Dealing with Broken Bones and Fractures After a Car Accident

Broken and fractured bones are among the most common injuries suffered by car accident victims. These are traumatic injuries that can cause intense pain, require long-term medical treatment, lead to permanent disability, and leave victims with significant medical bills. If you were in a Missouri car accident and broke a bone, understanding the proper way to deal with your injury is crucial for both your physical and financial recovery.

Common Types of Fractures Suffered in Car Accidents

There are many types of fractures you can suffer in a car accident, ranging from simple fractures like non-displaced fractures to complex fractures like compound and comminuted fractures. Depending on the type of fracture you suffered in the accident, your treatment and long-term symptoms may differ:

• Non-Displaced Fractures – These are simple fractures where the bone breaks but stays in place. They typically do not require surgery or extensive treatment beyond a cast.
• Displaced Fractures – These fractures involve one or more parts of the bone shifting out of place. They may require surgery to restore proper bone alignment.
• Compound Fractures – These are severe fractures where the bone penetrates the skin. Infection is a serious concern with compound fractures.
• Comminuted Fractures – These are severe fractures in which the bone splinters into smaller pieces. They typically require extensive surgery and can lead to chronic pain if bone fragments are left in the body.
• Hairline Fractures – These fractures are small cracks in the bone that may heal over time with rest and without significant medical intervention. A cast may be necessary to keep the bone from fracturing further.
• Greenstick Fractures – These are partial fractures that result in the bone bending. They are more common in children.
• Spiral Fractures – These fractures result in part of the bone becoming twisted, often requiring surgical intervention to restore it to its original position.
• Segmental Fractures – These fractures occur when a bone breaks in two or more places, resulting in a segment of bone that is completely detached.

Medical Treatment and Recovery Process for Broken Bones

The first step in the treatment and recovery process for broken bones is to have an X-ray performed on the affected area. This will help your treating doctors determine the type of fracture you have so they can determine the proper treatment for it.

If you have a particularly severe fracture, the next step may be to perform surgery. This is typically necessary when the bone breaks in multiple places, shatters into small splinters, or needs to be realigned before a cast can go on.

Once the doctors have your broken bone back in alignment, the next step is typically to put on a cast to prevent your bones from shifting while they heal. When casts can’t be used, doctors sometimes use traction instead. Traction involves using metal pins to hold the pieces of bone in place while they heal.

The final phase of treatment is physical therapy. Depending on where your fracture occurred, it may impact your mobility. For example, a broken wrist may result in reduced wrist flexibility, or a broken leg may result in difficulty walking. Physical therapy can help mitigate the long-term impacts of these injuries.

Steps to Take After Breaking a Bone in a Car Accident

After suffering a broken bone in a Missouri car accident, there are some key steps you must take to preserve your right to seek compensation and to strengthen your case:

• Seek Ongoing Medical Treatment – Don’t stop after seeking immediate treatment for your injuries. Follow up with your doctor’s appointments until your doctor says your injuries are fully healed or will not heal further. If you prematurely end your treatment, the insurance company may claim that your injuries aren’t as severe as you said.
• Track Medical Bills – Keep track of all medical bills related to the car accident. Your lawyer will use these bills when calculating your past medical expenses and can use them to estimate your future medical expenses.
• Document the Accident – While the details are still fresh in your mind, write down everything you remember about the accident.
• Document Your Recovery – Throughout your treatment, photograph any visible injuries and write down how your injuries impact your daily life, including any pain you experience.
• Avoid Providing a Statement – Insurance companies are always looking to reduce their liability, and one way they can do that is by getting you to admit fault for your injuries. Missouri’s pure comparative negligence rule reduces the compensation you could receive by your degree of fault for your injuries, so it’s important not to speak with an insurance adjuster until after consulting a lawyer.
• Contact a Lawyer – The best way to protect your right to seek compensation after suffering a broken bone injury in a car accident is to contact an experienced lawyer.

Seeking Compensation for Broken Bone Injuries

When seeking compensation for your bone fracture, you’ll need to obtain evidence. The evidence you provide must show that the other driver was responsible for your injury. Our car accident lawyers can help. We know how to investigate car accidents, collect various kinds of evidence, and demonstrate the extent and severity of your injuries using your medical records.

Some of the most vital pieces of evidence that can connect your injuries to the at-fault driver’s negligence are:

• Eyewitness statements that corroborate your version of events or provide additional information about the collision
• Traffic and security camera footage that captured the collision
• Expert testimony from medical professionals and crash reconstruction specialists
• Accident scene photographs showing the damaged vehicles, skid marks on the road, and relevant traffic signs and lights

Contact Our Missouri Car Accident Lawyers

Did you suffer broken or fractured bones in a St. Louis car accident? Broken and fractured bones can cause severe pain and require long-term medical treatment. Contact Goldblatt + Singer at (314) 231-4100 for a free consultation with a skilled car accident lawyer. Our team will review your case and help you seek the medical treatment you need. We’ll explain your options for recovering the compensation you deserve.