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A broken bone is one of the most common injuries around and affects nearly seven million people each year. While some injuries are relatively minor - and heal easily with time and rest - others can cause extensive damage and lead to a host of associated problems. Depending on how and where the break occurs, complications may include infections, nerve damage, and chronic pain.
Receiving proper medical care early on is vital in ensuring a successful recovery. Bone fractures and dislocations need to be realigned correctly or else the healing process will stumble. Also, fractured bones may not form properly afterward if left to mend on their own.
Seeking medical treatment should always be your first step anytime you suspect damage has occurred. However, speaking to a qualified personal injury attorney afterward is always a good idea.
The attorneys at The Sevey Law Firm have legal experience in multiple areas of practice - including bone injury cases. We know how to help victims and their families recover from their accidents and receive the fair compensation they deserve.
If you or someone you know has been hurt recently, call our offices at (916) 788-7100 to setup a free, no obligation consultation. There’s never a charge to work with us, and we only get paid if we win your case. Don’t wait until it’s too late - contact us today and get the recovery process started.
While the specific cause of each incident may vary, most involve relatively normal everyday activities. For example:
Auto Accidents - one of the most common sources of broken bone injuries. The tremendous forces involved in car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian or bicycle accidents are enough to snap through even the biggest bones in the human body.
Falls - working from ladders, scaffolding or other elevated surfaces can easily lead to severe injuries including broken arms, legs, ribs or backs.
The elderly are especially prone to hip and pelvis damage from slips, trips, and falls. These accidents are often due to bone diseases such as osteoporosis or poor balance/mobility issues often seen in this age group.
Sports Injuries - account for a large number of bone injuries each year especially in children and young adults. Even with proper protective gear in place, thousands of athletes suffer bone fractures and dislocations from sports-related injuries.
Industrial Accidents - on the job accidents can cause some of the most severe types of bone fractures. Being crushed under machinery, struck by falling objects or losing control of heavy equipment can easily shatter bones and cause life-threatening injuries.
Consulting with a bone injury attorney is important following any accident, as the preservation of evidence is key in building a strong case. Once the incident scene has been cleaned - and the negligent parties have time to mount their defense - proving fault can become a much harder task.
When describing bone injuries, doctors usually classify the damages into one of several categories based on the nature and severity of the accident. Each may require different treatment options from basic rest and pain meds to casting or complex surgery.
Open (Compound) Fractures are some of the worst types of injuries as the bone itself is found protruding from the skin. Since an open wound is present, open fractures are prone to a host of other complications including severe bleeding, nerve damage or infections.
Closed Fractures do not puncture the skin but can still be hazardous - especially in parts of the body where vital organs are located. For example, many auto accident victims also suffer punctured (collapsed) lungs as collateral damage from broken ribs.
Displaced Fractures describe a break where the bone is separated into two or more parts that are no longer in alignment. Casts or other medical devices are used to maintain the proper positioning of the bones during recovery and healing.
Non-displaced Fractures involve damage to the bone where the natural alignment is not disturbed. Doctors still prefer to immobilize the damaged area, but the recovery process is usually easier than in the case of a displaced fracture.
Although most any bone in the body can be fractured, some of the most often seen injuries involve the face, arms, fingers, ribs, back, hips, legs or feet. A main reason is because these same body parts normally bear the brunt of the abuse during auto, workplace or pedestrian accidents.
Victims of bone injuries can suffer a number of unpleasant symptoms and side effects. The most obvious, of course, being the pain and suffering involved with the accident. Swelling, bruising or deformity of the affected area are all telltale signs of a fracture injury. However, these are not the only side effects.
Even when bones DO heal correctly, they are still susceptible to re-injury and may not have the full range of motion as before the accident. This means some victims cannot return to their previous jobs or favorite leisure activities because of their injuries. A loss of income, or reduction in quality of life, is a very plausible outcome.
As previously mentioned, open fracture injuries are also subject to secondary infections due to exposure and possible nerve damage depending on the severity of the injury. Patients who experience these types of side effects may never fully recover and often require ongoing care to manage their illnesses.
If there is one ray of light from a broken bone injury, it would have to be that they are some of the easiest types of damage to prove. X-rays, MRIs, and CT Scans are considered “concrete” evidence meaning they’re very hard to disprove. They are the opposite of soft tissue damages where the burden of proof rests squarely on the defense's ability to produce a convincing argument.
In general, the stronger the evidence in a case, the better the chance of a successful outcome (and higher compensation level). Judges and juries also take into account how severely the injury affects the victim's health, employability, and quality of life. The worse the outlook, the tougher it becomes to deny the claim.
Bone fracture and dislocation cases are never a “slam dunk”, but with the right evidence in place, they can (and should) be won.
While a fractured bone does provide a solid base of evidence, there’s a lot more involved in building a strong defense. Working with an experienced personal injury law firm can provide the upper hand you need to win your case and receive the compensation you deserve.
Thousands of clients have placed their trust in the experts at The Sevey Law Firm for their litigation needs. Our expert broken bone injury lawyers know how to gather and present the facts of your case in the most compelling way possible. We take pride in representing victims and their families in all manner of personal injury law.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact our offices today at (916) 788-7100 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We are a contingency law firm - meaning you never pay a fee unless we win your case. Don’t let the insurance companies intimidate you or make you try and settle for less than you deserve.
Contact us today and learn more about how we can assist you and your family in your time of need.