Fractured Bones in Car Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of broken or fractured bones nationwide. More often than not, these collisions are caused by a speeding, distracted, or otherwise careless driver. Fractured bones in car accidents are more than just an inconvenience that temporarily interferes with a victim’s activity. A severe fracture not only can mean time missed from work but also can lead to long-term complications and impairments, depending on the circumstances. When a fracture is caused by a negligent motorist, the Miami car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you explore your legal options and fight for your rights. Representing car accident victims in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, our firm is dedicated to helping clients throughout South Florida in their personal injury claims. If you have suffered a fractured bone in a car accident, contact our office today for a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Many different situations involved in a motor vehicle accident can lead a victim to suffer a broken bone or fracture. If a victim is not wearing a seatbelt, or is involved in a rollover accident, and is ejected from the vehicle, fractures are likely. A bone fracture can also be caused by a victim’s body hitting another object in the car, such as the dashboard or window. Crushing injuries may also result in broken or fractured bones in car accidents. Fractures vary in severity, but most types are painful, and some can take months or even years to heal completely. These are the most common types of fractures that victims may sustain in a car crash:

• Displaced fractures, which happen when bones break in more than two separate places, causing pieces to shift out of alignment.
• Non-displaced breaks, which result in fracturing into more than one piece, but in which the pieces stay in alignment.
• Closed fractures, which occur when a break does not pierce through the skin.
• Open fractures, which result in a piercing of the skin.
• Compound fractures, which occur when the bone protrudes through the skin, increasing the risk of infection.

Treatment for each kind of fracture also varies depending on how significant it is. Less serious fractures are treated with temporary braces, splints, or casts. However, the most severe breaks may require multiple surgeries and insertions of metal plates, rods, or screws. Without proper medical care, fractured bones can lead to more serious or permanent injuries, such as infections and non-union recovery, whereby the bone fails to heal within the first six months following a break.

When a motorist acts carelessly or recklessly, he or she should be accountable for the harm caused to others. Drivers who engage in aggressive driving practices, excessively speed, or text behind the wheel, for example, may be found negligent and therefore liable for injuries to others on the road. Florida law requires personal injury lawsuits to be filed within four years of the date of a victim’s injury. Additionally, under Florida’s pure comparative fault scheme of liability, even victims who were partially at fault for their own injuries can receive compensation from another at-fault party. For example, a victim who is found 40 percent at fault for his or her broken bone, due to a careless action such as failing to wear a seatbelt, can still recover 60 percent of his or her damages from a defendant. If liability can be established, a victim may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical expenses, loss of income for time missed from work, diminished earning capacity, and rehabilitative costs.

Fractured bones are the most common injury in a car accident. Fractures can also lead to long-term issues, especially when a victim is a child or elderly person. The Law Offices of Robert Dixon consists of dedicated Miami attorneys who are committed to making sure that victims’ rights are properly preserved throughout any necessary legal action that follows a serious car accident. If you have sustained injuries due to a careless motorist and have questions regarding your legal options, call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an injury lawyer. We represent people in Miami, West Palm Beach, and the surrounding areas.