Recovering Damages for Broken Bones

Although broken bones are some of the most common injuries sustained by accident victims, they should not be taken lightly. Many severe breaks require surgical intervention and if not treated correctly, could result in serious infections and other dangerous complications. Treating these types of injuries can be expensive, especially if an accident victim requires ongoing physical therapy or suffers from chronic pain. Fortunately, when someone else’s negligence was the cause of an accident, the injured party may be able to collect compensation from the at-fault party. If you were injured in an accident and want to learn more about whether your case is compensable, you should consider speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney who can address your concerns.

Types of Fractures

The severity of a broken bone, or fracture, depends on a number of factors, including the amount of force applied, the strength of the victim’s bone, and the direction of impact. For example, when an extreme amount of force is applied to a bone, the injured party could suffer from an open, or compound fracture, in which the bone is broken so severely that it punctures the skin. Other common types of fractures include:

• Stable fractures, which occur when a bone is broken, but its ends line up and are only slightly out of place;
• Transverse fractures, which involve the horizontal breaking of the bone;
• Buckle fractures, which occur when the broken ends of a bone are driven into each other;
• Stress fractures, which are usually caused by overuse and present as small cracks in the bone;
• Oblique fractures, which occur when the bone breaks at an angle; and
• Comminuted fractures, where the bone breaks into three or more pieces.

Of these kinds of breaks, compound fractures are one of the most dangerous, as victims have a much higher risk of infection. Comminuted fractures are also serious, as they are difficult to treat, requiring that a bone be set in multiple places.

Common Causes and Symptoms

Human bones can withstand a surprising amount of force. However, when faced with an extreme impact, such as a car accident, bones do crack or break under pressure. Broken bones are also often suffered as a result of:

• Falls;
• Collisions in a contact sport;
• Direct blows; and
• Repetitive force or overuse.

Whether they are inflicted in a car accident or are the result of a fall, broken bones are usually accompanied by severe pain, limited mobility, swelling, and bruising.

Even after a broken bone has healed, victims may still suffer from related symptoms, including:

• Pain;
• Infection;
• Damage to the nerves and blood vessels;
• Pain and swelling in the muscles near the bone; and
• Arthritis.

These types of side effects can make it difficult, if not impossible for an injured party to hold down a job or complete daily activities, making it especially important for these individuals to collect compensation for their losses.

Call an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

To discuss your case with an experienced and compassionate personal injury attorney, please contact Boone & Davis at 954-566-9919 today. Our Fort Lauderdale legal team is eager to assist you today.

Resource:

medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000001.htm