Broken bones or fractures are among the most common injuries in all types of accidents. Even a relatively minor accident can result in broken bones, also called fractures. In fact, physical trauma is one of the most common causes of bone fractures. People who suffer these injuries can often file a claim to seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and other related losses.

A person can suffer a bone fracture in any type of accident. Some common causes of broken bones involving negligence include:

If you suffered a broken bone in a situation that was not your fault, we welcome you to contact Gay Chacker & Ginsburg for a free, no-obligation consult about your injury.

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Common Types of Broken Bones

A person’s bones can be fractured in numerous ways. Common fracture types include:

  • Avulsion: The bone separates from the tendons and ligaments and likely requires surgery.
  • Buckle: The bone bends or buckles instead of breaking. Buckled bones typically require a splint or cast to heal.
  • Comminuted fracture: The bone fractures into three or more pieces. This type of break is so severe that it often requires amputation.
  • Hairline fracture: There is a small crack that may feel like a bruise initially, but it requires a boot, splint, or cast to heal properly.
  • Oblique: A diagonal fracture can happen when the bone is pinched then twisted. This type of break often requires surgery to reset the bone and place screws to help it mend.
  • Open, compound fracture: The broken bone pokes through the skin. Patients typically need immediate surgery as well as antibiotic treatment and a Tetanus shot.
  • Stress fracture: One side of the bone bends and the other side fractures. Treatment typically requires a boot, splint, or cast.
  • Transverse fracture: The bone breaks into two pieces often at a right angle. Victims require immobilization and sometimes surgery.

These types of fractures vary in severity, but each requires professional medical care.

Diagnosing and Treating a Broken Bone

After suffering an injury, your physician will assess your condition and the extent of your injuries, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. X-rays commonly identify a fracture and evaluate the type and severity.

Healing a broken bone can take several weeks to months. Although the pain may subside before the bone is completely healed, a physician may recommend that the patient continue to limit movement for some time. Patients with broken bones may lose muscle strength and flexibility as they recover, which may require physical therapy or certain at-home exercises.

Crash Trauma Leading to Broken Bones

The human body is not made to sustain the forces that occur during a vehicle collision. Some of the traumatic events that can cause a person to sustain bone fractures include:

  • Bracing for impact or covering the face in the moments before a crash
  • Being struck by loose items inside the car during the collision
  • Hitting the pavement after being ejected from a passenger vehicle or motorcycle
  • Striking the window or windshield
  • Being crushed in a rollover or by the impact of another vehicle

Certain bones commonly fracture in a vehicle crash due to the specific kinds of trauma that typically happen. These include:

  • Collarbone/clavicle
  • Cranial/skull and face
  • Leg fractures in the fibula and/or femur
  • Pelvic bone
  • Spinal fractures in the back or neck
  • Sternum/breastbone and/or ribs

Even the force of striking the seat belt and airbags in a collision can break a person’s ribs, clavicle, sternum, or other bones.

Fractured Bones from a Slip and Fall Incident

Falls result in millions of visits to the ER each year in the U.S., and one in five falls causes a serious injury such as a broken bone. The most common fractures from a fall involve the wrist, arm, ankle, and hip, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, 95 percent of hip fractures happen because of a fall.

Assault and Police Misconduct Leading to Broken Bones

Illegal use of force by police can cause harm to an inmate, which is unacceptable. At Gay Chacker & Ginsburg, we have handled cases involving beatings, unjustified shootings, excessive force, and other types of physical assault, which are all situations that can cause a victim to suffer from broken bones and far worse injuries as well. It’s important to get high-quality legal advocacy in order to protect your loved one from further abuse and seek justice for what has happened.

Workplace Injuries and Bone Fractures

Whether from faulty machinery, a fall, violent confrontation, or another situation, an incident in the workplace can cause a person to suffer from broken bones and other injuries. Our workers’ compensation and personal injury attorneys can protect victims’ rights and seek maximum compensation for current and future medical expenses, therapy and rehabilitation, current and future lost income, pain and suffering, and more.

Paying for Your Medical Bills and Other Damages in Pennsylvania

It’s not just the expense of surgery, a cast, medical equipment, and physical therapy that you have to deal with when recovering from broken bones. You may be out of work for a while, which could cause you to lose income. Your injuries might have impacted your relationships or limited your ability to take on normal tasks. On top of the financial burden of the accident, the emotional trauma could last a long time. The person at fault for the crash should cover all of these losses, which we call damages.

More specifically, the person or company whose carelessness led to your injury should pay for the following:

  • Your past, current, and future medical bills
  • Lost income from taking time off of work
  • Pain and suffering resulting from the incident

We can help you take legal action in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and surrounding states. Founded in Pennsylvania, Gay Chacker & Ginsburg has held true to its founding mission since 1965: to serve our clients with respect, honest legal advice, and outstanding case results. We have handled thousands of claims on behalf of people who suffered broken bones and other injuries when someone else was at fault.

Settlement Amounts for Broken Bones

Our attorneys are often asked: What is the average settlement for a broken bone? Others want to know: How much money can I expect to receive for my broken bone?

The truth is, every case is different, so the type of compensation and how much you can recover will depend on the unique facts of your case. The best thing to do is to speak with an experienced lawyer for advice. Our firm offers free case evaluations to auto accident victims and their families. You can also visit our featured results page to read more about our previous cases for clients who suffered broken bones.

Our personal injury attorneys can handle your injury claim and keep you informed on its progress. When you hire us, we will work hard to get financial recovery for you, by settling out of court or going to trial. We have recovered maximum compensation for people who have been injured in traffic accidents, assault and police brutality situations, workplace accidents, slip and fall incidents, and much more.

Contact Gay Chacker & Ginsburg to discuss how we can help with your case. There is no risk or obligation. We charge you no legal fees unless we recover compensation for your damages. Call us today at (215) 567-7955 for a free consultation and start getting your life back.