended over several months.
- Pain Management: Managing pain after surgery is a key part of recovery. This might involve prescription pain medications, over-the-counter pain relief, or even nerve blocks for particularly severe pain. The ongoing pain management costs can add significant expenses to your recovery process.
- Home Care Assistance: In some cases, individuals recovering from surgery may need help at home with basic tasks like cooking, cleaning, and personal care. Hiring a caregiver or receiving help from a loved one isn’t always cheap.
- Assistive Devices: Depending on the severity of the injury, you may need devices like crutches, walkers, or even a wheelchair to aid in mobility during recovery. These devices, along with modifications to your home for accessibility, can add additional financial strain.
Potential Complications After ORIF Surgeries
While recovery is generally the goal, ORIF surgeries don’t always proceed without complications, which can cause further delays and financial burdens. Some of those complications include:
- Infection
- Bones that heal incorrectly or not at all
- Blood clots
- Plate or hardware malfunction
- Psychological and emotional pain and anguish
Legal Issues You May Face After ORIF Surgery
If you were in a car accident that caused your injury, dealing with insurance companies can become a major headache. They might try to downplay your injuries or offer a settlement that doesn’t truly cover the full extent of your recovery, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, this is where many people get stuck — they don’t realize the extent of their rights or how much they could be entitled to.
An experienced personal injury lawyer in San Bernardino can help ensure that your medical costs, including the surgery and follow-up treatments, are fully covered. Your lawyer will also investigate the cause of the accident and gather the necessary evidence to prove that the other party was at fault. This is crucial to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact Our San Bernardino Personal Injury Lawyer
When you’re dealing with a serious injury like one that requires ORIF surgery, the last thing you need is the added stress of negotiating with insurance companies or trying to figure out the legal system on your own. By hiring a personal injury lawyer from William D. Shapiro, Inc., you can focus on what’s most important: your health and recovery.
Contact our car accident law firm today at 909-890-1000 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
William Shapiro has handled catastrophic injury/wrongful death actions for over 4 decades obtaining numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. Honors include: 2022, 2016 and 2013 OCTLA “Top Gun” TLY; 2022 CAOC TLY Finalist; 2018 “Lifetime Achievement Award” Western State College of Law, 2021 & 2017 Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year; 2016 WSBCBA “TLY”; 2015 CAL-ABOTA “TLY”; 2014 “TLY” Consumer Attorneys of CAOIE; 2011 “Hall of Fame,” Western State College of Law; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; International Academy of Trial Lawyers; International Society of Barristers; Diplomat, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); National Board of Trial Advocacy; specialist in Trial Advocacy, State Bar of California; “Best Lawyers in America” and “Tier 1 Best Law Firms” U.S. News; AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell; SuperLawyers; Past President of: San Bernardino/Riverside chapter ABOTA; San Bernardino County Bar Association; Consumer Attorneys of Inland Empire; The Joseph. B. Campbell American Inn of Court; Consumer Attorneys of California; IE ; National Sec of ABOTA, Adjunct professor, Western State College of Law. Learn more here.