Car Accidents that Result in Joint Replacement Surgeries

 Posted on August 14, 2025 in Car Accidents

Joint replacement surgery is often thought of as something people need after years of wear and tear. But bad car accidents have also left many people needing these serious procedures, often because of someone else’s negligence. These injuries can happen in seconds, and the impact on health, finances, and daily life can last for the rest of a victim’s life.

If you were seriously hurt in a car crash and your doctors are telling you that you need joint replacement surgery, take a moment to talk about your options with the Oswego, IL personal injury lawyer with our firm. Attorney Bresney has over 20 years of experience in central Illinois standing up to powerful insurance companies and can help you choose a path forward.

How Car Accidents Lead to Joint Replacement

When a vehicle collides with another car, truck, or solid object, the force can be strong enough to fracture bones and destroy the cartilage in major joints. Even with immediate medical treatment, some injuries cause permanent damage that cannot be repaired with therapy alone.

Certain types of crashes tend to produce the severe trauma that leads to joint replacement, including:

• Head-on collisions, which can cause crushed knees or hips from the force against the dashboard

• Side-impact crashes, especially at intersections, which can damage the shoulder and hip joints

• High-speed rear-end accidents, where the body is thrust forward into steering wheels or other hard surfaces

• Pedestrian accidents involving vehicles, where direct impact to the lower body often destroys knee or hip structures

The Cost of Joint Replacement After an Accident

Joint replacement is one of the more expensive surgical procedures. According to current national cost averages, a single hip or knee replacement can range from $35,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on the hospital, the surgeon, and whether complications happen during or after surgery. Shoulder replacements often fall in a similar range.

These figures do not include the cost of emergency treatment after the crash, inpatient hospital stays, physical therapy and rehab, and medication. Even with health insurance, the out-of-pocket expenses can be overwhelming. Deductibles, co-pays, and uncovered services can add tens of thousands of dollars to the financial burden victims face.

The Impact of Joint Surgery on Quality of Life

Joint replacement surgery requires significant recovery time. Most patients spend weeks to months in rehabilitation, gradually rebuilding strength and mobility. Many cannot work during this period, and some find they cannot return to the same type of job at all.

The limitations can affect every part of life: driving, caring for kids, household chores, recreational activities, and simply moving without pain. In some cases, complications such as infection, stiffness, or implant failure require additional surgeries, prolonging the recovery and uncertainty.

Who Pays for Joint Surgery and Recovery After a Car Crash?

If another driver’s negligence caused the accident, their insurance company should be responsible for paying your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. However, insurers often try to argue that the joint damage existed before the crash, especially if there is any sign of arthritis or past injury.

This is where detailed medical evidence is critical. Orthopedic specialists can connect the timing and severity of the injury to the accident, showing that the collision was the direct cause of the need for joint replacement.

If the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage is not enough to cover the full cost, your own underinsured motorist coverage may apply. In serious injury cases, it is also possible to recover damages for long-term impacts such as pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. However, you only have two years after the accident to file a claim, per Illinois statute 735 ILCS 5/13-202.

Contact a Kendall County, IL Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered joint damage in a car accident and required a replacement surgery, you deserve to hold the negligent driver accountable. Call our Oswego, IL car accident attorney at Kendall County Injury Lawyers, a Division of Kanoski Bresney, by calling 888-826-8682 to schedule your free consultation. Attorney Bresney will fight for your right to fair compensation and stand up to the insurance companies trying to limit your recovery.