Car Crash Broken Bones

Car Crash Broken Bones

Next to bruising and lacerations, broken bones are the most common car accident injury and depending on the severity, these injuries can have a detrimental impact on your life and livelihood. But all bone breaks are not the same, and the value of your injury in terms of compensation depends on how severe the break.

Types of Fractures

There are many bone fracture types, but only four main categories –

  • Closed – the broken bone does not penetrate the skin
  • Open – the broken bone protrudes through the skin, significantly increasing the risk of infection
  • Displaced – the bone breaks and shifts from alignment
  • Non-displaced – the bone breaks but remains in place

A bone can break in a multitude of ways including –

  • Compound fractures occur when the broken bone protrudes through the skin. These can be complicated breaks that require surgical repair and leave the victim at a greater risk of infection than other types of breaks.
  • Comminuted fractures shatter a bone into three or more pieces
  • Greenstick fractures bend one side of a bone but break the other, much like what occurs when you try to break a green piece of wood in half
  • Impacted or buckled fractures force the ends of a broken bone into the other
  • Stress fractures that cause hairline cracks in the bone that may not initially be felt
  • Traverse fractures that snap the bone into two pieces, generally at a right angle
  • Oblique fractures from twisting, usually breaking in a curved or diagonal pattern
  • Avulsion fracture that occurs when a ligament or tendon breaks a segment from a bone

Compensation for Bone Fractures

If you are seeking compensation for your injuries, some value considerations are-

  • The category of break
  • the fracture type and severity
  • the age and health of the victim
  • the livelihood and activity level of the victim

For example, the valuation of a pelvic fracture that may be fatal to a 73-year old nursing home patient could be very different than that of a healthy, 28-year-old man who has recovered quickly and thoroughly from the injury. By the same token, however, the value of a simple, closed, non-displaced leg fracture could be valued very high for a professional football player.

The issue of broken bone valuation is highly important in car accident cases, as it sets the foundation for the amount of damages you can seek from a negligent or reckless driver. It is important that you seek medical attention for any suspected break you may sustain in a crash and your medical records will be needed for your case.

If you were injured in a collision because of the negligence of someone else, you might be able to recover any wages you lost because of the accident, current and expected future medical costs, expenses related to your injury, and be compensated for your pain and suffering. Contact us today to learn more about your options.


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