Broken Bones and Fractures

Broken and fractured bone injuries are among the most common throughout the world. Research indicates the average person will fracture two bones over the course of their lifetime.

What is a Broken Bone Injury?

A broken bone occurs when a fracture goes partially through or all the way through a bone. There are many different types of broken bone injuries.

These include:

  • Stress fracture: a small break in the bone
  • Greenstick fracture: break on one side of the bone
  • Avulsion fracture: a small fracture caused by the pulling force of an attached ligament or tendon
  • Comminuted fracture: a bone breaks into three or more pieces
  • Compound fracture: fragments of the broken bone pierce surrounding skin and tissue
  • Oblique fracture: a break that occurs at an angle
  • Transverse fracture: a horizontal break in the bone

The type of fracture and its severity will depend on how the bone was broken and the force involved in the trauma.

What Causes Broken Bones and Fractures?

Bones can break for a number of different reasons. Some people might be genetically predisposed to fractures, and others might suffer broken bones as a result of a traumatic accident.

Common causes of fractures include:

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to break or fracture bones due to the negligence of others. They deserve to be compensated for their medical bills and related losses when this happens.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Broken Bones and Fractures?

Often, the symptoms of a broken or fractured bone are immediately and clearly noticeable. When a bone breaks or fractures, you may experience significant acute pain that’s obviously a sign of a serious injury.

That said, there are instances when signs of a break or fracture are less pronounced. 

Some of these symptoms can include:

  • Swelling
  • Weakness or inability to put weight on the affected area
  • Loss of ability to properly use a body part (such as not being able to comfortably walk on a particular foot)
  • Pain that worsens when pressure is applied to the affected area
  • Bruising
  • Deformity of the affected area
  • Feeling faint or dizzy in the aftermath of an accident

Don’t hesitate to see a doctor right away if you even vaguely suspect you may have broken or fractured a bone. Getting immediate treatment is often key to avoiding the potential long-term consequences of such an injury. If you seek compensation for your losses, having seen a physician right away will also increase your chances of recovering what you may be owed.

What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Broken Bones and Fractures?

Ideally, broken or fractured bones heal completely with proper treatment and rest. However, sometimes, they can result in long-term difficulties. 

Decreased Physical Ability

A broken bone or fracture can potentially have long-term or even permanent impacts on a person’s mobility, strength, and general physical ability. When this happens, a patient may no longer be able to perform certain work-related tasks. 

The long-term consequences of a broken bone or fracture could also prevent someone from participating in activities they once found enjoyable. They may even interfere with one’s ability to care for their family.

Pain

In some circumstances, broken bones and fractures leave patients with lasting physical pain that doesn’t diminish even after the injury has essentially healed. This pain may be so great that an individual must seek costly medical treatment or take expensive medications to manage their pain, possibly for years.

Mental and Emotional Health Difficulties

In the short-term aftermath of an accident resulting in a broken or fractured bone, a person may experience anxiety, depression, and nightmares. If an injury prevents someone from working, caring for loved ones, or participating in activities they once found enjoyable, the mental and emotional health consequences of their injury could be long-term.

Greater Risk of Premature Death and Health Problems

Researchers have discovered that older adults who sustain broken or fractured bone injuries may be at an increased risk of premature death, depending on the location of the break or fracture. They also tend to be more prone to such medical conditions as cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, and numerous others.

Additional research must be conducted to determine precisely why this is the case. However, there are already several theories that have gained traction.

For example, if a broken bone or fracture injury permanently prevents someone from being able to exercise to the degree that they used to, their risk of developing cardiovascular disease will increase. This, in turn, results in greater odds of premature death occurring.

What is My Broken Bones or Fractures Claim Worth?

If you break or fracture a bone in an accident resulting from someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses by filing a claim to collect from their insurance provider. If you can’t reach a fair settlement, you might have the option of filing a lawsuit to fight for compensation in court.

It’s impossible to determine precisely how much you can expect to recover when filing a claim. Factors such as the cost of your medical treatment, your lost wages, and numerous others can influence how much you may collect.

Settlement amounts can range widely. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you better understand what your broken bone case might be worth.

What Compensation Can I Recover for My Broken Bones and Fractures in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?

Injury victims seeking compensation after being involved in accidents resulting in broken bones or fractures can typically recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are any financial losses you may have sustained as a result of your injury, such as:

  • Medical bills (including past, present, and future bills)
  • Lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Loss of future earning ability

Adding up all these costs and estimating potential future expenses can be tough to do on your own. To ensure you’re requesting the amount of compensation you deserve when filing a claim, enlist the help of an accident attorney.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are losses without an objective dollar value, such as pain and suffering. For example, your attorney can potentially factor in your physical pain and emotional trauma when determining how much your claim is worth.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for Broken Bones and Fractures in Pennsylvania?

Typically, you have two years from the date your accident occurred to file a personal injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania. If you fail to meet the deadline, you’ll have waived your right to compensation. This fact highlights the importance of contacting a Philadelphia personal injury attorney sooner rather than later if you’ve sustained broken or fractured bone injuries as a result of someone’s negligence.

Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Have you experienced a broken bone injury because someone else was negligent? After an accident in Philadelphia, don’t hesitate to call (215) 875-7030 and ask  Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers for help. Our Philadelphia personal injury lawyer can help you seek full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. Your first case evaluation is free, so don’t hesitate to give us a call or contact us online today.

We also have a Philadelphia workers’ comp lawyer that can help you at any time if you were injured at work.