Rehabilitation after a DC pedestrian accident can sometimes be the most challenging part of your case. Whether it is a spinal injury, a brain injury, or mere soreness, rehabilitation can take months on the low end. Rehab plays a crucial role in the legal process, too. The cost of your rehab is a vital contributor to the ultimate value of your case. When negotiating a settlement amount for your case, we consider your past and future medical expenses. Because rehabilitation can last beyond your legal case’s life, it is frequently the longest part of the recovery process. Much of your legal case must go on hold while we have doctors assess the severity of your injuries.
However, many different kinds of rehabilitation after a DC pedestrian accident exist, and those other kinds of rehab have different implications for your case. Understanding the importance of comprehensive rehabilitation can empower individuals to take an active role in their recovery, making informed decisions that contribute to their overall well-being and returning to daily activities.
Your need for rehabilitation after a DC pedestrian accident will depend on many factors. The good news is it won’t necessarily depend on whether you can afford it. If you are in a pedestrian accident that is not your fault, the tortfeasor will be responsible for the medical expenses you incur. Even if the tortfeasor has no auto insurance nor the ability to pay your damages, you can use your auto insurance if available. With the help of a DC pedestrian accident attorney, assessing the need for rehabilitation will come down to what you need, not whether you can afford it.
At this stage, your physician will consider several factors. First, your age will be a significant factor to consider at the initial evaluation stage. And keep in mind that the defendant takes the victim as he finds him. This is known as the eggshell plaintiff rule. In other words, the tortfeasor is responsible for the damages they caused regardless of whether the exact impact would affect the average person the same way. So, if you were just tapped at five miles per hour by a car in a crosswalk, but it knocked you down, breaking your hip, the defendant should be liable for your hip surgery.
At your initial evaluation, your doctor might consider your medical history to determine whether you have any preexisting conditions and how they might affect your accident and recovery. They will assess the extent of your injuries via imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. They will also determine what is injured. Almost always, in high-speed impacts, there are soft tissue injuries. However, it can be even more severe. You may have broken bones, brain trauma, or internal bleeding. Your doctor will ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 1-10. This is a subjective test, but it gives them an idea of how severe your injuries are and gives your pedestrian injury attorney an idea of the value of your case when reviewing your case records.
When people have soft tissue, particularly in their neck or back, like soreness, doctors prescribe physical therapy. Part of this is to prevent future complications for a seemingly minor injury. It is also meant to mitigate the pain, as soreness in a pedestrian accident can be severe. However, more severe injuries like fractures, head trauma, or nerve damage will require more extensive rehabilitation.
Speech may become an issue in rehabilitation after a DC pedestrian accident, particularly for brain injuries. Even if you have not fully lost the ability to speak, things like swallowing or other basic functions we take for granted may be affected. A speech therapist can help with these injuries.
It is common to suffer from emotional trauma following a pedestrian accident. You may develop a fear of crossing the street. You may develop a fear of trusting others the way you trusted the driver to stop their car before hitting you while you were standing in the center of a crosswalk.
You should see an occupational therapist (OT) if you are having trouble adjusting to life after your pedestrian accident. If your injuries are severe, an OT will train you to adapt to daily activities. Your daily routine following an accident may be permanently altered. You must learn to adapt. The OT may teach you how to dress, bathe, or use assistive devices.
Regardless of your injuries, you likely will see a physical therapist on the back end of your rehabilitation after a DC pedestrian accident. If you suffer from soreness in your back, you will see a physical therapist immediately, lasting up to three months. However, if you require surgery, you may get your surgery, recover for two months, and then begin treatment with a physical therapist. Regardless, the visit to the physical therapist generally marks the end of your rehabilitation.
The cost of rehabilitation after a DC pedestrian accident can be intimidating to your case. Whether it be doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or other medical services related to your injuries, the ultimate cost can reach the hundreds of thousands of dollars mark quickly. This is due to the severity we see in pedestrian accident cases. However, the financial aspect of rehab should never be the deciding consideration. Let your DC personal injury attorney handle your compensation. If we take your case, it means we believe in it and will do all we can to fight for your recovery.
It also means we believe the defendant is liable for your injuries. If that is the case, then the question of whether your medical expenses will be fully compensated hinges on how much insurance coverage there is. Even if the defendant’s coverage maxes out and does not fully cover your costs, you can make an underinsured claim on your policy. This is in addition to the coverage from the defendant. It is our job as your legal team to communicate with both insurance providers and make sure you get as much compensation as possible to cover your injuries. The law supports a recovery over your medical expenses.
For example, if you fracture your wrist, your medical expenses are compensable. But you are also entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering you were forced to undergo for that injury. Going through rehab takes hard work. Months of physical therapy can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Losing the ability to perform essential functions is something no one should have to go through, let alone someone who did not cause the accident. You are entitled to compensation for this. How much compensation you may recover depends on how much your injury lawyer can negotiate for a settlement or trial.
If you have questions regarding your rehabilitation after a DC pedestrian accident, contact our office today for a free consultation. You can reach our office 24/7 at (202) 331-7227.