Muscatine Car Accident Injury Attorneys

Accidents and injuries can abruptly alter lives. In such challenging times, car accident injury lawyers are invaluable allies. They advocate for those harmed by others' negligence, ensuring fair compensation. This article examines the crucial role these lawyers play, helping people navigate their claims and rebuild their lives.

When the neck undergoes a serious impact during a car accident, the bones and discs can become disjointed and damaged. Oftentimes, this type of injury requires neck fusion surgery to rejoin the bones. The surgery can be effective, but the rehabilitation period is quite lengthy and financially crippling.

When Neck Fusion is Necessary after a Car Accident

Neck fusion surgery uses various techniques to fuse bones back together. In high-impact collisions, spinal discs can become dislodged, causing disc material to burst out. Misaligned bones and discs can pressure nerves and the spinal cord, leading to significant pain and discomfort.

Before fusing the bones, other procedures may be performed, such as:
- Discectomy: Removal of all or part of a spinal disc.
- Laminectomy: Removal of the lamina.
- Foraminotomy: Widening the area where nerves exit the spinal column.

These decompression techniques relieve pressure on the spinal cord. The joints may then be fused using a bone graft, which might involve removing part of a bone from the pelvis. Additional hardware may be used to keep the bones stable while the bone graft heals and can stand alone.

Rehabilitation after Surgery

Rehabilitation after neck fusion surgery is often lengthy and expensive. Patients can expect a hospital stay of at least three to four days, though it can be longer in some cases. Extensive surgeries or elderly patients may require a stay in a rehabilitative unit before being released from the hospital.

Initial healing may be visible in six weeks, during which time the patient's mobility is limited. Substantial healing may take three to four months, with full recovery potentially taking up to a year or longer.

The financial expenses of neck fusion surgery and subsequent rehabilitation can quickly add up. If the car accident was due to someone else’s negligence, speaking with an attorney about filing a claim for compensation to cover medical and recovery expenses is advisable.

Maximizing the Rate of Healing Post-Surgery

The length of time it takes to heal after neck fusion surgery depends on several factors. Orthopedics International offers several recommendations to speed up the healing process:
- Change dressings with sterile gauze daily until the wound is completely dry.
- Eliminate smoking.
- Eat a healthy diet rich in protein and vitamin C, which assist in healing.
- Ensure daily calcium intake of 1,000-1,500 mg to facilitate fusion.
- Avoid excessive bending, twisting, pushing, or pulling.
- Follow the doctor's physical activity recommendations.

Possible Neck Fusion Surgery Complications

Neck fusion surgeries are susceptible to several complications, including:
- Extensive pain and suffering
- Rejection of bone graft
- General anesthesia problems
- Abnormal bleeding
- Fusion failure
- Infection and blood clots
- Increased injury to surrounding nerves

Systems That Prove Fault in Iowa Car Accidents

Iowa follows the rules of the road as stated in Iowa Code Chapter 321, which covers aspects such as duty to yield and responsibilities in various traffic situations. Iowa is a comparative fault state, meaning the fault of each driver involved in a car accident is compared. If a driver is found to be 51% or more at fault, they cannot recover any damages. If a driver is 50% or less at fault, their recoverable damages are reduced by their percentage of fault.

Common Ways Fault Can Be Proven in Iowa Car Accidents

1. Failure to stop within an assured distance, failure to maintain control, and/or following too closely.
   - Assured Clear Distance Ahead: Drivers must not exceed a speed that allows stopping within the visible distance.
   - Failure to Maintain Control: Drivers must control their vehicles, especially when approaching intersections.
   - Following Too Closely: Drivers must maintain a reasonable distance considering the speed and traffic conditions.

2. Failing to yield.
   - Meeting and Turning to the Right: Vehicles meeting on the road must yield half of the road by turning right.
   - Approaching or Entering Intersection: Vehicles entering an intersection simultaneously must yield to the vehicle on the right.
   - Backing Onto a Highway: Drivers must yield to approaching vehicles when reversing onto a highway.
   - Slow Moving Vehicles: Such vehicles must use the right-hand lane or as close to the right curb as possible.

3. Failing to obey a traffic control device.
   - Traffic Lights: Drivers must follow signals and yield the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians lawfully in the intersection.
   - Making a Left Turn Across Traffic: Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming traffic.

Recovering Damages from a Shoulder Replacement after an Muscatine Car Accident

Following a car accident that caused a shoulder injury, a victim may need shoulder replacement surgery, which is intensive, expensive, and requires months of rehabilitation.

Basics of Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Shoulder replacement surgery involves removing damaged parts of the shoulder and replacing them with artificial parts, usually made from metal or plastic. This may be necessary due to severe shoulder fractures or post-traumatic arthritis.

Injuries Requiring Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Car accident victims may suffer shoulder fractures that necessitate joint replacement. Other injuries, such as torn rotator cuffs leading to arthritis, can also require this surgery.

Recovery Time

Recovery time varies based on the type of surgery and the patient's resilience. Post-surgery, the shoulder must remain in a sling for several weeks, with basic activities resuming once the sling is removed. Months of physical therapy may be necessary for full mobility recovery.

Legal Support for Shoulder Replacement Surgery Costs

Shoulder replacement surgery is costly, and patients may miss work, resulting in lost wages. Seeking compensation for surgery costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering through an attorney is advisable.

We Are Here To Help

Remember, you are not alone in recovering from your injuries. We have helped thousands of Iowans through their physical, emotional, and financial recoveries. If you have questions about what you are going through, feel free to call our office for your confidential injury conference. We will take the time to listen to you and give you our advice concerning your injury matter at no cost or risk to you.

Free Book at No Cost 

If you are not ready to speak with an attorney yet but would like to learn more about Iowa injury cases including tips about how you can avoid making common costly mistakes request a copy of our Iowa Personal Injury book which includes 14 myths about Iowa injury cases and 5 things to know before hiring an attorney.

If you have specific questions about your injury matter feel free to call our office to speak with our Injury team at 641-792-3595 or use our Chat feature by clicking here 24 hours a day/7 days per week. Your information will remain confidential and there is no cost or obligation.