Broken Bone Injury
One of the most painful injury types is that of a broken bone. To be sure, not only can a bone break—medically referred to as a bone fracture—be painful at the time of break and immediately following the incident, but also for multiple days and weeks into the future, too. Further, a bone fracture can be disabling, impairing an individual’s ability to engage in physical activities, perform self-care, engage in favorite hobbies, or even return to work in some cases.
While there are few silver linings to a broken bone injury, two positive things that are worth nothing are this: first, most bone fracture injuries will heal completely with time, and second, if your broken bone injury was caused by the negligence of another party, you deserve to be compensated for your harm, and may seek damages from the at-fault party.
How People Break Bones
While bones are very strong, when enough pressure is applied to a bone, it can fracture. Sometimes, people break bones as a result of their own clumsiness or error, such as tripping and falling over their own feet, or in a sports accident that they chose to participate in, fully knowing the risks. Often times, though, bone fractures happen because of preventable, yet unforeseeable and immediate, accidents. Common and potentially tragic accidents that can lead to bone fractures include:
- High school and youth sports injuries;
- Car accidents;
- Pedestrian accidents;
- Motorcycle crashes;
- Bicycle accidents;
- Slip and falls;
- Dog bites and dog attacks;
- Boating accidents; and
- Birth injuries.
If you have been involved in one of the accident types above and suffered a broken bone or another serious injury, please call our law firm immediately to learn how we can help.
Treatment for a Bone Fracture
As stated above, most bone fracture injuries will heal completely with time and minor medical treatment. Examples of common treatments that may be used to heal a fractured bone include the use of pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs, stabilization of the bone fracture (typically through a cast), and physical therapy once the fracture has repaired itself. In instances of more severe bone breaks, surgery or multiple surgeries may be necessary to remedy the injury.
Who’s Liable for My Damages?
The damages that may result from a bone fracture injury often extend well beyond just the broken bone itself; instead, a person who suffers a bone fracture may:
- Be unable to return to work, leading to a significant loss of income;
- Incur large medical bills and costs of surgery, medication, rehabilitation, therapy, and more;
- Suffer a loss of enjoyment of life, pain, and suffering as a direct result of the injury.
It is worth noting that in some very serious cases, a bone fracture can directly result in other major medical complications. For example, a fractured rib could puncture a vital organ, putting the victim’s life at risk. Or, a fractured vertebra in the spine could harm the spinal cord, leading to permanent paralysis from the injury site downwards. When subsequent harm of this nature occurs, the patient’s losses are, obviously, much more severe.
Liability for these damages is dependent upon fault for the accident. If you can prove that another party owed you a duty of care, breached the duty of care owed to you through an act of negligence, malpractice, or wantonness, and that the breach of care was the direct cause of your injury, you can hold this party liable for harm you suffered.
Call a California Broken Bone Injury Attorney Today
At the offices of Wagner Zemming Christensen, LLP, our attorneys know how serious a bone fracture can be. Don’t fall victim to the belief that this is not a serious injury, or that you simply have to accept the costs you’ve incurred as a result. When you call our law firm, we can help you understand the benefits of filing a personal injury claim, as well as your right to recover compensation for every cent you’ve lost.
Consultations with our law firm are free, and we work on a contingency fee basis. Reach our California broken bone accident attorneys by phone or online today to get started.