Fractured or Broken Bones
Broken bones are identified in the medical world as bone fractures. They require immediate medical attention and treatment regardless of how simple or complex the fracture is. Plus, a bone fracture can cause additional medical complications. For example, a fractured rib can lead to a punctured vital organ, and that can be life-threatening. The more complex the fracture, the more pain you may experience, and the more chances of long-term consequences on a person’s quality of life, especially when you have experienced multiple fractures.
A compassionate, smart personal injury attorney in the Los Angeles metro area will make sure you are compensated fully for your bone fracture injury. Compensation must consider both the immediate impact of the bone fracture on the quality of your life and your ability to resume (or not) work, school, or any other activity you were involved in, as well as any future impact. The latter is especially true with complicated bone fractures or problems that arise because of the bone fracture. Contact us to make sure the attorney you hire is an attorney who understands the bone fracture injuries and their significance to a personal injury claim or lawsuit in Los Angeles.
What are Bone Fractures?
Bone fractures, as mentioned, is the medical term for broken bones, and they occur when bones experience more pressure than they can handle––usually from trauma. Bone fractures are quite common and, according to WebMD, a person will have on average two in a lifetime. The severity of a bone fracture depends on where it’s located, the fracture type or subtype, and the person’s age (elderly and children are prone to more serious types of fractures or more serious consequences of bone fractures).
Types of Bone Fractures
Fractures can either be closed, where the skin is not broken, or open, where the fracture breaks the skin and opens the door to infection. With this in mind, there are two basic types of bone fractures:
1. Displaced Fractures. Displaced fractures occur when a bone snaps in more than one location and are not aligned––this type typically results in open fractures.
2. Non-displaced Fractures. Non-displaced fractures occur when there’s a crack in the bone but the bone remains in alignment––this type typically results in closed fractures.
Subtypes of Bone Fractures
Subtypes are simply a way to further describe bone fractures.
- Comminuted Fracture. This subtype refers to a bone that breaks into several pieces.
- Transverse Fracture.This subtype refers to a fracture line perpendicular to the long part of the bone (shaft).
- Oblique Fracture. This subtype refers to a break angled on the bone.
- Stress Fracture. This subtype refers to hairline cracks.
- Pathologic Fracture.This subtype refers to a disease that causes the bone to fracture––they are not typical of personal injury claims but mentioned here to complete the list of subtypes.
Fractures Limited to Children.
Children are growing people, and so they can experience different types of fractures than adults. Some fractures can pose a significant risk to their growth, too.
- Greenstick Fracture.The bone bends but does not necessarily break.
- Buckle Fracture.When two bones are compressed together, a bone may curve but not completely break.
- Growth Plate Fracture. A fracture occurs at a joint and may cause bones to grow abnormally, resulting in shorter bone length and requiring future treatment and/or surgery.
Complications of Bone Fractures
Bone fractures can lead to complications in anyone, including and specifically to children and the elderly. Complications can arise for many reasons, but often they arise when the bone is not treated promptly or when required future care is not provided. Complications can include but are not limited to:
- Bone infection;
- Nerve damage; and
- Organ damage.
To ensure you get the compensation you deserve, it is important that the bone fracture is diagnosed properly. Treatment depends on the type of fracture and can also indicate the severity, complexity, and long-term consequences of the bone fracture and its impact on a person’s quality of life moving forward.
It's your time to make things right.
Book a free, private consultation where we focus solely on your situation.
How Are Broken Bones Treated?
Treatment and the amount of time for bone fractures to heal depend on the following factors:
- The type and subtype of the bone fracture (e.g., comminuted fractures are much more complex to treat and repair and can lead to serious nerve damage);
- The location of the fracture (e.g., facial fractures can lead to disformities, spine fractures can lead to paralysis, and hip fractures are particularly concerning for older adults––more than 30% of adults aged 50 or over die within 12 months of a hip fracture;
- The age of the victim (e.g., young children can suffer more harm from simple fractures than adults but their breaks can also heal faster); and
- The health of the victim (e.g., there may have been pre-existing conditions that exacerbated the effects of the broken bone).
Treatment can include things like:
- Emergency treatment (i.e., right after an accident);
- Bone setting (typically closed reduction for children and open reduction––surgery–– for adults);
- Splints, casts, pins, plates, rods, screws, glue to hold a fracture in place;
- Infection prevention for open fractures, like antibiotics;
- Medication for pain; and then
- Rehabilitation.
Diagnosis is key in treatment, and some fractures will not show via X-rays, so a doctor may need to perform other tests, like:
- Computed tomography (CT) scan;
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); or a
- Bone scan.
Further, after the fracture is identified, additional tests may be required, including angiograms and special X-rays of blood vessels. Both the diagnosis and treatment of bone fractures can become very expensive and take a toll on a person’s well-being and mental/emotional state, especially when long-term consequences are possible or likely.
What are Some of the Long-Term Consequences of Bone Fractures?
Most broken bones heal completely, but some do not. Some that heal in time may take considerable time to heal while those that do not heal may need a lifetime of medical attention and treatment. Serious bone fracture cases can lead to the following long-term consequences:
- Nerve damage, which can take weeks to years to heal, depending on the severity;
- Joint issues, which involves damage to the cartilage that can lead to scarring and osteoarthritis;
- Weakness, the areas around the fracture can lose and never fully recover their integrity and strength and can weaken more over time;
- Discomfort, when the fracture or areas around it are weakened, increased discomfort can result;
- Decreased quality of life, which can occur when a person can no longer participate in activities they once did, whether for recreational, personal, or professional purposes; and
- Emotional distress, which can surface as anxiety, depression, or other conditions due to psychological trauma as well as a changed life.
NOTE: Both the immediate impact and future impact of a bone fracture must be considered when compensation is negotiated and determined. Similarly, both economic and non-economic damages must also be considered before settling a personal injury claim for bone fracture.
The Importance of Understanding Bone Fractures in Your Los Angeles Personal Injury Case
Bone fractures are common in many personal injury claims and lawsuits throughout the Los Angeles metro area. Common personal injury cases that may involve bone fractures include:
- Auto accidents
- Boating accidents
- Bicycling accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Nursing home accidents
- Slip and falls
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Birth injuries.
Your attorney must be able to understand your bone fracture and its significance and impact on your life or a loved one’s life. An inexperienced or untrained attorney may not know the difference between a fracture that will heal completely and a fracture that could present problems in the future. Understanding the bone fracture will aid in the development of evidence to produce to an insurance adjuster during the settlement stage of your claim or to a jury if you have filed a lawsuit. This is the only way to ensure fair and just compensation––a compensatory package that considers the real impact of the bone injury.
Retain a Smart, Knowledgeable Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles Today
When you suffer a bone fracture due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intent, you should take immediate action in two areas:
1. Medical treatment; and
2. Legal counsel.
Bone fractures can be simple enough but they can also become complex with life-altering consequences. Getting legal representation to review your case and advocate your rights and interests will be fundamental to obtain fair and just compensation. Contact us today to learn more and to let us help you get started on the road to recovery.
