Ohio Broken Bones Lawyer

Bone Fracture Injuries

While your bones have a small amount of give, they are meant to be rigid for structure and stability. They can only handle so much pressure until they snap.

If you suffered one or more broken bones in an accident, call our Ohio broken bones lawyers of Kisling, Nestico & Redick at 1-800-HURT-NOW. We understand how fractures slow you down. They keep you out of school or work, negatively affecting your academic career and income. You may need extensive surgery and spend months in awkward casts, all the while suffering pain.

Contact an Ohio serious injury lawyer as soon as possible so we can explain your legal options and help you gain the compensation you deserve.

Accidents That Cause Broken Bones

When an accident exerts too strong of a force on your body, your bones can fracture in a variety of ways. Some breaks are relatively clean and easier to heal while others are messier and more significant, requiring intensive treatment and a longer recovery time.

• Car Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Commercial Truck Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Slip and Falls
• Negligent Maintenance
• Negligent Security
• Medical Malpractice
• Bike Accidents
• Work Accidents

Common Types of Bone Fractures

Bones do not all break in the same way, though they do regularly fracture in specific types of ways, including:

• A Greenstick fracture is an incomplete break that can occur when the bone is bent
• A stress fracture is a hairline crack in the bone
• A stable fracture is a clean break in which the ends of the bones are lined up and have not shifted out of place much, if at all
• An oblique fracture has an angled or curved fracture line
• A transverse fracture includes a horizontal break in the bone
• A comminuted fracture is when a bone breaks into multiple pieces
• A buckled fracture is when the ends of a break are pushed together

Symptoms of a Bone Fracture

Symptoms can vary based on the person. But typical symptoms of a broken or fractured bone include:

• Sudden pain
• Trouble using or moving the injured area or nearby joints
• Unable to bear weight
• Swelling
• Obvious deformity
• Warmth, bruising, or redness

The symptoms of a fractured bone may appear like other injuries in some cases. Always see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Open Versus Closed Fractures

Some bone fractures are known as closed because the bones do not puncture the skin or there is no open skin wound. There are also open fractures in which one portion of the broken bone breaks through the skin. Though this does not mean the bone is visible after the injury since it may recede back through the wound.

Closed and open fractures must be treated differently. Open fractures have additional risks like infections that must be properly addressed.

Treating Broken Bones

The best treatment for a fracture depends on its location and severity. The most important factor is that the bones are put back into place and kept there. The bones cannot be allowed to move around otherwise, they will not heal, or they will grow back together incorrectly.

For closed breaks, ensuring the bones are in place and using a cast may be all that is necessary. A plaster cast can be used to ensure the bones cannot move for the following weeks and months necessary for them to reconnect.

Some fractures can have a more functional cast or brace instead of a plaster one. Think of the big “boots” you have seen people wear on their feet. It enables them to walk and have some flexibility but protects the foot while bones heal.

When bones need to be put back into place, physicians may use traction. This slowly realigns the bones with consistent gentle pulling.

More significant breaks may require internal or external fixation. This is when pins, screws, or metal plates are used to reconnect the bones and keep them in place. With external fixation, you will see the pins or screws coming out from the body, and a frame outside of the body helps create stability.

For internal fixation, screws and plates may be placed on the outside of the bone, or rods may be inserted through the center of the bone to create stability during the healing process.

Risks Associated With Bone Fractures

It can be easy to dismiss a broken bone as a minor injury since it is common for children to break an arm or leg while playing rough. However, there are serious risks associated with breaks that need to be addressed.

A bone fracture can also result in damage to blood vessels or nerves. An open fracture creates a high risk of infection, including osteomyelitis, a deep bone infection. Treating physicians must also discuss these injuries and risks with patients when determining the appropriate treatment and the difficulties of recovery.

The Negative Impact of Broken Bones

A broken bone will need at least several weeks to heal, though it can also take several months. A cast, pins, screws, or plates may need to be in place for weeks or months, though some of these implements are intended to stay in place forever. Even after they are removed, you will have to limit your movements and the stress you put on that bone.

For instance, when a cast or external fixtures come off, you cannot jump back into running marathons and lifting heavy boxes right away. Broken bones require a great deal of rest to fully heal and handle your normal level of activity again.

While your bones heal and you rest, your muscles lose strength. It is common after a significant fracture in a limb to be able to see the difference in the size of your muscles between the healthy limb and the injured one. Once you are healed enough, you may need physical therapy or specific exercises to regain your muscle strength and flexibility in that area.

If your fracture was part of a serious accident, you likely suffered additional injuries like organ, nerve, or blood vessel damage. These injuries require additional treatments and time to heal.

When you work with an attorney, they will take all these factors into consideration when calculating your desired compensation.

Broken Bone Compensation

Depending on the severity of the fracture and other factors involved, you may be able to recover compensation for your assorted economic and non-economic damages. This could be the difference between recovering the wages you lost, getting the medical care or rehab you need, and putting your life back together.

If you or a loved one suffered a broken bone because of another’s negligent or careless act, you could pursue an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Depending on the nature of your injuries, you may be able to recover your:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of income
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium

Who’s Liable for a Fracture?

Determining liability for a broken bone injury can be complicated, and a lot will depend on the circumstances involved. You may be able to recoup certain losses through worker’s compensation if your accident was job-related. But you may have other options.

For instance, if you suffered broken bones after a car accident, you may be able to hold the at-fault driver or their insurance liable if you can show your injuries resulted from negligence.

Contact Our Ohio Broken Bones Lawyers

Work accidents, car crashes, slip and falls, and other incidents can lead to multiple, significant fractures. These can put you out of work for months or result in a disability. Both of which greatly affect your and your family’s financial position.

At KNR, our legal team is available to help you gain compensation for your broken bones through a third-party insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. We can explain your legal options and rights as well as give an objective opinion on your best course of action. Whatever the necessary steps to help you recover, we will focus on obtaining you the maximum amount of compensation possible.

A skilled lawyer can illustrate what you endured and how a fracture impacted your life, making the harm apparent to a judge or jury. Your attorney will work with your physicians and medical experts to delve into the consequences of this injury on your life, including the effects on your ability to work or live independently.

At KNR our attorneys will:

• Answer your questions and concerns
• Keep you updated during all stages of the process
• Obtain medical records about the extent of your injury
• Identify the responsible party
• Determine the fair and full value of your damages
• Negotiate for maximum compensation
• Fight for everything you deserve in court if necessary

Contact KNR’s Broken Bone Lawyers

The attorneys of KNR are ready to take on your case, calculate your damages, and seek the maximum compensation for your broken bones. We understand the complexities of these injuries and how to demonstrate the extent of your injuries and the compensation you deserve.

Call KNR at 1-800-HURT-NOW to schedule a free, initial consultation to learn more.