You can never predict the type of injuries someone will suffer in a car crash. People in the same vehicle can suffer vastly different injuries. In fact, one person could die while the other walks away with minor injuries.
In between those two extremes is a multitude of injuries that could happen. For instance, under the right circumstances, or the wrong ones depending on your point of view, you could suffer an open fracture, or compound fracture of a leg or arm. This injury could take some time to heal if everything goes right, but if you suffer complications, it could take even longer.
A little background on open fractures
If you suffer from an open fracture, a broken bone penetrated through the muscle, tendons, ligaments and skin. The human body can take quite a lot of punishment, but at some point, it just can't take anymore. For this reason, the more violent the impact of a car accident, the more possible this injury becomes.
Other than the broken bone, the biggest danger posed by an open fracture is infection. Your skin forms a protective barrier designed to keep out infections, so when that barrier is breached, bacteria and foreign matter can enter into your body and wreak havoc on it. Due to this possibility, immediate medical care is required to reduce that risk as quickly as possible.
A little background on treatment
Many open fractures require surgery as a first step in treatment. The surgeon will clean the bone and the tissues around it and then remove, or debride, any tissues that would not survive the healing process. If you do contract an infection in the bone, it could take a substantial amount of time for you to recover. Any infection may lead to sepsis, which is a potentially fatal condition in which your body begins attacking itself as your immune systems tries to fight the original infection.
The next step is to stabilize the bone. There is a risk of it not healing properly and becoming "non-union," which means the two parts of the bone fail to grow back together, which could mean more surgery and metal implants. You will also be given antibiotics to help fend off any potential infections.
When it comes to recovery time, a "normal" broken bone could take up to three months to heal. With an open fracture, you can expect to add at least an additional four to six weeks to that estimate. The more complications that arise, the longer that time will extend.
A little help
If another person's negligence or recklessness caused your open fracture and other injuries, you may pursue compensation for the inevitable financial losses that accompany a lengthy recovery. Even with health insurance, your medical bills can quickly spiral out of control, and since you probably won't be able to work for at last part of your recovery, you could lose income as well. You may also be eligible for other damages allowed under Texas law. Speak with an attorney to learn about your legal options.