Compensation for Broken and Fractured Bones from an Auto Accident: What to Expect

Many auto accidents result in broken bones and fractures, including severe injuries that may cause long-term difficulties for the victim. Broken bones can occur anywhere in the body. In many cases, drivers may experience broken bones in the hands and arms due to airbag deployment as they brace on the steering wheel in preparation for the crash. Airbags can also cause fractures to the facial bones, which may lead to permanent disfigurement.

Other common fractures in car accidents may include:

• Broken bones in the legs

• Skull fractures, which may also indicate damage to the victim’s skull

• A fractured clavicle. The clavicle is the most fragile bone in the body and can break easily in a collision.

• Sternum and rib fractures, sometimes due to force exerted against the seat belt during an accident

Any type of broken bone can cause immense suffering for the victim. Some victims may require surgery in order to properly set a broken bone. Other victims may have ongoing pain from the injury, even after healing from the initial accident. Seeking compensation through a personal injury claim after a car accident can help victims acquire the compensation they deserve for their injuries.

Why Do Auto Accidents Commonly Cause Broken Bones?

Many auto accidents, from rear-end collisions to T-bone accidents, involve a great deal of force. Sometimes, that force ejects victims from the vehicle, which can cause them to suffer broken bones as they collide with an object outside the vehicle. Other times, they may suffer injury due to the force of the airbag, striking something inside the vehicle, or getting crushed by the vehicle. Many auto accident victims suffer multiple broken bones as a result of those forces.

Determining the Compensation You Deserve After an Auto Accident Resulting in Broken Bones

If you have an auto accident that results in broken bones, contact an attorney. An attorney can help you fully understand the compensation you deserve as a result of your injuries.

Generally, several factors influence the compensation you can receive after a car accident.

1. Who caused your accident, and how much insurance does that entity carry?

In order to claim compensation for your accident, you will need evidence that someone else’s act of negligence led to your car accident. Often, this is the other driver involved in the accident. If the other driver behaved negligently, including choosing to drive while intoxicated or distracted, it may be easy to prove that the other driver caused your car accident.

In other cases, another party may also bear liability for the car accident and the injuries you sustained. For example, if you suffered injuries in an accident with a commercial driver or delivery driver on the clock, the driver’s company may share liability for the accident. Many companies carry specific liability policies that protect individuals who may suffer injury on the road because of their drivers.

Nevada drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury protection insurance for one individual injured in an accident. Some individuals and entities, including companies that insure their drivers, may carry higher-value policies, which may provide additional compensation for your injuries.

2. How many people suffered injuries in your accident?

While Nevada minimum insurance provides up to $25,000 in protection for a single individual injured in an accident, minimum liability insurance policies may provide just $50,000 in protection for all individuals injured in an accident. If multiple individuals suffered severe injuries, it could decrease the compensation you can expect for your injuries. Likewise, most insurance policies have limits that will determine how much compensation you can seek for all individuals injured in a single accident.

3. What bones did you break, what treatment did you need, and what did your medical bills cost?

Most often, your medical bills will serve as the foundation for your personal injury claim after your car accident. If you went to the emergency room, had a broken bone splinted, received a cast in a few days, and needed relatively little follow-up care to make a full recovery, you might have relatively minor medical bills. On the other hand, some individuals who suffer broken bones in a car accident may have extensive medical bills. They may need to contend with the cost of:

• An emergency room visit

• Surgery to set a broken bone or bones

• Multiple follow-up visits or additional surgeries

• Physical therapy to help regain strength and flexibility after the cast comes off

• Durable medical equipment, including a wheelchair for victims who have suffered multiple broken bones and cannot get around on their own

The higher your medical bills, the more compensation you may have the right to seek in a personal injury claim.

4. What limitations did those broken bones pose in your life?

Some people can go on with their normal daily lives even with broken bones. Others, however, may face substantial limitations due to their injuries. For example, individuals with broken bones in the hands and arms may struggle to type, which could make it hard to work at a desk job. Individuals with broken bones in their legs may have trouble working in jobs that require a lot of standing or engaging in their usual hobbies. Multiple broken bones can also interfere with an individual’s ability to handle daily self-care tasks or to carry out job responsibilities. As part of your personal injury claim, you can include compensation for wages lost due to inability to work while broken bones heal.

Many personal injury claims, including auto accident claims, may also include compensation for pain and suffering, including both physical pain and emotional anguish. Most often, insurance companies base payments for pain and suffering on a percentage of your medical bills. An attorney can help you determine how to include these elements as part of your claim.

Did you suffer broken bones in an auto accident due to the negligent actions of another driver? Gina Corena & Associates can help with your claim. Contact us today at 702-680-1111 for a free consultation.