When we experience a serious fall or some other accident, great stress is put on our bodies and the force may result in our bones giving way in the form of a fracture injury. Most bone fractures are sustained while playing sports or in a vehicular or other type of accident. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers understands the impact that a broken bone can have on an individual’s life, including immediate pain and lingering disability. We offer free review of Illinois personal injury cases involving broken bone injuries, and we invite you to discuss your Chicago bone fracture accident case with an attorney today.
If your fracture was caused by the negligent actions of another party, they are legally responsible for all costs associated with it. Our law firm is experienced with getting individuals of all ages compensation for their pain and medical expenses related to bone fractures sustained in accidents.
We are based in Chicago but handle cases across Illinois. If you have been involved in an accident that caused a bone fracture, contact a Chicago broken bone accident attorney today for a free consultation.
If your fracture injury was caused by another party’s negligence, you are entitled to recover for the resulting medical expenses, pain, and disability—both past costs and estimated future costs—no matter what your physical condition was prior to the accident. As long as there is sufficient medical testimony to establish the causation of a fracture, a person or entity responsible for causing the accident may be held legally liable for the ensuing damages.
Your Chicago broken bone accident lawyer will review all the circumstances surrounding your injury to identify potential defendants involved in your case. A defendant could include a landlord who neglected to repair a broken stairwell, a supermarket that neglected to clear away ice and snow outside the store entrance, a motorist who failed to obey traffic laws that caused the accident, or others that were directly or indirectly responsible for your damages.
Large and small bones tend to fracture when there is a significant amount of stress applied to bone tissue that can no longer bend against the pressure without cracking or breaking. A person’s bones may be more susceptible to breakage if disease or age has weakened the bone tissue or diminished bone density.
Stress fracture — Hard to spot but easy to feel, stress fractures are hairline cracks within bones.
Complete fracture — This type of fracture usually cleanly breaks the bone into at least two pieces. Complete fractures are typically the result of serious car crashes or slip and fall events on hard surfaces.
Greenstick fracture — This type of fracture happens when the bone cracks on just one side and not through to the other side of the bone. Greenstick fractures usually result from accidents such as falling down stairs.
Open fracture — This type of break produces a broken bone that pierces through the skin and causes mild to severe bleeding.
Closed fracture — Also called simple fractures, closed fractures happen when the broken bone does not break through the skin.
Single fracture — The bone breaks at a single location.
Comminuted fracture — Bones that break into three pieces or more, or are crushed.
Displaced fracture — When the trauma not only leaves the affected bone broken but also moves it out of proper alignment, complicating the healing process.
Bowing fracture— These types of fractures occur only in children when the soft bone bends but does not completely break.
Besides pain, signs and symptoms of a broken bone can include bruising or swelling in the location of the fracture.
The clavicle, also known as your collarbone, is one of the most commonly broken bones in the body. The long length of the clavicle leaves it prone to injury no matter if you are a child or adult.
The other most commonly broken bones owe their breaks in large part to where they are situated and their usage by humans. Not only are these bones fractured the most, they also produce some of the most devastating consequences if fractured because of their central role in daily functioning. Thus, it is important to try to protect them from injury.
The risks of breaking certain bones change as one ages. For instance, the bone that is broken the most among young people is the wrist. However, for older Americans, the hip is the most commonly broken bone. This isn’t too surprising, because age poses different kinds of risks.
The location and type of fracture, and the severity of the break, will determine your medical treatment. After determining what type of fracture you have, your physician will create a plan of action to set the bone and stabilize it in place during the healing process. You might need to wear a fiberglass or plaster cast to ensure your bones remain set in the same position until the healing is complete.
Based on your type of injury, a surgeon may insert screws into the upper and lower portion of your undamaged bone to ensure that the broken or fractured area remains in place (known as “open reduction internal fixation,” or ORIF). The surgical procedure might require the attachment of plates bolted on the bone’s outer surfaces.
How Long Does it Take to Heal From a Broken Bone?
How soon a fracture heals depends on the severity of the break and the level of care you receive. Typically, the healing process can take anywhere from one to several months. This varies because everyone's body heals at a different rate—your healing process could take less or more time.
The severity of a fracture injury usually depends on both the type and location of the injury and the physical condition of the person. As we age, our bones become thinner and more brittle. Even a minor accident can have a horrific impact on an elderly person due the magnitude of the resulting fracture. The elderly are at particular risk for developing complex fractures from accidents and falls that may require surgery to stabilize the fracture with hardware and extended rehabilitation.
Children are also at special risk of sustaining fractures due to the activities associated with childhood. While children's bone fractures are more likely to heal faster than an older person’s, doctors must evaluate every childhood fracture to determine if it involves the growth plate.
In children and adolescents, the growth plate is located near the ends of the long bones near the joints where two bones are connected, where bones grow longer. A break in the bone near or along the growth plate—also known as a Salter-Harris fracture—may limit normal growth in a particular bone, leading to deformity or a shorter bone on one side of a growing child’s body. It may also interfere with normal joint motion, which can impair function.
When a bone fracture involves the growth plate, physicians may need to monitor the child for several years to ensure there is no impact on the growth process.
What Kind of Compensation can I Receive for my Bone Fracture Injury?
If another's negligence caused your broken bone, you are entitled to receive financial compensation to recover your economic damages including lost wages and medical expenses, as well as your noneconomic damages including pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of normal life. Your spouse may be able to recover for loss of consortium and loss of services.
The monetary value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries and the extent of your damages. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can review your case to determine the worth of your claim if filed against every potentially responsible party. Our attorney will calculate the value of your case based on the circumstances surrounding the accident, your need for future medical care, and how your injuries have altered your activities of daily living.
How Long do I Have to File an Illinois Bone Fracture Injury Lawsuit?
The state statute of limitations restricts the amount of time you have to file a claim before you give up all legal rights to ever seeking financial compensation at any time in the future. Illinois gives victims of personal injury two years to file their claims. (See 735 ILCS 5/13-202) That period may be extended if the injured is a minor. Your attorney can help you identify the amount of time you have left before you give up your rights to seek monetary recovery.
However, if you wait too long, evidence you need to prove your case could disappear, eyewitnesses could move away, people’s memories could diminish, and the ability to prove your case to a claims adjuster or a jury could become much harder. Your lawyer needs to get started right away to determine the extent of your injuries, the length of your recovery process, the permanency of your disability, and the extent of hospitalization and medical bills you will generate in the future for needed treatment.
Therefore, it is critically important that you consult an Illinois broken bone attorney as soon as possible after an accident so that he or she can protect your future recovery should you decide to file an action.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC works vigorously to ensure that accident victims receive the greatest compensation possible under the law. Call our offices today to see what you can recover from a bone fracture injury lawsuit.
What are Some Sample Illinois Bone Fracture Accident Settlements and Verdicts?
A 49-year-old man fell from the third-floor balcony of his condo building when the floor caved because the balcony allegedly was in need of repairs. Management informed tenants not to use the balconies, but directed the plaintiff to remove items from his balcony, and it collapsed while he was doing so. He sustained a broken arm that required an ORIF procedure and a comminuted nasal bone fracture, resulting in $13,376 in medical expenses. The settlement was paid by the insurer for Reliable Management Realty Ltd.
A 47-year-old man sustained a broken knee, broken sternum, and multiple broken ribs when the defendant ran a stop sign and hit his vehicle in Roselle, Illinois. The knee injury required ORIF surgery and bone grafting. His damages included medical expenses of $358,239, plus lost income of $17,536. The plaintiff alleged that arthritis may necessitate a future knee replacement. The settlement was paid by American Family insurance.
A 36-year-old man suffered an open fracture to his lower left leg with significant muscle, tissue, and bone loss when he was pinned between his vehicle and a police car during a traffic stop. The plaintiff was pulled over to the side of a four-lane road by an unmarked police car in Hazel Crest, Illinois, for allegedly failing to signal. He was ordered to get out of his vehicle and stand between the trunk of his car and the police vehicle. A car driven by one of the defendants rear-ended the police car, pinning plaintiff between the two vehicles. He sustained a severe crush injury to his leg which required ORIF surgery and multiple skin grafts, resulting in medical bills of $825,000 and dependence on a leg brace. His injury left him unable to return to his manufacturing job or do anything but sedentary work. His past and future lost wages were estimated at $850,000. He accused the officers of violating mandatory safety policies and not activating the emergency flashers on their vehicle. The settlement was paid by insurers for the Village of Homewood, City of Country Club Hills, and the driver of the other vehicle.
A 65-year-old farm worker was working at Meredith Glasgow Farms in Scales Mound, Illinois, when a front loader tractor operated by his supervisor ran over the back of his legs. He sustained complex fractures in his legs and right foot, requiring extensive surgery including ORIF. His medical expenses totaled $65,416. After the plaintiff finished presenting his evidence, the court entered a directed verdict against the defendant on the issue of liability in the amount of $418,416, consisting of damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and loss of services and consortium for plaintiff’s spouse.
A 54-year-old woman sustained leg and ankle fractures when she fell down the stairs of her apartment building, which was the only stairway access for the building. Her treatment required ORIF. Her damages included $21,263 of medical expenses and $127,250 lost income. The plaintiff contended the stairway had no handrail or carpeting, was poorly lit, and failed to comply with applicable Chicago and Illinois building codes. A default order was entered against the defendant landlord.
Where can I get More Information About Treatment of Bone Fractures and Orthopedic Injuries?
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is committed to getting you the maximum compensation for your broken bone injuries case. We have helped recover significant damages for many clients who have sustained fractures in various types of accidents. Put our experience to work for you: As Chicago fracture accident lawyers who work on personal injury cases, we offer free, no-obligation consultations at your home or hospital room. Moreover, we offer a no-fee guarantee: If our office cannot get a recovery for you, then our services are free. Contact our office today.