The trauma and pressure of a personal injury incident can result in a victim suffering a broken bone. This occurs when the pressure is so great on a body part that the bones cannot take it and shatter as a result. A broken bone from a personal injury incident can result in expensive medical costs, lost wages and earning potential, and mental anguish. You can pursue compensation for a broken bone injury caused by another party’s negligence by filing a personal injury claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. An experienced personal injury lawyer will know to handle the claims process in a way that can maximize your potential for recovering fair compensation for your broken bone damages. Russo Law Firm’s experienced personal injury lawyers have helped many victims of broken bones recover compensation and can use that experience to help with your case.
What Causes Broken Bones?
A personal injury incident can cause a broken bone because it can expose the body to pressure and trauma. A direct blow or falling down can bring the body into contact with a hard object or surface, with the pressure generated possibly being enough to fracture the bone. Any personal injury incident that exposes the body to a hard object can cause a bone fracture. The following are some of the types of personal injury incidents that can cause a broken bone:- Car accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Boating accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Lyft accidents
Types of Bone Fractures
Not all bone fractures are the same, as a bone can partially or fully fracture. The severity of the broken bone depends on what type of fracture you suffer. Each has its own set of challenges and symptoms based on whether you suffered a full break or not. The following are the types of bone fractures you can suffer in a personal injury incident:- Stable fracture. The bone breaks, but the ends of the bone still line up.
- Compound fracture. This is when the fracture causes the bone to pierce the skin.
- Transverse fracture. This is a bone fracture with a horizontal fracture line.
- Oblique fracture. If the fracture has an angled fracture line, it is considered an oblique fracture.
- Comminuted fracture. The bone shatters into three or more pieces.
Symptoms of Broken Bones
The symptoms of a broken bone can vary based on what bone was broken. The body part where the broken bone occurs will experience intense pain, lack of mobility, and swelling. A broken bone can make daily tasks more difficult without full control of the injured body part. The following are some of the symptoms of a broken bone:- Intense pain
- Numbness in the affected area
- Bone protruding through the skin
- Lack of mobility
- Inability to use the affected body part
- Swelling, bruising, or bleeding
What Body Parts Are Most Likely to be Broken in a Personal Injury Incident?
Each body part is exposed to damage that can cause a broken bone in a personal injury incident. What body part is affected depends on the type of personal injury incident and where the direct blow comes from. For example, a head-on collision may leave your arms, hands, wrists, and knees most at risk of suffering a bone fracture because they will suffer from direct, blunt force trauma. Some body parts that can sustain bone breaks include shoulders, arms, elbows, collarbone, ribs, wrists, hands, fingers, legs, knees, ankles, and feet. However, this list is not comprehensive as nearly any bone can be broken due to a personal injury incident.Complications from a Broken Bone
Bone fractures can lead to more severe medical conditions than the symptoms you will suffer in the aftermath. Even with medical treatment administered, you can still suffer from catastrophic medical consequences that can put your life in danger. Some bone fractures, such as leg fractures, take much longer to heal than others and can expose the victim to severe health risks. The following are some of the complications that can arise from a broken bone:- Infections
- Blood flow disruption
- Nerve and blood vessel damage
- Arthritis
- Compartment syndrome
What Damages Can You Pursue from a Broken Bone?
A broken bone can lead to medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that you can pursue compensation for in a personal injury claim. A personal injury lawyer can assess your current and future damages to determine what the full cost of your broken bone injury is. You can pursue economic damages, which are monetary losses, and non-economic damages, which are intangible losses that reflect how your life has changed. The following are the damages you can pursue compensation for broken bones:- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Disability costs
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of society