Broken Bones & Fractures from Accidents
Compassionate Legal Support for Accident Victims in Orlando
Broken bones can leave an individual suffering physically, emotionally, and financially. If you or a loved one has suffered debilitating injuries due to an accident caused by another party, you may be eligible to recover compensation for lost wages, medical treatment, and pain and suffering.
Please call our office at (888) 979-4941 to schedule a free consultation, or fill out our convenient online form and someone will contact you soon. We are here to help. No fees unless we win.
To date, Legally Pink Law has handled thousands of personal injury claims, recovering millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. Carolyn Salzmann, founder and chief litigator of Legally Pink Law, is both a personal injury attorney and engineer, giving her a unique edge to others in the legal field. By investigating the details of each accident and how these injuries were sustained, she can provide invaluable mechanical insight into the logistics of the accident, thus helping influence the settlement amount and/or verdict outcome.
If you are suffering from fractured or broken bones due to third party negligence, we encourage you to contact our office for help. Consultations are free and we’re accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Essential Information for Victims of Bone Fractures
Bone fractures (broken bones) are a common injury affecting millions of people every year. Studies show that the average person can expect to sustain two fractures over the course of their lifetime. Fractures frequently happen because of car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, as well as sports injuries, and can be accompanied by soft tissue injuries. For senior citizens, falls are the most common cause of injury, resulting in fractures to the hip, femur (thigh bone), pelvis and vertebrae (spine).
Symptoms can include severe pain in the injured area, deformity of the limb, swelling, bruising, numbness, and difficulty moving the limb. However, especially after a traumatic accident, you might not realize the extent of your injury due to adrenaline and shock. It is very important to seek medical attention, even if you feel it was a minor accident, to ensure an accurate diagnosis of your injury and to receive the proper treatment.
Types of Bone Fractures
Broken bones are classified into specific types depending on the circumstances involved, as well as the strength of the bone. Each injury requires specific treatment based on type and location. Below is a list of bone fractures that are commonly seen due to an accident.
- Simple/closed fracture: this occurs when the bone breaks under the skin.
- Compound/open fracture: this happens when the bone pierces the skin; it can be visible or not visible.
- Transverse fracture: the bone will break in a straight, horizontal line across the bone.
- Oblique: the bone will break in a diagonal line across the bone.
- Spiral fracture: common in an injury where the bone has been twisted; a spiral shaped break occurs around the bone.
- Impacted fracture: this occurs when two bone pieces are forced together, causing both to break.
- Segmented fracture: this is when the same bone is broken in two places, resulting in a floating bone segment.
- Comminuted fracture: this occurs when the bone is shattered into three or more pieces.
- Compression fracture: this happens when the bone is crushed, creating a flattened appearance.
- Greenstick fracture: most common in children and teenagers, this is an incomplete break where the bone bends and breaks partially. The bone development in this younger age group has not been completed, making the bones more flexible.
The degree and type of your bone fracture can be used to influence the total settlement amount you are awarded. As such, it is important to work with a legal team that understands the nuances of these injuries and can fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Legally Pink Law Can Support Your Case
If you are suffering from a broken or fractured bone that was caused by the negligent or reckless behaviors of a third party, call Legally Pink Law for help. Backed by legal experience, an engineering degree, and a diverse and cultured background, we know what it takes to fight and win – and our track record proves it.
Contact us through our online form or by dialing (888) 979-4941. Consultations are free and confidential.
Common Bone Injuries from Vehicle Accidents
Broken bones are the most common injury sustained in a car accident. While any bone can fracture when met with enough force, below is a list of bones that are likely to break due to a motor vehicle accident.
- Leg fracture: an auto accident can cause fractures to the femur, tibia, and fibula. These breaks can occur when the knees get jammed against the dashboard during a collision.
- Arm fracture: this can happen when the individual tries to brace themselves for the collision.
- Wrist fracture: the wrist is comprised of many small, delicate bones and is easily fractured during an auto accident.
- Rib fracture: these are somewhat common and can be the cause of the airbag or seatbelt.
- Hip fracture: considered one of the most painful injuries a person can suffer, this type of fracture can occur during a head-on or high-impact collision.
- Collarbone (clavicle) fracture: considered more fragile than other bones in the body, this bone is more susceptible to a fracture in a car crash.
- Facial/skull fracture: these injuries can be very damaging and can happen when the individual hits the windshield due to not wearing a seatbelt.
Have Questions? GET ANSWERS
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What types of damages can I claim?
In all cases, there are two general categories of damages – economic damages and non-economic damages. You can be compensated for both past and future economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are things such as wage loss, mileage expense to go to doctor appointments, prescription costs, co-pays on insurance, over-the-counter medications, diminution in value to your car, etc. The other category is non-economic damages, which may include things such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, etc.
The non-economic damages are often greater than the economic damages if the injuries are significant enough. Consult with an attorney for a full explanation of these types of damages.
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Are there deadlines for filing claims?
Yes. Under Florida law, there are very specific, detailed deadlines to file claims. If you do not meet these deadlines, you may be forever barred from bringing your claim forward.
These time restrictions are known as statutes of limitations, and they vary depending on the type of claim you are bringing. It is critical that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible after your incident so you can receive good legal advice on the time limits for filing a personal injury claim.
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How can I recover lost wages?
Wage loss is paid out under your Personal Injury Protection benefit, which happens to be mandatory coverage for auto insurance in the State of Florida. There are exceptions, such as when you elected to have your wage loss reimbursement excluded on your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefit when you obtained your policy.
Normally, people who have their wage loss benefits excluded are those who are not employed for some reason or another. You can also elect to have a standard PIP (which covers wage loss at 60%) or extended PIP (which covers wage loss at 80%).
You will need to provide proof of income in the form of a paycheck stub, income tax return, or some other verifiable means. The remaining percentage of your wage loss not covered by your PIP insurance will become part of your claim against the defendant driver.
When cases do not involve PIP coverage, the wage loss becomes part of the demand to the at-fault party. In most cases, proof of lost income is rather simple if the injured person receives a paycheck. For our clients who are self-employed, we work very closely with them to help them assemble the necessary documentation to prove the wage loss claim. Tax returns can be helpful in instances where clients are self-employed.
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How can I recover my out-of-pocket expenses?
Out-of-pocket expenses are always made part of your claim and are part of your economic damages that we seek to recover from the at-fault party. When your claim is presented to the at-fault party, we include your out-of-pocket expenses as part of the demand package.
If your case does not settle in what we call the "pre-suit phase," then your case will proceed to court where we will ask a jury for your out-of-pocket expenses as part of your economic damages on the verdict form.
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Will my insurance premiums increase if I report an accident to my insurance company?
Your insurance premiums should not go up if you are not at fault for the accident. It will be part of your insurance record, but if you are not at fault, your premiums should not increase.
In most situations, your own insurance company will go after the insurance company that insures the at-fault party to recover the costs it may have paid to you for things such as car repairs or additional medical expenses.
