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Injury Law Firm Assisting Victims of Broken Bones and Serving the Virginia Areas
The skeletal system of the human body is quite fascinating. It supports the structure of your body and provides you with the ability to stand up, move, and even lift objects. It works in tandem with muscles, ligaments, and joints.
Therefore, you rely on this system heavily. So, when you break a bone in an accident, you might find that you are unable to perform day-to-day tasks as you did once before.
If you have a broken bone caused by someone’s negligence, such as an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Compensation can help with your medical costs, physical therapy, and pay for your time away from work. Severe breaks can lead to long-term complications and severe pain too; therefore, you may qualify for compensation for your pain and suffering.
5 Interesting Facts about Broken Bones
Broken bones, also known as fractures, come in many forms. Some are severe and clean breaks, while others are complex fractures requiring an orthopedic surgeon to correct the bone.
- There are six categories of fractures. Doctors have six categories for describing fractures, including the complete fracture (two pieces), greenstick fracture (bone cracks to one side only), single fracture (a bone break in one place), comminuted fracture (broken is crushed or broken in multiple places), a bowing fracture (bone bends, but does not break), and an open fracture (bone penetrates the skin).
- The femur is the most painful bone to break. Out of the bones of the human body, the femur is the most painful and hardest to recover from.
- Five types of bones are more commonly broken than others. Five bones are more commonly broken in auto accidents than others, including the tibia, fibula, radius, ulna, and humerus.
- Not all broken bones require a cast. While most broken bones heal with a cast, some fractures cannot be cast. Instead, the victim must keep the limb affected in a sling or wrap until the bones can fuse, such as a broken collarbone.
- Once the cast comes off, the healing is not over. The cast is there to keep the bones set and help them grow back together. However, once the cast comes off, there is more recovery ahead. First, a serious break requires physical therapy. The muscles around the broken bone have not been used; therefore, they will be weaker and need conditioning.
Broken Bones Require Time Away from Work
Depending on the location of the fracture and the extent, you could miss several days or even weeks from work. A collarbone fracture, for example, might require extensive rest at home during the initial healing weeks. A femur fracture might require bed rest for several weeks.
Even after the cast comes off, a broken bone could prevent you from returning to work at full capacity, especially if your job is physically demanding.
Broken Bones are Expensive to Treat
Broken bones are not cheap. In fact, you often have multiple costs associated with the treatment and recovery of a broken bone. First, you have the cost of the emergency room visit. Then, you may need an orthopedic specialist to monitor your care. If the break is severe, specialized surgeons known as orthopedic surgeons conduct the repair. Compared to general surgery, the orthopedic surgical procedure could cost thousands.
Was Your Broken Bone the Result of Negligence?
If your broken bone was the result of someone’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Due to the extensive pain, suffering, and costs you might experience, it is best that you speak with a personal injury attorney regarding your fractures and the accident that caused them.
Following your injury, speak with an experienced injury lawyer from Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP today. Schedule your consultation by calling one of our three office locations or request a free case evaluation online.