When vehicles collide, it’s not uncommon to see a fracture or a broken bone as a result of a car accident. A bone fracture is the medical term for a broken bone and is a common injury during a car collision.
The harm caused by broken and fractured bones can be severe. Those who sustain such injuries regularly experience physical pain, financial hardship, and emotional distress. Fortunately, car accident victims may be able to pursue financial compensation for damages caused by their broken bones.
If you suffered a bone fracture or broken bone in a car accident, contact the Maryland accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras today to learn about your medical options and how they can help resolve your accident case. Our phone number is (410) 694-7291.
Car Accident Bone Fracture Lawyers
Broken bones or fractured bones after a car accident may take longer to heal because of the severity of the fracture. Anytime a bone is broken, the type of break and the severity of the fracture will dictate the time it takes to heal.
Obviously, a “clean” break of the bone will heal much faster than a fracture that may not have a clean or concise break between the two bone segments.
Broken bones are very common for children to suffer in car accidents because their bones are not as developed as an adult’s. In addition, the elderly may suffer more serious fractures after a car accident because of the brittleness in their bones.
Types of Bone Fractures
There are numerous bone fractures, but our accident attorneys mainly see displaced or non-displaced bones. As well as opened and closed fractures.
A displaced fracture occurs when two or more parts are not lined up straight, and the bone could be in many pieces.
Oftentimes, severe impact car accidents result in fractured bones that are displaced. The impact of the two vehicles can cause the passengers in their vehicles to strike solid objects within the vehicle.
Causes of Broken Bones in Car Accidents
The human skeleton has 206 bones in adulthood. That number will decrease from 270 bones that an individual has at birth. Any number of the 206 bones within your body could be broken or fractured during a car accident.
Bones will typically break in an auto accident if they strike an object or are pinned and pressure is placed on an opposite end of the bone.
For example, individuals that strike the steering wheel or doors, as well as the ceiling of a vehicle, can break various bones within the body.
Fractured bones are not uncommon after car accidents. If you suffered a fracture or broken bone after a car accident in Maryland, contact our office today to discuss compensation as well as receiving money for your medical bills and potentially lost wages.
Broken or Fractured Bone Surgery After a Car Accident
It is not uncommon that individuals after a car accident must undergo surgery to repair broken or fractured boats. Bone fracture surgery typically requires a doctor to reset the bone.
However, in some cases, it may require the use of metal screws, pins, rods, or plates to hold the bone in place while the individual heels after the car accident. Read more about screws and pins after a bone has healed.
After the surgery for a broken or fractured bone, an individual may be required to wear a cast or some other device to keep the bone in place while it heals.
With broken bones, there is always the danger that the heel will not correct itself, and the bone may be required to be re-broken to be reset.
For more information on outcomes in car accident cases, check out our results page for individual cases and compensation.
How Much is a Brown Fracture Worth?
While there is no set amount paid by insurance companies for bone fractures and broken bones, typically, bone fracture injuries receive significantly more than other minor injuries.
We have seen, as injury attorneys in Maryland, that soft tissue damage receives less compensation than a broken bone.
The severity of the fractured bones will also dictate the compensation or reimbursement for pain and suffering by the other driver’s insurance company.
A broken bone has no set value in the personal injury field. However, our lawyers have had a successful experience in obtaining maximum compensation for our clients who have suffered a broken or fractured bone after an accident.
Fractured Bone Injury Attorneys
Suppose you suffered a fractured or broken bone after an accident, including a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, pedestrian accident, or any other type of accident where a person was negligent or reckless. Contact our office today and speak with attorney Randolph Rice.
Mr. Rice has been fighting for his clients and ensuring they receive the compensation and justice they deserve after an accident. The injury attorneys with his office know how to litigate a broken bone or fractured bone case in Maryland.
Broken or fractured bones after an accident are serious and must be treated immediately. They require months of treatment and potentially physical therapy because of the serious nature of the accident.
The goal of our car accident attorney in Baltimore is to ensure that each client returns to 100% after an accident and that the broken bone injury is not noticeable after the accident.
What is a Good Settlement for a Broken Bone in a Car Accident in Maryland?
Determining a good settlement for a broken bone resulting from a car accident is tricky because each case has unique circumstances. Factors like the severity of the break, the need for surgery, missed work, and pain and suffering all contribute to the value of the claim. Responsible drivers are required to carry sufficient insurance, but their policy limits and your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may also impact the final payout.
After suffering a broken bone in a car crash, it’s best to seek help from our legal team. Our car accident lawyers will help assess the value of your case and fight for the full extent of compensation available to you.
How to Calculate a Settlement for a Broken Bone in a Car Accident in Maryland
If you suffered a broken bone because of a car accident, then there are several factors that the court may analyze when determining the value of your claim. For instance, any of the following may be considered:
Medical Expenses
When determining the value of a car accident case involving a broken bone in Maryland, the medical expenses incurred by the victim are a major factor. This includes the cost of emergency medical transport to the hospital, fees for the emergency room visit, surgery if needed to set the bone, hospitalization, prescriptions, physical therapy, assistive devices like crutches or casts, and any other costs stemming directly from the injury and required treatment. Especially with serious fractures that require surgery, these expenses can stack up quickly. The team at our firm will help plaintiffs thoroughly document all medical costs and ensure that they are accounted for.
Lost Income
Another important element is any lost income suffered by the victim of a car accident with a broken bone. If the injury causes them to miss work for doctor visits, surgery, or recovery time, those lost wages should be part of the settlement. Even reduced hours or demotion to light duty can equal a loss of earning capacity.
If the effects of the injury make it hard to complete job duties long-term or cost the victim job advancement opportunities, then the at-fault driver owes compensation for that financial harm as well. No one should lose pay or career progress because of someone else’s negligent driving.
Pain and Suffering
Beyond concrete medical bills and lost earnings, the non-economic damages of a broken bone car accident may also be accounted for. This includes compensation for the victim’s physical pain not only at the time of injury but through the recovery process, which can take weeks or months with serious fractures.
Emotional distress over reduced mobility, an uncertain prognosis, and permanent effects is another form of damages that may be compensated after suffering a broken bone in a car crash. Our legal professionals can advocate for monetary damages related to physical pain and emotional anguish in your case.
Permanency
Some car accident-related broken bones fail to heal properly even after surgery and rehabilitation. This may limit the victim’s mobility or use of the injured limb long term. Certain fractures increase the risk of early onset arthritis down the road. When a broken bone results in chronic pain, reduced strength, loss of motion or function, or future complications, the at-fault driver must compensate the victim for their future losses. Medical experts may be needed to assess the likelihood of permanent effects related to a broken or fractured bone.
Liability
The amount the at-fault driver must pay hinges on liability. In other words, the amount depends on who was responsible for causing the accident and to what degree. Contributing factors like a defendant’s failure to stop at a sign, distracted or reckless driving, or disobeying right-of-way rules will be used to assign proportional liability. The defendant’s share of liability determines what percentage of damages they must cover.
Considering Settlement Offers for a Broken Bone in a Maryland Car Accident Case
If you file a car accident claim, the defendant and their insurer will likely attempt to settle your case before going to trial. When you accept a settlement agreement, the defendant will pay you a specific sum of damages in exchange for the dismissal of your claim. There are some advantages to settling early. Unfortunately, defendants often attempt to settle their car accident cases for less than they are worth.
Our legal team can help consider any settlement offers made in your case. If an adequate offer is not presented, then we will go to trial to fight for the compensation you are owed.
Call Our Car Accident Lawyers Today for Help with Your Case in Maryland
Get assistance from our experienced car accident attorneys at Rice, Murtha & Psoras by calling (410) 694-7291.