Broken Bones Can Significantly Affect Daily Activities as well as Work Performance. Depending on the Circumstances of Your Claim, You May be Able to Pursue Compensation with the Help of Our Injury Lawyers
Most people will experience having a broken bone at some point in their lives. If yours happened as a result of a vehicle accident, a workplace accident, or an equipment malfunction, you may find that you have a case for reimbursement of your medical expenses. For that, you will need the services of a skilled attorney in New Jersey who has experience with these types of cases. Our legal team is dedicated to helping people hurt in accidents and due to other party’s negligence to obtain the compensation they deserve in Eatontown, Asbury Park, Freehold, Manasquan, Middletwon, Manalapan, Toms River, Red Bank, Rumson, Holmdel, and throughout New Jersey. With experience handling bone fracture cases, we can evaluate the details of your case, provide legal counsel, and guide you through the claims process toward recovering economic and non-economic damages. Contact (732) 303-7857 for a free consultation today.
Anatomy of a Bone Fracture
When you’ve broken a bone, you’ll most likely know it, and you should seek medical attention immediately. It’s vital for your self-care, and it’s vital for the case for reimbursement you’ll need to build if the fracture is due to someone else’s actions or negligence.
Just for your information (because you’ve seen a doctor, of course), the six typical kinds of bone breaks are:
- Closed. When the bone doesn’t break the skin.
- Comminuted. When the bone is broken into many fragments.
- Displaced. When the bone needs to be realigned by the doctor so it can heal straight.
- Greenstick. When the bone bends and therefore separates but doesn’t completely snap. These happen commonly with children.
- Nondisplaced. When the bone breaks but its pieces stay lined up inside your body.
- Open. When the bone breaks through the skin.
Which Bones Are Most Commonly Broken?
Every bone in our bodies could be broken, but certain breaks are more common—often depending on your age and activities. Collarbones are more likely to break, especially in sports, because these bones are prominent. They also often break in car accidents when seat belts apply sudden pressure. 50% of the breaks adults experience are broken arms, which is the most common break for children.
For people under 75, broken wrists are common. Over the age of 65, broken hips happen frequently. These can adversely impact mobility and, therefore, quality of life. The ankle is the bone that people break most commonly. Sprains can happen in similar circumstances too. The layperson often can’t tell the difference between a sprain and a break, so see a doctor for a correct diagnosis.
Most Common Incidents Leading to Bone Fractures
One common cause of a fracture is an accident, such as a car accident, a fall from a height, or sports injuries. If there is a direct blow to the bone and the force exceeds the strength of the bone, it breaks. Another cause is the disease of osteoporosis, which causes a loss of bone density and strength. Even minor trauma or fall can cause a fracture for people with this disease.
Athletes and people involved in activities with repetitive impact and stress, such as long-distance running, gymnastics, or dancing, can get stress fractures. Some people have medical conditions that weaken their bones, such as bone cancer, brittle bone disease, bone infections, and bone cysts.
Especially among older adults, falling can cause fractures, especially in the hip, wrist, spine, or upper arm. Workplace accidents break bones among people who work with heavy machinery or are in the construction trades.
These are general causes. To lower your risk of broken bones, practice prevention, safety precautions, and maintain good bone health through a balanced diet and exercise.
Broken Bones and the Recovery Process
It definitely takes time for a broken bone to regenerate, typically from several weeks to months. Several factors influence how long it takes, such as the location and type of your fracture, your age, and your health.
The initial healing starts in the first few days after a fracture. The body forms a blood clot and starts its inflammation response. Over the next several days to weeks, a soft callus of fibrous tissue and cartilage forms around the broken ends of the bone.
Within a few weeks, the soft callus is gradually replaced by a harder callus made of bone. This process is known as callus formation or primary bone healing. During this phase, which takes weeks to months, the bone starts to bridge the fracture gap and begins to stabilize.
After the hard callus forms, the bone undergoes remodeling, which involves reshaping and strengthening. This process can take months to years, depending on the severity of the fracture. The new bone gradually matures and becomes stronger, eventually resembling the original bone structure.
Actual healing time can vary significantly based on the factors mentioned earlier. For example, simple fractures may heal in around 6-8 weeks, while more complex fractures or fractures in weight-bearing bones may take longer to heal. Children and young adults generally heal faster than older individuals.
Following your doctor’s instructions regarding immobilization, weight-bearing restrictions, and any prescribed treatments (such as casting, surgery, or physical therapy) is important to promote proper bone healing.
Cost Variations in Medical Expenses for Broken Bones
The variation in medical expenses for different broken bones, such as the spine, a wrist, or a broken hip, can be significant. It depends on the severity of the injury, the required treatment, the location in your body, the healthcare provider, and the region where the treatment is received. Medical expenses can include hospital charges, surgical fees, physician consultations, diagnostic tests, medications, physical therapy, and rehabilitation costs.
Your doctor may require imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans for something as serious as a broken spine or hip. The cost of these imaging studies can range from several hundred to a few thousand dollars. You may need to be hospitalized, depending on the severity of the injury.
Costs associated with hospital stays, including room charges, medical supplies, nursing care, and specialized treatments, can vary significantly. These can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars per day.
If you need surgery to stabilize or repair a broken spine or hip, costs will vary depending on the complexity of the procedure, the surgeon’s fees, anesthesia fees, and the hospital’s charges. Spinal surgery costs can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
After surgery, you may need rehabilitation and physical therapy, and these costs can be significant and vary depending on the duration and intensity of the rehabilitation program.
For a broken wrist, medical expenses generally are less than for a broken spine or hip. For example, usually, only X-rays are used to examine the break, and the cost for this can range from a few hundred to around a thousand dollars. Treatment for a broken wrist often involves immobilization with a cast or splint, which generally costs a few hundred dollars.
All fractures are likely to require follow-up doctor’s visits. The cost of these and the other items listed above will depend on your health insurance coverage.
Impact of Broken Bones on Daily Activities
A broken bone can significantly impact your daily activities. Depending on the broken bone, mobility and movement can be restricted. For example, if you have a broken leg or hip, you may require crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair, which can limit your ability to walk or perform activities that involve standing or moving. Similarly, a broken wrist may require a cast or splint, making it challenging to perform tasks that involve using your hands.
Activities related to personal hygiene and self-care can become more difficult. Tasks such as dressing, bathing, grooming, and tying shoelaces may require assistance or adaptive devices. Depending on the location of the fracture, household chores can be challenging. Tasks that require lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling heavy objects may need to be delegated to others. You may need others’ help with cleaning, cooking, and activities that require using both hands.
Participating in sports, exercise routines, hobbies, and recreational activities may be limited. Activities involving impact, excessive movement, or strain on the broken bone must be avoided until the bone has healed. In some cases, broken bones, particularly of the lower limbs or dominant hand, can limit or restrict driving. Following medical advice and local regulations regarding driving restrictions during the healing process is important.
Following your doctor’s instructions for rehabilitation or physical therapy to regain mobility and function is vitally important. Depending on the extent of the injury, occupational therapists or physical therapists can provide guidance on adaptive techniques, assistive devices, and modifications to help you navigate daily activities more effectively while recovering from a broken bone.
Broken Bones and Work Performance
Depending on the nature of your work, a broken bone can impact your ability to perform job-related tasks. Physically demanding jobs may need to be temporarily modified or put on hold until the bone heals. Office or desk jobs may be more manageable, but still, certain tasks may be difficult if they require manual dexterity or physical exertion.
Handling a Claim for Broken Bone Injuries In and Outside a Work-Related Context
If a broken bone injury occurs at work or on personal time, there can be differences in the available options and how the injury is handled. Here’s how the options might differ in these two scenarios:
Broken Bone Injury Happening at Work
You may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if the injury happens while performing work-related duties. This typically covers medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, and rehabilitation costs. Workers’ compensation is designed to provide financial protection for employees injured on the job, regardless of fault.
In some cases, if the injury was caused by your employer’s negligence or failure to provide a safe working environment, you may have the option to file a lawsuit against your employer for additional compensation. In every case, it is essential to report the injury to your employer as soon as possible and fill out the necessary incident reports to initiate the workers’ compensation process.
Broken Bone Injury Happening due to Another’s Negligence
If the injury occurs outside of work, you would typically rely on your health insurance coverage to handle medical expenses related to the broken bone. Depending on your insurance policy, you may have deductibles, copayments, or coverage limits to consider.
If the injury was due to someone else’s negligence, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. This could potentially help you recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related costs.
It’s important to note that the specifics of these options may vary depending on your jurisdiction, employment contract, insurance policies, and other factors. If you believe someone else may be liable for your injury, it is advisable to consult with a personal injury attorney. We can evaluate your case and guide you through the legal process.
Options for Seeking Compensation after a Bone Fracture in New Jersey
Seeking compensation for bone fractures in an accident typically involves taking legal action to pursue a personal injury claim. Here are some general steps you can take to seek compensation:
The first and most important step is to seek immediate medical attention for your bone fracture. Prompt medical documentation of your injuries will be crucial for your claim.
As soon as you can—preferably at the time of the accident—gather evidence related to the accident and your injuries and preserve it carefully. This may include photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, and any property damage, as well as any medical records, bills, and other relevant documents.
The next step, and you may need an attorney’s help with this, is to determine who may be at fault or legally responsible for the accident.
Talk to Skilled Freehold Broken Bone Lawyers about Your Compensation Options
If you suffered a broken bone in an accident or due to another’s negligence in New Jersey, our seasoned injury lawyers will work to establish the negligence of the responsible party. This involves demonstrating that the other party had a duty of care, breached that duty and that breach directly caused your bone fracture and resulting damages. We will also help assess the damages you may be entitled to, which can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, and any future damages related to your fracture.
When all that background work is done, we will negotiate with the insurance company or the responsible party’s legal representatives to seek a fair settlement on your behalf. We will advocate for your rights and strive to achieve the best possible outcome. If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, we may advise proceeding with a personal injury lawsuit. This would involve skillfully presenting your case in court so that a judge or jury would grant the most compensation that can be awarded.
Call our Freehold law office today for a free consultation about your case! Learn about your options and the next steps forward toward successfully recovering compensation for your broken bones injuries. Call us at (732) 303-7857 or contact us online and fill out our form if you would like a free case review.
