Broken bones, both minor and severe, are incredibly painful for victims. Even small fractures may cause you to miss work or result in high treatment costs. If you or a loved one suffered a bone fracture, McCormick & Murphy, P.C. is here to help.
Here are the basics of fracture injuries and when it might be wise to contact a Colorado Springs broken bones lawyer.
For a free consultation, please don’t hesitate to call (888) 668-1182 or fill out our online form today.
Accidents That Lead to Broken Bones
Generally, any accident that results in trauma to the body has the potential to cause bone fractures.
While some of these accidents are more common than others, we usually see broken bones due to:
Since bones become more brittle over time, older populations are at a much higher risk of a fracture than younger people. However, your overall susceptibility of a broken bone depends on your medical history and fitness level as well.
Common Types of Bone Fractures in Personal Injury Cases
There are several types of fractures that may occur in an accident. Some of them are serious enough to cause permanent disability or pain, while others heal relatively quickly. These categories include the following:
- Stable fractures. Also known as simple or closed, these are clean breaks that remain under the skin. These are the least severe, since they line up perfectly and heal after wearing a cast.
- Hairline fractures. Although these breaks involve thin cracks or bone bruises, they are sometimes more serious than stable fractures. These are common in athletes or people who suffer from osteoporosis.
- Compression fractures. While typically found in osteoporosis patients, these can occur while lifting heavy objects or falling. They occur in the vertebrae and sometimes lead to disability.
- Comminuted fractures. These occur any time a bone breaks or shatters into more than two pieces. Due to the extensive damage they cause, comminuted fractures often require surgery to reconstruct the bone.
- Compound fractures. These breaks pose the most risk since the broken end of the bone pierces the skin. Extensive surgery is needed to repair the damage and prevent infection at the fracture site.
While these aren’t the only types of fractures, they occur in many types of personal injury cases. Even if your fracture seems minor, we recommend contacting a broken bone injury lawyer in Colorado Springs. Some breaks have the potential to cause issues with physical pain or health in the future, which may lead to higher treatment costs.
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Signs and Symptoms
Unfortunately, not all bone fractures are easy to detect. Some are so small that they require an x-ray to diagnose. For this reason, it’s important to keep an eye out for symptoms of a fracture if you sustain a personal injury.
Common signs and symptoms of a broken bone include:
- Localized pain that worsens with pressure;
- Bruises or discolored areas on the skin;
- Swelling, puncture wounds, or bleeding;
- Misaligned, angled, or deformed limbs;
- Inability to put weight or pressure on a limb; and
- Dizziness or nausea.
If you experience any combination of these symptoms after an accident or fall, we highly recommend seeking medical attention. Then we encourage you to contact a Colorado Springs broken bones lawyer at McCormick & Murphy, P.C. to discuss your legal options.
Recoverable Damages in a Broken Bone Case
An experienced bone fracture lawyer can help identify the types of damages you may pursue in your personal injury claim. While every case is different, it’s common for plaintiffs to seek compensation for two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are the tangible losses you incur after sustaining a broken bone—those that have a standard economic value or cost. They are typically calculated using real financial figures.
This includes things like:
- Medical treatment bills,
- Medications,
- Physical therapy,
- Rehabilitation,
- Pain and suffering,
- Permanent physical impairment,
- Lost wages, and
- Property damage.
Non-economic damages are the intangible losses associated with your injury. This means that they can’t easily be calculated using a dollar amount. Pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and permanent disability or disfigurement fall in this category.
Typically, a broken bone attorney determines non-economic damages by multiplying the economic damages or assigning a per-day cost. However, this varies from practice to practice, and damages may be subject to caps imposed by Colorado law limited depending on the specifics of your case.
Contact a Colorado Springs Bone Fracture Attorney Today for a Free Case Review
Suffering from a broken bone can be an incredibly painful and traumatic experience, but you don’t have to go through it alone. At McCormick & Murphy, P.C., we fight for the wellbeing of those injured due to the negligence of another. Whether you need help managing your claim or finding treatment, we’re here to help.
To schedule a free consultation, call us at (888) 668-1182 or contact us online.