A bone fracture is another name for a broken bone, and they are one of the most common injuries in automobile and car accidents. When a bone fracture happens, it can put you out of commission for a while depending on the type and severity of the break.
Have you sustained a bone fracture in a vehicle accident and now wondering, “where can I find a bone fracture lawyer in my area of Philadelphia or New Jersey?” You can contact one of our expert bone fracture lawyers, like Attorney Edith Pearce at The Pearce Law Firm, P.C. today for a free consultation and case evaluation. Our expert bone fracture and bone break lawyers close to you are ready to take your call 24/7.
Types of Fractures
Bones can be completely fractured or partially fractured, and the fracture can be crosswise, lengthwise, or in several places causing multiple types of fractures in one injury.
The severity of a bone fracture depends on a couple of factors: where the fracture is on the body and the force of the impact. Though a bone feels like it’s ungiving and sturdy, it can actually bend when force is applied. Once the force reaches a certain point, then the bone breaks.
The break may result in a crack or hairline fracture, or a complete break, or the shattering of the bone. There are several types of breaks that typically happen in an impact caused by an auto accident:
- Open Compound Fracture: The bone is fractured and is sticking through the skin. These can happen incomplete or partial breaks, and the bone is usually visible.
- Stable Fracture: The bone is broken but remains in place and lined up fairly well.
- Transverse Fracture: In this fracture, the break runs crosswise to the length of the bone and is often called a horizontal break.
- Oblique Fracture: The fracture at an angle to the length of the bone.
- Comminuted Fracture: The bone is broken into at least three pieces, and these can be either stable or compound.
- Greenstick Fracture: These happen in very young children whose bones are still pliable, and like breaking a green stick, they break only after bending significantly.
- Stress Fracture: This can be a small crack or even severe bruising of the bone. Typically not caused by an impact but over time from a repetitive motion.
- Pathological Fracture: A break caused by a weakness in the bone which then gives way under a normal stress load.
Common Causes of Bone Fractures
Bone fractures happen in many ways. The most common way is an impact trauma brought on by a single incident like a car accident. Bones can also break because of a disorder or osteoporosis. Overuse can also cause a break and is commonly a stress fracture.
In a car accident, sometimes the trauma of an impact will hasten a break where a disorder or repetitive stress had weakened the bone. Some of the ways bones get broken in a car accident are:
- Being thrown forward into the dashboard or back of the seat
- Tossed from side to side
- Slammed into the inside roof of the vehicle
- Bounced around inside vehicle in a rollover.
- Front airbag deployment
- Side airbag deployment
- A seatbelt can cause a fracture or break
- Ejection from vehicle
Symptoms of a Fracture
The most common symptom of a broken bone is pain and lots of it. This coupled with swelling, obvious deformity or even a bone visible through the skin are all signs of a break. If there is pain and swelling only, this can be caused also by a severe sprain or deep bone bruise. Sometimes the only way to diagnose a fracture is to take an x-ray.
Treatment/Recovery of Bone Fractures and Breaks
The extent of treatment depends on the severity of the break. In all broken bones, the doctor will take measures to immobilize the area of the break and possibly instruct the patient not to use or put weight on the broken bone.
Casts or splints are used to immobilize the broken bone, but this can only be done after swelling is reduced and the bone has been realigned or reset
Surgery
In many cases, the break is too severe to just reset and then put in a cast. It may require surgery to put the pieces in place or align the bone properly. In many of these injuries, a pin or other fastening method might be used.
Also, an external fixation device might be used to keep the bones from moving. Some of these are left in place under the skin while others are removed. In some extreme cases, a person can be put in traction to ensure that the broken bones are not moved so they can heal.
Recovery
A broken bone heals slowly. It may take several weeks or even months to heal a bone completely. When this is done, it may be yet another while before the patient has full movement of the broken area. The cast, pins or fixation device will not be removed until the bone has healed, and once it is removed, there will usually be more work and time before the patient can have normal use of the area.
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Contact a Philadelphia Bone Fracture Lawyer Near You:
If you sustain a traumatic injury by someone else’s negligence in a car accident and suffered a broken bone or fracture, such as an ankle fracture, speak to a Philadelphia bone fracture lawyer near you as soon as you are able to. This doesn’t mean you have to hire a bone fracture attorney, but you owe it to yourself to learn about your rights under the law. Our experienced Philadelphia bone breaks lawyers offer free consultations. At The Pearce Law Firm, P.C., we will only offer you legal advice which is in your best interest.