Bone Fracture Injuries in a Car Accident
When a motor vehicle crashes, an immense amount of force can be exerted on the occupants of the vehicle. If the amount of force exerted is too great for the body to absorb, it can result in various injuries. One of the most common is a bone fracture. Suffering one or more broken bones in a car accident can entitle you to financial compensation for your medical bills and other related losses in California.
How Can a Car Accident Cause Broken Bones?
A bone fracture can refer to a cracked, splintered, compressed or crushed bone. Bone fractures can be open, meaning the broken end of the bone pierces the skin, or closed, where the skin is not compromised. Motor vehicle collisions can cause broken bones in numerous ways.
The force of the impact, such as in a high-speed collision, can exceed the amount of pressure the bones of the body can withstand. If an object is thrust into the victim’s body in a car accident, this blunt-force trauma can be severe enough to fracture one or more bones.
Compression or rotational forces can also cause bones to break under the crushing pressure or due to the body twisting in an unnatural direction. Finally, ejection from the vehicle can cause a victim to strike the pavement with significant force, causing bone breaks.
Most Frequently Broken Bones in Automobile Accidents
While virtually any bone in the body could fracture due to the forces of a motor vehicle collision, those involved in automobile accidents are diagnosed with certain types of broken bone injuries more often than others. Common areas that suffer bone fractures are:
- The face
- Arms and wrists
- Lower extremities
- Pelvis
- Knees and ankles
- Collarbone (clavicle)
- Ribs
- Skull
- Spinal cord
The effects that a broken bone will have on the victim depend on the location and severity of the injury. A severe spinal cord fracture such as a severed spine, for example, could result in irreversible paralysis, or the loss of feeling and function in the body below the point of the injury.
Seeking Compensation for Bone Fracture Injuries After a Car Accident in California
Bone fracture injuries can cause symptoms such as pain or trouble moving the affected area, swelling, bruising, visible deformity, bleeding (in the case of an open fracture), and numbness or tingling. In the most severe cases, broken bone injuries can have a lasting effect, such as a permanent loss of function in the affected area.
A victim who suffers broken bone injuries in a car accident in California has the right to seek damages or financial compensation from the party at fault for causing the collision. A fair settlement or judgment award can help the victim pay for required medical treatments and make up for past and future lost wages, as well as compensation for pain, suffering and emotional distress.
When to Consult With a Car Accident Attorney
If you get involved in a car accident in California and are diagnosed with one or more broken bone injuries, seek counsel from an experienced car accident attorney in Los Angeles about your legal options. You may be able to hold one or more parties responsible. A lawyer can help you seek fair financial compensation for your broken bone injuries.
To discuss a particular car accident claim with a knowledgeable attorney in Los Angeles, contact Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP to arrange a free consultation.