Car crashes, motorcycle accidents, and slip and falls in Maryland can cause broken ankles. Fractures usually attract bigger settlements than soft tissue injuries or herniated disks. Clients sometimes ask our injury lawyers “how much should I settle for a broken ankle in Maryland?”
People who sustain injuries in Maryland sometimes mistakenly think the law gives them a set dollar figure for their injuries. How much you settle a broken ankle for in Maryland depends on the specific circumstances of your case.
Maryland personal injury attorney Randolph Rice considers the question “How much should I settle for a broken ankle in Maryland?’
What is an Ankle Fracture?
The ankle is not a single bone. You may break one or more bones in your ankle joint. the ankle has three bones, the tibia, fibula, and talus. There are two separate joints in your ankle. Several ligaments and muscles keep the foot joint stable. the ankle is fairly robust. You put a large amount of force on it every day by just walking and running. An ankle injury can be very serious and take a long time to heal. You deserve considerable compensation for a fracture.
Doctors typically diagnose two types of fractures after accidents in Maryland. They are.
- Compound fractures – Compound fracture, are also described as open fractures. the bone breaks through the skin. People who suffer compound fractures require intensive monitoring to prevent infections the wound sites. Their bones are usually reset requiring surgery. it takes longer to recover from a compound fracture and you may miss work for a considerable period of time.
- Comminuted fractures – If a bone splinters into more than two pieces, sending fragments into your foot, a surgeon may need to surgically implant plates, pins, or screws to hold the bones together while the fractures heal. Doctors sometimes surgically remove this hardware later.
- Stable fractures – According to OrthoInfo, a stable fracture is where the broken ends of the bone line up and are barely out of place. This is the least complicated form of break.
Fractures can cause long-term complications such as swelling, bruising, and deformities if they are not treated in time.
What Are the Causes of Broken Ankles in Maryland?
Numerous things can cause one or more broken bones in your ankle. Some of the more common causes include:
- Trips and falls – Tumbles on ice, stairs or slippery surfaces can cause ankle fractures;
- Rolling your ankle while walking or running;
- Car accidents where your foot is trapped.
- Motorcycle accidents where the rider’s foot drags along the ground.
You may still be able to walk on a fractured ankle. You could even go for days or weeks without severe pain and fail to realize you broke your ankle. You can suffer long-term consequences if you leave an ankle injury untreated.
In the absence of proper treatment, the ankle bones can move out of position and heal in the wrong place. This condition is known as a malunion and can cause arthritis in the affected joint later in your life. As with any other injury, older people are more likely to sustain a broken ankle.
What is a Broken Ankle Worth in Maryland?
It’s difficult to put a value on a broken bone. Ankle fracture cases often settle for $200,000 to $300,000 in the state. However, some accident victims secure settlements of over $1 million for broken ankles in Maryland. Fractures can cause complications like infections. You may have your foot in a cast for weeks and be unable to drive. Later in life, you can suffer arthritis and other complications at the site of a break. You deserve compensation for future issues that you may not be aware of at the time of your accident, and a Maryland broken bone attorney can help.
Factors affecting what a broken ankle is worth in Maryland include:
- The severity of your broken ankle;
- The degree your broken ankle affects your career and lifestyle;
- Whether another driver or a business owner was responsible for your ankle injury;
- The amount of insurance available;
- The amount of pain and suffering;
- The size of your medical bills;
- Whether you made a quick recovery
- The willingness of an insurance company to work with you;
- The effectiveness of your Maryland personal injury lawyer.
The way an ankle injury affects you is important in the question “How much should I settle for a broken ankle in Maryland?. If the victim was a professional tennis player or athlete, for example, a partially-disabling ankle injury has a more significant impact on your life than that of an office worker. A Baltimore broken bone injury lawyer can help put a figure on what your claim is worth.
Should You Settle Early for a Broken Ankle in Maryland?
Don’t rush to settle your broken ankle case. Although a foot fracture is likely to be settled for less than a spinal cord injury, it can still be a serious setback. A broken ankle can take months to heal. it can be devastating for your life. Oftentimes, an insurance company will lure you with a fast offer of money that’s less than you require for your ongoing medical needs. When an accident is complicated enough to cause a foot fracture, you should consult a Baltimore serious injury lawyer. We will look carefully at your needs and reach a realistic claim figure. We can advise you on whether the insurance company’s offer is reasonable. If you broke your ankle in an industrial accident, we can advise you on making a worker’s compensation claim.
Talk to Rice, Murtha & Psoras About a Broken Ankle in Maryland
At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, our attorney has represented many people who suffered fractures in accidents. We help clients in Baltimore and across the state of Maryland. If somebody else caused your broken foot, you deserve as much compensation as you can get. Don’t be shortchanged by the insurance company, get a Baltimore personal injury lawyer on your side. Call us as soon as possible for a free and confidential injury consultation at (410) 694-7291.