Rehabilitation May Be Your Road to Recovery After a Car Accident

If you’re severely injured in a vehicle crash, there’s a good chance that you’re undergoing physical therapy to regain as much function as possible. When people think about medical care after an accident, the first thing that may come to mind is an emergency department or surgery. They may not consider all the time and effort they’ll need to spend with physical therapy to return to as close to normal as they can.

How Will Physical Therapy Help Someone Injured in a Vehicle Accident?

Medical care and surgery can only do so much. Depending on the extent and type of injuries you suffer, you may need very little to extensive physical therapy. You must be thoroughly evaluated so a physical therapist (PT) can determine your needs and how they can be met.

They will need detailed information about the accident, what was injured, and how. They’ll also want information on your medical treatment and surgeries, if any. Next will be a physical assessment so the PT can learn more about your pain and physical limitations. The PT will ask you many questions, and you’ll need to answer as fully and honestly as possible.

After a treatment program is developed, your PT will manipulate, move, and massage your body’s muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments with their hands. This may decrease pain, reduce swelling, increase mobility, and speed up your return to function. Your program may also include exercises to help your recovery.

Physical therapy can help you fully recover physical functioning, or you may be limited by the nature and extent of your injuries. How long this takes depends on many things, including your injuries, how quickly you start therapy, and how dedicated you are to the program.

What Therapy is Needed for Brain Injuries?

The goal of rehabilitation for those with traumatic brain injuries is to help them regain as much function and become as independent as possible.

Those involved in your care can include the following:

• Physicians
• Physical and occupational therapists
• Speech and language pathologists
• Advanced practice nurses

Brain rehabilitation can start in the hospital, according to the Mayo Clinic, perhaps with just a few minutes of mental and physical exercise daily. You may need inpatient rehabilitation at a facility specially equipped and staffed for treating brain-injured patients after you leave the hospital.

Depending on your injuries, your team will help you with improving your mental, physical, and behavioral functioning so you can transition to living at:

• Home independently
• Home with assistance
• A facility outside the home

You may also need outpatient rehabilitation so you can work and live as independently as possible.

How Will Therapy Affect My Insurance Claim or Lawsuit?

A large part of your case’s value is based on your costs of medical and rehabilitation treatment. Rehabilitation expenses can be substantial, especially if you’re treated at a specialized facility for a prolonged period. The higher the costs, the more serious your injury should be considered. All other things being equal, these high costs should result in an insurance company willing to pay more to settle your case.

Therapy generally isn’t easy. It’s something you need to work on. It can take determination and willpower to get through the grind. How much you can attain is often a guess. Based on a professional’s experience, they’ll estimate what effort is needed to reach a certain level of recovery.

Despite these unknowns, you should always do your best. Your goals may not be achievable, but you may also go much farther than anticipated. You won’t know until you try.

The law has a concept called mitigation of damages. You need to make reasonable efforts to limit the harm you’re suffering. If you can’t fully recover because you’re unwilling to put in your best efforts to improve, that will decrease how much recovery you’ll receive.

An insurance company may reduce a settlement offer if you’re not making appointments and your PT’s notes state you’re not doing the necessary exercises on your own or making a total effort during rehabilitation sessions.

Speak To A Satterley & Kelley, PLLC Car Accident Attorney Today

If another party’s negligence caused your injuries, Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyers can protect your interests and legal rights to compensation.

Schedule a free initial consultation by calling our Louisville office at 855-385-9532 so we can discuss your situation. If it’s more convenient, complete our online contact form instead.