Broken Bones Following An Accident or Medical Malpractice
Fractures from car accidents are generally more serious than fractures from falls due to the impact forces that hit a person’s body. In many cases, people who suffer from bone fractures in an auto accident require surgery. There are also some situations where a medical professional's negligence can cause bone fractures.
There are many types of fracture injuries, but the most common ones are:
- Displaced and non-displaced fractures: Displaced fractures occur when the bone breaks into two or several parts, displaces from its original location, and its two ends are no longer aligned; Non-displaced fractures occur when the bone cracks, but does not move and remains aligned.
- Compound or open fractures: In these types of injuries, there is an open wound at the sight of the fracture, usually caused by violent trauma. Most often, the broken bone breaks the skin. This is a very dangerous type of fracture because it exposes the injury site to bacterial infections.
- Other fracture types:
- Hairline. This is a small crack in the bone that occurs in leg or foot bones
- Transverse. This injury can be the result of a direct blow, occurs perpendicular to the long part of the bone
- Oblique. An impact to the bone at an angle can cause an oblique fracture with a curved or angled pattern
- Comminuted. This injury occurs when the force of a high-impact accident causes a bone to shatter into three or more pieces
- Impacted. This fracture occurs when the force of injury breaks the bone and jams together the broken ends of the bone
If you sustained a fracture or other injuries in an accident compensation may be available to relieve the burden of medical expenses and other hardships that you have endured. Our dedicated Miami fractures lawyer at The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary can get you the compensation you deserve during this difficult time.
Fracture Injury Cases We Handle & Investigate
Numerous accidents can lead to broken bones or fractures. Some of the most common causes of broken bones include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, specifically, car, truck, ATV and motorcycle accidents. When a person involved in a car accident suffers fractures, these are not minor injuries and will always require medical attention and time to heal. Many people are unable to return to work while they recover from their injury. That is why compensation will almost always include loss of wages. Fractures of the hands and wrists are common injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. These injuries occur when the rider tries to save his or her face with their hands. The side effect is that the whole impact comes in these body parts. The rider can also suffer hip or pelvis fractures.
- Defective products. For example, the explosive force of a malfunctioning airbag can cause fractures in the bones of the hands, wrists, arms, chest, or skull.
- A pedestrian being struck by a motor vehicle. Pedestrians are prone to suffering significant traumatic injuries when they are hit by a car, a truck, or another motorized vehicle. Injuries include trauma to the spinal cord and the long bones of the lower extremities, such as femur fractures.
- Acts of violence, including assault and battery. Broken bones may occur as a result of misconduct, for example, assaults or other acts of violence. Typical battery injuries include the following broken and fractured bones: forehead, nose, jaw, eye socket, ribs, and hands.
- Slip, trip, and fall accidents due to unsafe property conditions. These accidents can include falls in stores, from a high place, from the stairway and escalator, and nursing home falls due to another's negligence. Many bone fractures occur because of the negligence of a property owner who failed to maintain a property in a safe condition. More than a quarter of the nursing home residents who visit emergency rooms are injured in falls. Falls can cause fractures and lead to infirmity, loss of independence, and changes in the quality of life.
- Accidents on construction sites. Serious injuries can be caused by slips and falls, falling objects, equipment malfunctions, and vehicle collisions. The severity of the injury depends on how substantial the bodily impact was. In minor cases, the bones are still in the proper position, but often, fractures from a construction accident involve complications, such as the bone breaking through the skin or shattering into many smaller pieces.
- Boating, jet ski, yacht accidents. These accidents can lead to fractures that can result in serious bodily harm and end up costing the injured individuals thousands of dollars in medical expenses.
- Medical malpractice. Failure to diagnose fractures is the most common malpractice incidence involving broken bones. Fractures can result from misreading an X-ray or improperly setting a healing bone. Failure to diagnose a broken bone can also breed long-term conditions or secondary health problems.
What Can You Recover After Sustaining Fractures in an Accident?
If you have suffered a fracture injury and it was caused by another party's negligence, you are legally entitled to claim compensation for your damages.
To start, we will help you compile all the evidence that you need to establish liability in your case. Then, we will carefully document your damages, so that you can maximize your financial recovery.
Monetary compensation may be available in your case for both economic and non-economic losses. Among other things, our lawyer can help you recover money for:
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Ongoing medical treatment
- Physical therapy
- Psychological counseling
- Rehabilitation costs
- Disability
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Permanent disfigurement
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Modifications to your home or vehicle
- Housekeeping and home maintenance
- Attendant care
- Special equipment
Bone fractures may require a long recovery time, which is why your compensation needs to include all costs incurred as a result of the accident. Insurance companies may try to minimize the effects of a fracture on your health and quality of life to avoid making a fair payout. However, we can stand up for you so that you are fully compensated for your losses.
Complications from Fractures
Some people may, unfortunately, experience fracture complications, such as nerve and muscle damage, infection, malunion, nonunion, and fat embolism syndrome. Complications could lead, in the worst-case scenario, to amputation, or, in other cases, to loss of function, long-term pain, and the need for additional surgery. The exact treatment that a person will need when facing bone fractures depends on their severity, as well as where on the body the injury is located. At The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary, we will help you recover damages for past and future costs related to your fracture.
We prepare your case by reviewing medical records that document your fracture and treatment. Additionally, we gather exhibits that can serve as powerful evidence of the seriousness of your fracture, such as:
- Test results, for example, from X-ray and MRI
- Your cast, splint, or brace
- Any rods, pins, screws, and metal plates used in your treatment
- A cane, walker, wheelchair, or any other assistive devices
This evidence can be used when seeking a settlement from the at-fault party’s insurance company or when presenting your case in court.
