Physical Therapy After a Car Accident

The cars of today have advanced remarkably in terms of their safety features. New safety features give passengers and drivers better chances of avoiding the worst-case scenario. Even so, the odds of you requiring physical therapy after a car accident are not zero. Injuries you sustained from the accident may severely affect your quality of life. Therefore, you must address them through proper treatment.

Learn more about the importance of undergoing physical therapy after your accident by continuing with the rest of this article. You can also learn more about the role an experienced Baltimore car accident lawyer can play in helping you secure that treatment.

Common Injuries Sustained During Car Accidents

Even a minor car accident is capable of causing serious injuries. We discuss those injuries in greater detail below.

Stable Fractures – There are different types of fractures that an accident victim may suffer. Compound fractures are among the worst as they involve bone breaking through the skin. Comminuted fractures are also painful because they feature shattered bones in several pieces.

You are more likely to suffer a stable fracture in minor car accidents. With a stable fracture, the broken bone still aligns in the right position for the most part. Stable fractures are easier to treat, but they cause significant pain, nonetheless.

Soft Tissue Injuries – Soft tissues like your muscles, blood vessels, and tendons are all susceptible to injury during a car crash. In some cases, the accident may cause significant bruising to your soft tissues. However, that may be a somewhat fortunate outcome because some crashes can lead to completely torn tendons and ligaments.

Injuries to your soft tissues can cause immense pain. Torn connective tissues inside your body may also render you immobile.

Whiplash – A person may sustain a whiplash injury after their head whips back and forth violently. This injury is commonly caused by rear-end car accidents. Whiplash can cause significant pain, stiffness, and even certain cognitive issues. It is an injury that may also require long-term management.

Why Is Physical Therapy Necessary after a Car Crash?

Undergoing physical therapy after a car accident is not a requirement. That said, you may still benefit greatly from this treatment. Why is physical therapy so helpful to victims of car accidents? The answers to that question are below.

Physical Therapy Offers Lasting Pain Relief

Many car accident victims have constant pain. Whether the pain is a fractured bone or soft tissue injury, it can be incredibly difficult for the victim to deal with. Physical therapy can alleviate that pain.

The massages and exercises implemented by your therapist can ease the pain and discomfort caused by your injuries. Physical therapists can also work on the parts of your body that are placing additional stress on your injuries. By working on those parts of your body, your therapist can effectively neutralize their negative impact.

Physical Therapy Improves Your Range of Motion

Stiffness often accompanies the pain caused by a car accident injury. For example, if your shoulder or leg was exposed to the force of the collision, that part of your body will likely feel stiff for a while. Neck stiffness is also a common symptom of whiplash.

Physical therapy can do something about your lost range of motion. The massages administered by your therapist can relax your injured soft tissues. Slowly but surely, your range of motion will return if you keep up your physical therapy.

Physical Therapy Restores Your Strength

When you fracture a bone or tear a ligament, that part of your body will be out of commission for a while. During that time, the injured body part may significantly weaken. Taking part in strengthening exercises can help gradually resolve that problem. Your therapist can help you develop a routine featuring those strengthening exercises.

Who Pays for Physical Therapy after an Automobile Accident?

Following your Baltimore car accident, your doctor may advise you that physical therapy is the best treatment for your injuries. You must pay for your own medical expenses. Even if you do not sue the at-fault driver, if you have personal injury protection (PIP), you can have your own insurance company pay for your physical therapy.

Many drivers opt for PIP coverage ranging from $2500 to $5,000, which can be used for physical therapy without going through your own health insurance company. However, if you sustain serious injuries, you must file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver in order to receive additional compensation for the value of your medical expenses.

Things become more complicated if the other driver lacks insurance to cover your medical expenses. In that case, you should file a claim with your own insurance company for uninsured motorist coverage. Your own insurance company should compensate you for the value of your medical expenses if you can prove that the accident was not your fault.

What Is a Medical Lien?

The injuries you sustained from your car accident may be incredibly painful. Unfortunately, they may also be actively preventing you from performing basic tasks. It is obvious that you need physical therapy, but you do not have enough money to pay for it without the defendant’s compensation. Is there anything you can do in that position to get started on physical therapy?

Your best option at that point is to negotiate a medical lien. A medical lien guarantees you a medical professional to receive immediate treatment. You receive treatment now in exchange for a promise to pay for your medical expenses after you recover damages from your lawsuit. As you can imagine, not all medical professionals are fond of accepting a medical lien in exchange for treatment.

However, it is hard to blame them for being skeptical since they are likely not familiar with the facts of your case. Hiring a car accident lawyer is important because they can negotiate the medical lien with the healthcare professional. Let them negotiate the deal that will allow you to undergo physical therapy as soon as possible.

Car Accident Lawyer in Towson, Maryland

Do you need treatment following your recent car accident in Baltimore County? If so, Towson personal injury lawyer John Leppler is ready to help.

John has helped numerous car accident victims secure the compensation they need. He can also help you negotiate a medical lien if you need one right now. Contact us today to secure the resources you need to undergo physical therapy.

Some of the locations our personal injury law firm serves include: Towson, Lutherville-Timonium, Baltimore, Owings-Mills, Parkville, Pikesville, and more.