Car Accident Injuries: Bone Fractures

Bone fractures after car accidents can vary greatly in severity, from simple breaks that may heal with minimal medical intervention to complex fractures requiring surgical repair. Understanding the impact of these car accident injuries is crucial for victims to seek appropriate medical care and legal assistance.

If you’ve been in a car accident in Maryland, and suspect you might have a bone fracture, knowing your rights is essential. An experienced Waldorf car accident lawyer at the Law Office of Robert Castro can advise you on your legal options and help pursue fair compensation.

Signs and Symptoms of Bone Fractures

If you are involved in a car accident, these signs might indicate you have a fracture:

• Intense Localized Pain: The pain from a broken bone is often sharp, severe, and gets worse if you try to move or put pressure on the injured area.
• Swelling and Bruising: When a bone breaks, there’s often internal bleeding and inflammation, causing swelling and discoloration (bruising) around the affected area.
• Deformity or Unusual Angles: In some cases of severe fractures, the broken bone might shift out of place. This can create a visible deformity or an unnatural angle in the injured limb or body part.
• Difficulty Moving or Using the Affected Area: A fracture significantly impairs your ability to move or use the injured area as you normally would. You may find it difficult or impossible to bend the limb, put weight on it, or grasp objects.
• Numbness or Tingling: If broken bone fragments damage or compress nerves near the injury site, you might experience numbness, a pins-and-needles type tingling sensation, or even weakness in the affected limb.

Bone fractures are serious car accident injuries that require immediate medical attention. Do not attempt to diagnose yourself or move the injured area unnecessarily. Proper medical evaluation and treatment will ensure the correct diagnosis.

Type of Bone Fractures after Car Accidents

Some of the diagnosed bone fractures sustained in car accidents are:

• Skull Fractures: Severe head trauma can lead to skull fractures. These injuries are serious and can sometimes be accompanied by brain injuries.
• Facial Fractures: Direct impact to the face can fracture various facial bones, including the jawbone, cheekbones, eye sockets, or nose.
• Collarbone Fractures: The force of the seat belt against your shoulder or impact with the dashboard can break the collarbone.
• Rib Fractures: These injuries are common due to chest impact with the steering wheel or forceful restraint by the seat belt. Broken ribs can pose additional risks if they puncture a lung.
• Arm and Wrist Fractures: The instinct to brace yourself during an accident can lead to fractures in the bones of your arms or wrists.
• Pelvic Fractures: Severe crashes can result in fractures of the pelvic bones. These injuries are often serious and can require a lengthy recovery period.
• Leg Fractures: The force of a collision can cause fractures in the leg bones (femur, tibia, fibula), particularly in areas where the legs might be pinned or crushed within the vehicle.

Violent forces involved in car accidents in Maryland can fracture bones throughout the body. Understanding the different types of fractures and where they frequently occur can help you be aware of potential injuries after an accident and seek prompt medical attention.

Considerations in Bone Fractures Settlement

The value of your claim for your car accident injury depends heavily on the unique circumstances of your case. Some factors influence settlements and recommend seeking legal guidance.

Here are some of the factors that affect settlements for bone fractures from car accidents:

• Severity of the Fracture: Hairline fractures generally settle for less than displaced or comminuted fractures (multiple bone fragments).
• Bone Affected: Fractures in weight-bearing bones (pelvis, leg) or complex areas (skull, face) often lead to higher settlements due to potential long-term complications.
• Treatment Required: The extent of medical intervention needed (surgery, physical therapy) impacts settlement value.
• Recovery Time and Lost Wages: Lost wages due to missed work and the length of recovery significantly affect settlement amounts.
• Pain and Suffering: The severity and duration of physical pain and emotional distress can affect settlement value.
• Impact on Daily Life: If the fracture limits your ability to perform daily activities or requires long-term care, it strengthens your case.

Don’t delay seeking legal guidance if you’ve suffered a bone fracture in a car accident. Our experienced Waldorf personal injury lawyers can assess the specifics of your accident and injuries. They can use their knowledge of Maryland personal injury law to calculate a fair compensation estimate for your bone fracture and fight to get you the maximum recovery possible.

Contact the Law Office of Robert Castro today for a free consultation.