Attorney
If you get into an accident in Washington, D.C., obtaining medical attention is one of the most important steps you can take. But not all victims appreciate how serious a broken bone injury can be. Broken bones can be exceptionally painful and debilitating. Plus, it will likely make it difficult for you to return to your normal job functions for quite some time. You need a dedicated personal injury law firm ready to go to work for you.
What personal injury accidents can cause broken bones?
Bone fractures frequently result from a number of different types of personal injuries. They include:
- Automobile accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Workplace incidents
- Construction accidents
- Premises liability accidents (such as a slip and fall)
- Nursing home injuries
Not all broken bones are the same. Each one has different signs, and potentially different implications from one victim to the next. Older victims, for example, tend to have more brittle bones so it may take more time for them to heal. Some of the most common types of broken bones are:
- Stress fractures. These hairline fractures are difficult to see on an X-ray. Victims often experience pain for some time before realizing a bone is broken.
- Greenstick fractures. These are incomplete fractures in which one side of the bone bends while the other breaks. They are common in children when bones are soft.
- Compound fractures. Also known as open fractures, these occur when the bone breaks the skin. Bleeding near the injury site could indicate a compound fracture.
- Comminuted fractures. A bone that breaks into three or more pieces may be called a comminuted fracture. Causes include extreme trauma, like from an automobile accident.
- Oblique fractures. These are complete fractures that usually occur in a long bone, such as the tibia. They are indicated by a break at an angle through the bone.
One of the most frequent mistakes that victims make after an accident is to either not get medical attention at all or to underestimate how serious their injuries are. Some of these bone fractures may not present themselves at first, although victims need to be aware of symptoms like intense pain at the fracture site, swelling, heat, stiffness, weakness, and bruising. Always let a doctor make the final call.
Your doctor should thoroughly examine you to see if there’s evidence of a bone fracture. If there is, your doctor should order X-rays, CT scans, and possibly other tests to get a closer look. Broken bones need to be “set” (put back into place) and immobilized, typically with a cast. Otherwise, they could heal incorrectly or cause complications.
Not getting proper attention for a broken bone could complicate your efforts to demand monetary compensation in the event you have significant medical bills or miss time from work. Victims who wait to see a doctor or delay follow-up appointments might be surprised to find the insurance company for the defendant using this lapse against them. Always see a medical doctor after any sort of personal injury and be sure to follow his or her instructions.
Damages a Personal Injury Attorney Can Recover
An experienced personal injury attorney will fight for compensation that covers:
- Medical and hospital bills
- Prescription medication costs
- Expenses from future treatments and doctor visits
- Lost time from work due to being hospitalized or otherwise missing work
- Decreased earning capacity in the event your bone fracture makes you unable to work at the same level
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
A bone fracture is particularly disruptive for manual laborers who rely on their physical abilities to work. Regardless, you owe it to yourself to ask a knowledgeable Washington, D.C. personal injury attorney about your legal options. If you were injured and suffered broken bones, give Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP a call. We can schedule your consultation today.