I Got an Infection After an Atlanta Car Accident: Can I Get Additional Compensation?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), over half of all car accident injuries become infected with bacteria. If your wound became infected after a car accident in Atlanta, this is an issue you’re already all too familiar with. What if you had to return to the hospital and get additional treatment for your infection? Will you get enough compensation to cover these medical bills? This is something you might want to ask an experienced injury attorney.

You Should Recover Compensation for All Medical Bills That Stem From Your Crash

All economic damages connected with your car crash should lead to compensation. This includes not only initial emergency treatment, but also secondary treatments for complications that arise afterward. Bacterial infections are extremely common among car accident patients, and they can affect many different types of injuries.

In order to ensure adequate coverage, you must establish a causal link between the initial car accident injury and the infection. In other words, you must prove that your infection never would have happened if it weren’t for the car accident. This should be relatively easy, and your medical records should show exactly how your injury became infected over time.

What Kind of Car Accident Injuries Become Infected?

Virtually any type of car accident injury can become infected. That said, some are more likely to become infected than others. Open wounds allow bacteria to enter the body easily, so those with lacerations may face higher risks. A particularly common injury for motorcyclists is “road rash,” and this injury can easily cause foreign objects (like gravel and dirt) to become embedded within wounds. This is also called a friction burn, and it may affect people who are ejected from passenger vehicles as well.

The NIH states that spinal cord injuries also tend to trigger infections. A spinal cord injury can cause bladder issues that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), which can be fatal. A severe fracture can become infected as well. Severe “open” fractures have infection rates of up to 50%. Open fractures involve broken bones piercing the skin and protruding from the body.

Infections Can Lead to Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Infection is a leading cause of death in hospitals. If you lost your loved one to an infection after a car crash, you might want to explore the possibility of a wrongful death claim. With this approach, you’ll file a lawsuit on behalf of your deceased loved one. This can help your family cover funeral costs, unpaid medical bills, lost future income, and other damages.

Can a Personal Injury Lawyer in Atlanta Help Me?

Generally speaking, all medical treatment directly related to your car accident should be compensable, including treatment for infections and other complications. To access this compensation confidently, consider speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer in Atlanta. It is imperative that you recover enough compensation to cover all of your medical bills. Contact Morain & Buckelew, LLC today to learn more about the next potential steps.

Sources: 

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11472858/

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21815814/